The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1876-04-21

solved it; but it is doubtful if they cared
as to his purposes.
The summer opened with a joyous
ness such as only the country summer
possesses, and ~Featherby began to feel
thoroughly at home in Newhall. The
minister had invited him to take tea
with him, the doctor had invited him
to call ct his office when he felt like
smoking "A cigar, the blacksmith was al
ways glad to see him coming into his
shop, and the young people seemed
pleased when he joined their pic-nics.
The young maidens of Newhall were
such as only the country towns of the
North can show. Though born in the
country, daughters of farmers, yet each
had been sent to the best schools in the
State, and they had brought back to
their country homes ease of manners
and grace of carriage that was fully
equal to their sisters in the large cities.
And their graces were peculiarly becom-
ing as they were toned down by the
realities of country life. F~eatherby de-
clared to himself the second Sunday he
attended the village church, that he had
never seen. so many charming girls.
And he declared farther that he was
going to become acquainted with them.
Gaining their acquaintance was not a
difficult matter. They were not bold,
neither were they unduly shy and when
he accompanied Dr.. Folds to a picnic,
some two weeks later, he was very nat
urally introduced to nearly all the pretty
girls of the village.
He had a very pleasant day. Smok.
ing u cigar at the open window of his
room late in the evening, he declared to
himself that it had been the ~pleasantest
day he had known since he was Il boy.
He congratulated himself upon his good
sense in having thought of this mas
querade, and wondered why men could
linger among the affected girls Of the
cities, when there we're such charming
flowers of womanhood in the country.
And how pleasant the young ladies had
been! Miss Manley was evidently the
belle of the place, and she was very
pretty; but Miss yerney was-well, if
not quite so pretty, a little more inter-
esting. He had had a very pleasant
walk with Miss Verney. She
had just the color of hair he most
admired-gold, tinged with red. She
looked a little wearied. No wonder;
mi said she was the school-teach-
err. Pretty hard work for a delicate
woman, he said, and her he threw his
cigar away and went to bed.
As soon as he awoke in the morning
he began to laugh aloud. His dreams
had been absurdly real, and through
most of them he had fgured--now with
Miss Manley, now with Miss Verney.
His system must be out of order, he de-
clared, still laughing heartily, and 4 walk
before breakfast would set him right.
From the hotel towards the river was
the prettiest street in Newhall. Great
elms dropped gracefully acrosst the road
and made a royal canopy. Featherby
started down this street at q moderate
pace, until he saw a lady sauntering
ahead of him. He thought he knew her,
and a few minutes of energetic stepping
brought him beside her.
"Ah. good morning, Miss Veraey; DO
you, too, require morning ~alksP"
"Not %often," said she, blushing,
"for | find enough exercise during the
day; but this morning was too pleasant
not to come to the elm walk"
She looked very pretty. Her morn-
ing walk had done much for, her, but
she was not indebted to that for more
than a little extra color. She was
dressed in perfect taste, and l think
vas well worth walking out before
breakfast to have a'look at. And in
this opinion Edward Featherby fully
agreed. He kept at her side as long as
he dared, and then turned back to his
hotel with regret. 1t was his intention
to meet her after school hours, but his
plans were not good and he missed her.
In the evening DR.. Folds took him to
call on Miss Manley, and he enjoyed
himself thoroughly. But when he sat
down in his W room his thoughts ran
to the figure he had seen in the morning.
Every morning for the next week
found him going towards the elm walk
before breakfast, but he had the entire
path to himself-the school-teacher was
invisible. Then he called upon her.
NJ. N.nao. .n+;ra Of Nan