Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-10-08
Tales aud Sketehes.
A LOVE MATCH IN A CARPET.

Il maze icSt LILY way J! These Words
said suddenly. in low tone. with an ac-
cent of dismay, interrupted blithc carol
rippling from the lips Of Florence Grey.
There could hardly have been prettler
place to lose ones way in. The path
ended abruptly at the margin Of narrow
stream. No more than a woodland trail,
it had been thickly beset with tangled un-
derwood and overhung by gnarled an
tques of a goodly forest; but here, as it
ended, the woods ended also. A turfed
bank sloped gently to the waters edge;
grassy slopes of the same undulating char
acter outlined the opposite bank Of the
rivulet; gardens and villas, and beyond
them piles of facade and roof. smokestack
and spire, imaged against clear June
sky the profile OF town.
II have lost my way" The speaker
was girl of perhaps eighteen years Of
age, but so essentially youthful in form
and feature that the girlish element pre-
ponderated emphatically over the women
ish-a girl costumed in white muslin, with
bodice blue, and road-brimmed straw
hat trimmed with blue ribbons. very near
ly in the style of stage shepherdess
For crook she carried fresh-cut birch
rod. and clasped against it, rather deleteri-
ously to their preservation, a bunch of
wood leaves.
Along the path, stopping here and there
to gather leaf, she had been singing to
herself just those light hearted snatches of
song that one is apt to hum or carol or
whistle in the woods. Her dainty blonde
face was rosilv flushed with exercise and
pleasure, and her ungloved hards were
redden like her cheeks.
81 have lost my way" The second
time that these words were spoken they
were no longer soliloguy, but a COM
plaint addressed to an auditor. Florence
Grey, tripping down the greensward, had
come suddenly upon a stranger, a youth,
who at her first glance she pronounced
gentle and trustworthy-a dark-complex-.
ioned, thoughtful-faced young man, walk
ing by the rivers edge. with pondering
footsteps and reading little book.
''Can you tell me, Sir, the way to Lin
dengrovc, opposite the Long Bridge Of
p"
So spoke our shephcrdesss. not drop
ping courtesy in stage style. but assum-
ing for the moment languid air OF
hauteur.
Il can direct you." answered the youth.
courteously, "but not very definitely.
can better show YOU the way, if you will
allow me-
Guide me. please" said the maiden,
land will follow for if am not at home
by sundown. my mother will be in hy-
sterics. | have the misfortune to be an
only child. Liberty is sweet" she added,
following her guide into the wood, .'but it
has to been paid for dearly. We were all
in the woods together, and wandered of
alone. 1t was SO bewitching! Please
tell me, are we miles away from N-p"
Hardly less than four miles from the
Long Bridge by the direct route, said her
guide "blt | can show you wood path
quicker"
"Show it to me them" said Miss Grey,
land | shall be forever grateful for nv
dear mothers sake. She is an invalid;
she worries" IA
1--WE are spending the summer at Lin
dengrove," after brief pause, continued
this affable young lady. land our chief
pleasure is in the wood. To-day we had
Il fete, and crowned u June queen. DO
you live in Mp"
II do not call My home, but my
residence is there for the present"
"And you cross the Long Bridge to come
into the forestp"
mo. my approach is different. cross
the river above the dam. But l 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 some
branch that barred tho way, and at these
moments glanced quickly but with keen
interest at her face. @
They kept up easily II light-hearted talk
that would have been commonplace but
for its cast of broken light, its tincture of
fragrance and romance. caught from the
summer wood.
Out of the ,hicket they emerged Just As
the sun was setting. Every feature OF the
scene they entered became afterward sig.
memorable
The bank, curved into low-s -shored cove
was grown thickly to the waters edge
with blue forget-me-nots. now in their iull
bloom. A contrast of color. perspective
of color. led from this emerald ground,
studded with turquois stars. to the pale
blue-green. the aquamarine, ofthe far sky.
swept with moving trellis Of carmine
clouds. flushed and fired by sunset.
The guide paused and looked toward
his companion expectantly. lie was not
THAR avas n,nt IN nuo of