The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1875-10-16
a Loye.Match in a Carpet.

II have lost my wayy These words sal
suddenly, in low tone with an accent ,
dismay, interrupted IL bltEe carol ripplin
from the lips of Florence Grey.
There could hardly have been pret'e
place to lose ones way in. The path ende
abruptly at the margin OF narrow slrean
No more than woodland trail, il had bee
thckly besct with tangled underwood an
Ioverhung by gnarled antiques OF goodly fol
est; but here, as it ended, the woods cndc
also A :uried bank soped gently TO til
waters edge; grassy slopes of the same undt
lating character outlined the opposite BAN
of the ivulet; gardens and villas, and beyon
them piles of facade and roof, smoke-stacl
and spire, imaged against n clear June SIX,
the profile Of q town.
81 have lost nay way" The speaker was
girl Of perhaps eighteen years OF age, but 81
essentially youthful III form and feature tina
the girlish element preponderated emphatl
cally over the womanlsh-a girl costumed II
white muslin, with bodice blue, and n broad
brimmcd straw hat trimmed with blue rib
bons, very nearly in the style Of stag,
shepherdess. For crook she carried ,
fresh.cut birch-rOd, and claspcd against it
rather deleteriously to their preservation, {
bunch Of wood leaves.
Along the Path, stopping here and there t.
gather leaf, she had been singing TO hersel
just those lIght-hearted snatches of song tina
one is apt to hum, or carol or whistle in the
woods. Her dainty blonde face was rosily
flushed with cx rcise and pleasure, and hcI
ungloved hands were Redeemed like hei
cheeks.
II have lost my way" The second time
these words were spoken they were no lon
ger q sOliloquy, but Il complaint addressed to
trin
the green-sward, had come suddenly upon a
stranger, youth, who a, her first glance she
pronounced gentle and trustworthy-a dark
complexioned thong htfuiaced young man,
walking by the rivers edge with bordering
footsteps and reading a little book
Can you tell me, sir, the way to Linden
grove, opposite the Long Bridge of N-y
So spake our shepherdess, not dropping a
courtesy in stage style, but assuming for the
moment languid air OF hauteur
III can direct YOU" answered the youth
courteously, but not very definitely. | can
better show you the way, if you will allow
mey"
"Guide me- please" said the maiden, land
will follow for If am not ut home by
sun down, my mother will be in Mysteries
have the misfortune 10 be an only child.
Liberty is sweet she added, following her
guide into the wood, but 1t has to be paid
for dearly. We were all in the woods togeth.
er, and wandered off alone. 1t was SO be-
Please tell me, are we miles away
from N"
Hardly less than four miles from the Long
Bridge by the direct route" SAID her guide
but | can show you u wood path quicker"
"Show it to me, them" said Miss Grey, land
l shall be forever grateful for my dear moth.
er sake. She is an invalid; she worries
ave are spending the summer ut Linden
grove after brief pause, continued this al.
fable young lady, land our chief pleasure is
crowned June queen. Do you live in the
town of Mp
III do not call N my home, but my resi-.
dence is there for the present"
"And you cross the Long Bridge 10 come
into the fOrcst!"
mo, my approach is different | cross the
river above the dam. But know every turn
Of the path, every inch of the bank"
Florence Grey followed her guide through
what seemed a trackless wild. He paused
frequently TO hold back bome branch that
barred the way, and at these moments glanced
quickly but with keen interest at her face.
They kelt up lighthearled talk which
would have been commonplace but for its
cast of broken light, It's tincture of fragrance
and romance, caught from the green summer
wood.
Ont of thc thicket they emerged just as the
irln was setting. Every feature OF the scene
hey entered became aiterwal dis significantly
The bank, curved into low shored curve,
was grown thickly to the waters edge with
blue forget.me -nots, now in full bloom. A
contrast of color, perspective of color, led
from this emerald ground, studded with tur.
quos stars, to the pale blue.green, the aqua
marine of the far sky, swept with moving
trellis of carmine clouds, flushed and fired by
sunset
The guide paused and looked toward his
eXpectantly. lie was not disap-
pointed. Their eyes met in one of those
sympathetic avowals OF kindred perception
the lovers of beauty.
They fingered not long. From the glen of
direct path led TO Linden
grove, and Miss Florence Grey, with many
thanks TO her courteous conductor, reached
home in time to assuage the rising Mysteries
of her anxious mamma.
A week after this occurrence an intimate
friend of Mrs Grey asked Florence 10 gran,
her favor. "The agent" she said, "of the
most artistic photographer in New York is
stopping for a day at N, and ar To send
by HIM to the city two imperfect sketches,
one penciling taken after DEATH the other
an impaired ambrotype, OF my dead Lillian.
The artist promises to make from them
u lIfc-like miniature. | feel unwilling To
commit them into a strangers hands, anu the
agen, leaves town tonight. Will you take
them to n Tor me? You can have my
pony phGton.'
But no; Florence, who luxurated in ram.
bles these beautiful mornings, said she would
rather walk. Theresa will 20 with me-"
She promised; and the pictures, encased in a
Vienna wallet, were entrusted TO her hands
Theresa was busy. Florence, nothing loath,
for her sunny soul loved solitude, ventureG
of alone. Singing, she wendell her way
along the dappled path of the bright MONDAY
forest
She had reached point where The arch of
foliage opened upon pastures divided by n
highroad on the outskirts of village. There.
while begirt still with the loneliness of wild.
wo d, she saw in an instant the creeping un.
der-wood of her path change into a human