The star. (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1874-1875, 1875-01-04
A LOVE STORY.

| owen on lies 6nady side,
l A LOVE STORY.
| The inn where my heroine was born
and lived was the only one in the neigh.
borhood Of the town OF Cardale. 1t stood
about half mile out of the town, and
was a famous place of resort for the
young people who wished to have riding,
shooting or fishing parties. Looking
from the windows OF the house, you could
fancy so wild and picturesque was the
scenery all round, that you were miles
away from any house; but If you lett the
building and climbed the hill directly
east Of it, you could see the town Of Car
dale lying below you.
Joseph Langdon, or, as he was gen.
orally. called, Old Joe Langdon, had
owned the inn since the death of his
| father, who was the former landlord.
Here ne had brought his wife home; here
his only child, Minnie, was born; here
his vile had died, and here he hoped
himself to die.
just at the time my story opens there
was not q happier man alive than Joe.
His inn was in a flourishing condition,
with new sign swinging from the door,
and the. old name, Fox and Hounds"
| blazoned ON it in letters an inch long.
|
education he had given her in boarding
school in Cardale, and had returned
home to pet her old father to his hearts
content; and Joe, to complete his state
| OF felicity, had just received notice that
a party of young ladies and gentlemen
from Oldteld Hall were coming down
next day to spend the day in riding and
fishing, and would stop at his house for
both luncheon and dinner.
"Now, Minnie, lass" said her father,
"are you sure all is in order for the fish
ing party"
"You see, Minnie, this is fine COM
pany. There is Squire Oldield's son,
Mr.. Harry, and his sister, Miss Kate,
and there are more; and, to be sure,
there is lord among them-Lord Her.
bert Adair-that they say is alter Miss
Kate"
swell, father. all is ready; and now
come ou' under the porch and we can
chat together. Who is Lord Adairr'
"Why, he's great lord, Minnie, young
and handsome and very rich; and they
say his mother and Squire Olkfeld's
lady were very intimate when they were
young, and they wanted Lord Herbert to
marry Miss Kate. The young folks
haven't seen one another yet, but his
lordship is to come down here tomorrow
to meet them, and as they are both so
young and handsome, why OF course they
will fall in love the first thing. Now,
Minnie, sing to me while l smoke"
Minnie stood up in the porch of the lit
tie inn, and, leaning against one of the
pillars, began to sing. A prima donna
might have envied that young girls
voice, it was clear and most melodious;
and every note she warbled was true and !
full. She made a very pretty picture,
this little Minnie, as she stood there |
singing to her old father. The last rays
of the sinking sun fell upon her rich
chestnut hair, her round white shoulder.
and arms, and threw out the colors of
her pretty gay dress, which was short
enough to give glimpse of a most dain-
ty little foot, cased in a neat black boots
The long green branches and bright
flowers Of red rose twined round the
pillar against which she leaned, and the
whole effect was very charming. There
were two, people who thought so; one
was Joe himself, as he laziIy watched
and listened; the other was horseman,
who had stopped his steed near the inn,
and, unperceived by the group on the
porch, was waiting pause in the song
to speak to the landlord. The rider was
q young, handsome man, and evidently
had an eye for beauty.
"Now, Minnie, sing one of the songs
you learned at the school," said her
father.
.Wheww said the rider, in an under
tone, as Minnie sang the first words OF
the cauatind from La Somnambula, snow
for some screamingW
No such thing, Sir Critic. AS the last
note died upon the air the young man
struck his hands together, crying
"Brava! l beg your PARDON" he added,
seeing the surprise his appearance oc-
casioned: 81 have been here sometime,
but l could not make up my mind to in
terrupt such heavenly sounds"
The landlord was up, bowling, and Min
ME had vanished before the speech was
half finished. Giving his horse to the
hostler, ana ordering private room, pen,
ink and paper, the traveller entered the
inn. After supper was served and eat
wrote the following letter:
s'DEAR GEoRGE-Here am at the sFox
and Hounds" as l told you l should be
hour ago, and disturbed at her song the
most lovely-but never mind now. Come
down as soon as you can. The party
from the 'Squire's will be here tomorrow,
and then l shall present Lord Adair's
regrets for his absence, and introduce to
his notice Yours, truly,
"HERBERr GRANT.
ITO Hon. George Savage"
The next morning, quite early, the fish
ing party came down to the Fox and
Hounds. Mr.. Grant presented his let
ters of Introduction to the Squire, and
was politely requested to join the party.
'It must be nice to be rich and power
full" thought Minnie, as she saw the def
erence with which Mr.. Grant assisted
Kate Oldfeld from her saddle to the
ground, and marked the low bow with
which he gave her his arm. "He called
me Minnie this morning, just as ii were
a servant" was her next thought. "How
handsome he is, and what a pleasant
voice he hadl Minnie is pretty name
as he says it."
'sMinniel Minniel where are youW
"Coming, father"
And the young girl fastened down
stairs to assist her father in waiting up
on his guests. AS she was passing along
she met Miss Oldfield, who had turn her
habit, and was on her way up stairs to
repair the mischief.
''Herc, my girl" she said, rather
l,t;l 10 l. a.