New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-08-06
A FOREST RETREAT.
BY CHRISTIAN REID.

Mr. Clyde spoke little anxiOnsly as az
| descended from the front of the stage
COACH and opened the door before any one
else could do so. A pale. pretty girl gave
! him her hand. and sprang lightly to tht
ground. Then che answered his remark:
Rough. papa No-nOt half so rough
| as l expected You know you said "a mere
hunting lodge and this seems very com
Portable place
is there any reason v ny hunting lodge
should not be comfortable" her father
asked, with a emile Here comes oul
host. Well, Mr.. Young. you see am bach
again, ana have brought my daughter VIII
me-
Every glad to see you back, Mr.. Clyde,
answered Mr.. Young, with cordial grasl
of the hand, land happy to make Mis-;
Clyde's acquaintance. Walk in-I'll be
with you il few minutes.
The father and daughter-one carrying q
gun, the other a satcnel-went IN accord
ingiy, and paused on the piazza to vail the
disembarking Of the other passengers A;
they did so. the girl remarked: "Our host
made q very natural mistake. Don't cor
rect him, papa. l like to be called your
name"
"And like you to Re called by it,
answered Mr.. Clyde Then ne walked to
the end OF the piazza and said: What a
view, Hester Isn't this reviving after ten
months spent among bricks and stone'
~ feel as If I had reached paradise,
said Hester, following him, and putting her
hand on his arm. "Oh, what a heavenly
landscape! Papa. never did more lucky
thing in my life than to have that attack OF
fever"
Mr.. Clyde laughed-his frank, good-hum.
ored face lighting up with amusement.
IL am glad you think 3d." he said.
IL know So" said Hester. "But for that,
mamma would never have let me off duty
to come with you, while. as it is, how charm
ing to think that We have whole month OF
freedom before us.'
"You must get back your roses by the
time it ends, or mamma will think that
after all she made mistake.'
IL shall get them back soon enough,
answered the girl, cheerfully.
While she stood looking at the magical
mineling of blue hills and fair, fertile val
leys in the great width of sweeping lsud-
scape before her. the curtain of q window
near at hand was drawn slightly aside, and
a face glanced out.
A mans face. as was % be easily ascer
tanned. If Mr.. Clyde or his daughter had
looked around, they would have seen one
eye, an aauiline nose and half Of brown
mustache. They did not look around, how
ever, so the eye-no doubt aided by another
tunity to admire Hester Clyde's delicate
profile and graceful figure 5ef1rs 71r.
Young apr cached and il was necessary TO
drop the curtain.
He was followed By servant who con
Quoted Miss Clyde to her room, and told
her that supper would be ready in an hour.
What pleasant place. thought Hester,
looking around after the door was closed.
The room was small, the floor bare, the fur
niture of the plainest possible description,
but everything was spOtlessly clean, and
the view from the window magnificent.
Free for month che said, again. Then
she lay down on the bed, and fell asleep
like q child, with the soft evening breeze
blOwly lightly over her.
In conse uence OF this sieSta, Mr.. and
Miss Clyde were the last to enter the sup
per-rOom an hour later. The rest of the
company were all assem- bled. and a cheer
full clatter of knives and forks and voices
was in progress. A gentleman with an
aquiiine nose and brown mustache, who
was seated near one end of the table
glanced up with interest when they ap.
peared, but bestowed his attention upon
his plate when Mr.. Young conducted them
to seats exactly opposite his OWL. The
genial host then took his place at the end
of the table and opened conversation.
"Ihope We shall be able to give you some
good hunting, Mr.. Clyde. We have had
uncommon luck ever since the season be-
gan
g! should judge So said Mr.. Clyde. The
venison is delicious
1--WE are indebted to Mr.. Ferguson for
that" said Mr. Young, holding toward him
of the nose and mustache.'
This was enough Of an introduction for
Mr.. Clyde, who. however ceremOnious he
might be at home. was the prince of good
fellows, and easy of approach as a school
boy, when out Oh holiday like the present.
Let me congratulate you, Mr.. Fergu.
son. he said, looking across the table.
Are you very much of hunter ?,
'As far as liking the sport goes, may
answer yes" replied the gentleman ad-
dressed, in the voice and with the manner
of cultivated person. with regard to
skill, must be more modest
''Oh there's no need for modesfy," said
Mr. Young, with laugh. He's crack
shot, Mr.. Clyde, assure you. I've been
telling him about some of your teats, and
hope to see a trial of skill between yen"
Agreed o1 my part" said Mr.. Clyde,
heartily. Which do you find the best
deer drive now?'
In the discussion which ensued Mr. Fer
guson bore a part, while Hester, glanciug
down the table, decided that all the people
present mot more than twenty were COM
mOnplace and uninteresting $50 much
the better" she thought; II shall not be
tempted to form any friendships. but shall
have my time entirely to myself"
Ferguson, meanwhile, regarding her
clear-cut profile, thought to himself: "Why
ia it that have a vague remembrance of
having seen that face before! 1t is impos
gotten it. The association must be in it's
likeness to some one else. But to whom"
After supper, Hester said:
Papa, where are you going-Cut on the |
piazza to smoke May come with gu for |
! little while will not stay long for II |
.hink of retiring early"
"Certainly you can come" answered Mr..
Clyde, "but put a shawl round you. These |
mountain nights are chilly"
so, presently-having in the interval
gone to her room for a shawl-Hester came |
,ut on the piazza and sat down near her |
ather, whom she found still talking to his |
lew acquaintance of the supper-table. with |
whom he had discovered many tastes in |
common.
''Sp0rt, However, is not the only attrac- |
ion which has drawn me to this region"
hat gentleman was in the act of saving,
Il like Nature-especially in its wilder
orms-and l dislike society as one finds |
at summer resorts or country houses full
# company. Now, you may readily imagine
hat there is little to trouble me in that
inc here. ! epend my days among the
my evenings in smoking and
eading."
what an ideal existence" said Testers
rank, sweet toned voice.-''That is how l
hall spend my time, papa, during the
ext month-barring the smoking"
Very good" said papa. I'VE shall see
ow long you will keep that resolution. I'll
ut you an alpenstock tomorrow, and you
an climb this mountain behind the house
nd erect your throne Of contemplation
here."
Hester looked at the mountain which