The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1876-07-07
4.

pondence with her friend furnished her.
The role Of sympathetic benefactor to
good-looking young fellow, even though
he be in love with your bosom friend, is
not a very safe one. ladies; and i am
afraid Sissy's kind little heart was more
enlisted in Engene's cause than was ex-
ac.ly prudent. But all the while En-
genes loyalty never wsyered; though
the distance between them seemed daily
to widen, as he heard how kind the old
merchant and his wife were 10 Lefty,
how she was progressing at fashIona-
hle school, and how at last, when her
school days were over. grand ball was
given in her honor, at which she had
actually danced with the famous editor
Of one Of the great daIlies His heart
sank, sometimes, at the thoughts of these
spl-ndors; but then she often wrote OF
him, and sent him pleasant little mes
-ages, from which his hopes derived a
lean subsistence. Meanwhile, with the
make himself worthy of his accomplish
ed idol He would have gone TO college
but his parents were old, and the farm
without his labor would hardly support
them. What he could do by reading
and by odd bits of study, he did. But
ihesa efforts, though they accomplished
little else, served to deepen and strength
en- his love.
So matters stood with Engene when,
at the expiration Of two years, it was en-
nounced that Lefty was about to revisit
her old home. Sissy Talbot was the
frat to give him the news, and it cost her
sharp pang TO see how pale he grew.
When the eventful day arrived, and
Lefty had really come. Eugene had not
the courage to call on her alone, but
easily induced Sissy to accompany him.
Lefty was more beautiful than ever, hut
lust a. cordial and familiar. She seemed
40 much her old +elfthat the two friends
found themselves at their ease at once.
For the next few days Eugene forgot his
doubts and fears, and basked luxnriou-iy
in the light OF his lady's smiles; then
there came rude awakening.
A picnic party had been proposed to
the shore of-no matter which one of the
great lakes. The spot selected was about
ten miles distant, and the party, consist
ing Of ten couples, was 10 proceed thither
in buggies, and spend the day in fishing,
boating, and flirting, as taste or inclina.
tion prompted.
On the evening before the projected
trip, Mr.. Arthur Elery arrived at Sonth
side, and was assigned to Miss Talbot
for the next day, Lefty being already
promised to Eugene.
The whole party, according to custom
got under way at an early hour; tbs
spring morning was delightfully."- fresf
and braciDg. Everybody was in thu
highest possible spirits; and Lefty. 81
her escort thought, had never been hal
so lovely.
1t may as well be mentioned here tha
Lefty was engaged to Arthur Elery; no
, that she was much in love with him; f0
to tell the truth, he was rather langnid
easy-going fellow; but his parents wishe'
il. and Arthur was a pleasant enough
gentleman-like man. and his wife q socla
A position wonld he an enviable one; an,
when, in his calmly gen,eel way, h
b. asked her to marry him, she said ~
. Being engaged. and not suspectin
Eugene's state of mind toward her, Lefty
for the sake Of an old liking, was yer
/. gracious to him; 40 much 40, that h,
Il poor fellow, built false hopes upon he
!, kindness; for love il ever sangnine.-
i When, therefore, during the day. the tw
, happened to be alone, at the foot of
Q picturesque ledge of rocks, Eugene wer
q down on his knees, humbIy, as he migf
II TO a divinity, and prayed her to lov
e him, if il were only little. And whe
he learned the blank truth, that for hil
y there was no more hope than ifthe gray
e kird snAtched' this beautiful creatnl
W from before his eyes, an immeasnrab
E. despair, a'''horror 0r great darkness
II seemed to close around him. Lefty sa
N his misery, and her heart smote her; h,
,e wha, could she say that would not appe;
e lame and cold?
just then some one came to call the
n for row on the lake. The boat was
IA small sail-boat; but the mast had bee
NJ taken down, as none:of the party unde
70 stood sailing, and oars put in.
nt On this occasion there were in Il
v; boat, beside Eugene and Lefty Arthl
IN Elery and Miss Talbot, and anoth
a couple. As they proceeded, they mig
,e have perceived line of haze gatherir
It. along the eastern horizon; but with Il
e. temerity of inexperience they rowed o
ty two miles from the shore. At last, seeii
ID their danger, they began to pull hasti
ID for the nearest land. But too late: wit
IL in ten minutes a sharp sqnall. accor
panied by drenching rain, struck theI
-e, In a moment, the shore-line was lt
a to view, and nothing but the tall ligt
lie house was visible. Even this becar
at more and more indistinct, and final
re disappeared altogether. Their positi
It, was now perilons in the extreme; t
le, wind blew directly shoreward; it W
a. necessary TO keep the boat headed in t
same direction. which, without Ian
marks, was almost impossible.
,c. Young Elery, who held the steerir
nd oar, became confused, and, by a m
nd stroke, allowed the boat TO turn bros
,rt side to the wind. She capsized in an
he slant. Luckily, all the sufferers succee
,ly ed in grasping some part of the boat, a
re- were thus temporarily saved from drov
de ing. But the water in the great lakes
be that early season ia very cold; and I
all boat drifted 40 slowly that there y
mr. more than half an hour of wretch
he clinging before land conli be seen.
BY this time Lefty, who was the m