Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-10-26


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After supper. Hester said:
Papa, where are YOU going-out on th,
piazza to smoke? May | come with yot
for little while? l will not stay long
for think OF retiring early"
certainly you can come answered
Mr.. Clyde; "but put shawl round you
These mountain nights are chilly,
So, presently-having in the interval
gone to her room for a shawl-llester
came out on the piazza and sat down near
her father, whom she found still talking
to his new acquaintance OF the supper
table, with whom he discovered many
tastes in common
'Sport, however, is not the only attrac-
ton which has drawn me to this region,
that gentleman was in the act OF saying.
81 like Nature-especially in its wilder
forms-and | dislike society as one finds
1t at summer resorts or country-houses lu!l
of company. Now, you may readily i'm
agine that there is little to trouble me in
that line here. l spend my days among
the mountains, my evenings in smoking
and reading"
"What an ideal existence !" said Hes
ter's frank, sweet-toned voice.-"That is
how | shall spend my time, papa, during
the next manufacturing the smoking.
VERY good, said papa. We shall see
how long you will keep that resolution.
III cut you an alpenstOck tomorrow, and
you can climb this mountain behind the
house and erect your throne of contem-
plation there"
Hester looked at the mountain which
near at hand lifted its bold crest against
the dark-bue, star-Studded sky.
81 should like it, she said, ''but | am
afraid | am not strong enough for that
quite yet"
There are many beautiful places more
easy OF access" said Mr.. Ferguson" This
is such wild place that the beauties are
not ticketed yet as Lovers Retreats and
Fairy Glens'-but enc likes them better
for that"
"Indeed. yes" said Hester. "One may
fancy, perhaps, that one has discovered
them for ones sell-and that sense adds
to the charm of everything"
with some people" said Mr.. Clyde.
"Others like their cascades and glens dis
coveredi for them, as we'll as their he
roes and beauties. 1t is astonishing to
consider how incapable the average hui
man mind appears to be of originating
an opinion. Its views on every subject,
ed to it ready-made, and adopted with ia
ciity"
Very fortunately SO" said Ferguson
There is one subject on which men are
generally capable of originating an opin-
ion, and that | think with glance al
the outline of Hester's head and face
lis with regard to beauty"
MIR. Clyde laughed as he took his pipe
from his mouth.
"You couldn': have given worse ex-
ample" he said. There is nothing in
connection with which reputation has
more weight. Now see I'll give you
an instance. Suppose Hester had arriv-
ed here with flourish of trumpets as
'the great beauty Miss Clyde"
go papa pray don't be absurd!'
GLOW all these good people would
have stared, admired and thronged about
her! I've seen it done with palmer wo-
men,. As it is, some one may have
thought, That is rather pretty girl
but nobody has gone beyond that, you
may be sure"
Papa" said Hester, "you are really
becoming too personal. l must say good
night and retire.--Pray, Mr.. Ferguson,
don't think that he usually talks in this
way. l never heard him do it before
IF I may be allowed to say so, Fer
guson replied, speaking on an irresisl-
bic impulse. "he has only strengthened
my opinion that men are obtuse on that
subject. 1t can hardly be possible that
there is only one person here for whom
no flourish of trumpets was necessary"
He had scarcely uttered the words be-
fore he regretted having done so, Tor even
in the starlight he saw the change which
came over Hester. The frank and grace
lul simplicity vanished, her face harden
ed. her manner grew cold.
"You see what you have brought upon
me, papa she said, rising. at would
be pity TO draw compliment from n
stranger. Goodnight"
She crossed the piazza and entered the
house before Ferguson found words in
which to speak. Then he said to Mr..
Clyde:
Pray excuse me. 1t was presuntuos
of me to make such speech, but the re-
pulse was uncontrollabe.'
1T was my fault" said the older man
~ should not have spoken as ! did-but
it is not a matter of Importance. No
woman was ever offended by a respect
full and well timed compliment
The subject dropped here, for Mr.
Young came up at that moment; but ac-
cording to the fashion OF such small annoy
ances, it fingered in Fergusons mind, and
the last reflection with which he turned
into bed was, Il must apologize to Miss
Clyde at the first opportunity"
1t was nearly twenty-four hours before
this opportunity was found. Hester. be.
ing still somewhat of an invalid, did moi
appear at breakfast the next morning. and
alter breakfast Mr.. Ferguson was one OF
party who, going out on a deer-hunt,
did not return until evening. Making
then hasty change of toilet. he went in
TO the tea-iable and found Hester with a
faint bloom on her cheeks, and a cluster
of ferns and wid-flowers in her hair, list
ening to Mr.. Clyde's account of the day ;
sport. She bowed slightly but distantly
when Ferguson sat down, and went on
talking to her father.
but how odd that you should think all
this entertaining, papa! II you really
chased the deer, 1t would be another mat
ter; but to waylay the poor thing when it