The Newtown bee., 1877-10-04

great confdants Tn old times.
 Yes She was twelve then, she is sixteen now. She's darling, Max 1"
 ''I think 1t likely. And I may have her 2"
 "Yes if you can get her"
 "Thank you, old boy" The next moment they passed in at the door from which Ret had disappear ed, and to his parents Rath announced:
 My old college friend Max Kingsley; come to rusticate among us for a week | or two."
 It was frank, good face which the old people looked at-a face they were willing to admit to their freside Ret came down from her room in more presentable dress, and was introduced. That evening Rath repeated again, for Max's amusement the legend of the meadow spring,
 The next morning a June sunrise flushed the sky at four o'clock. Max Kingsley awoke, and, aroused by the novelty of arising at that time in the morning, got up, dressed and went out oi-doors. Early as it was, boy was driving a drove of cattle to the market down the long, brown road, while the birds were Chorusing Tn the woods, and the flowers of the fields were all wide awake He crossed the road and went slowly over the meadows.
 "The grass was drenched in dew, 1 The fragrant air blew through | The honeysucsle branches
 That waved about the porch"
 Half-knee high in the wet clover, he looked back at the house, half hid in honeysuckles and morning glories, to see if there were any signs of Rath or Ret Was Rath's pretty sister an early riser He wished she was, and would share his walk with him.
 | He came to brook slipping softly through the meadows, and turning, com,
 menced following it to it's source, walk. ing through the marsh mallows and white clover around knoll, where he found some rare golden violets, and on to birch wood.
 Suddenly he heard the shouting and laughter of young ringing voices. Going on quietly, he came suddenly to an open ing, and this scene met his eye as ht stood concealed by the bushes. Ret and her little brothers were swing ing on the birches. (And Ret was six
 teen years old } Max Kingsley's blue eyes shone with amusement. As his glance fell upon them, Ret was climbing
 from limb to limb of an old oak tree
 not being able, probably, to ascend tt
 the top as did her brother. In fact Ret couldn't ''shin up," but could com,
 down gradually, which she did in Max
 sight. High up among the oak boughs
 the pretty little hoyden grasped she tir
 of the birch, which, young and 1.-the ] bent slowly with her weight. and dowr to the ground she descended most royalty , Releasing the tree, it sprang back to it. 7 place.
 That was grand Charlie !"she exclaim l ed to the bare. footed little urchin wh, 7 was industriously "shinning up" a tai | l birch.
 l You'd better not let Rash or that MT r Kingsley see you r panted Charlie, hal t way up.
 7 The girl gave quick look round
 Il don't Care for MT. Kingsley" sh . said, swinging bunch of columbine which filled the air with its fragrance s "You would if you knew what Ratl
 told him." answered Charlie, tuggini
 away.
 l What was that Charlie ?" Il Charlie, nearly to the top, gave on e more writhe of his supple little body an r suddenly dropped his weight from hi j. bands, the tree bent and swung hir u down to the ground. When his littl
 brown feet touched the sorrel, he let g }, and the birch lunged back. Charli
 contemplated his burning hands, doubt r ful if they were good for another. Re |. caught him by the shoulder. l What did Rath say ?" she cried. t That Mir. Kingsley might have you, y answered the boy.
 f Ret s pretty face famed. q "Rath had Better mind his own affail ,. and Aate Mr. Kingsley !" t Max commenced whislling, and the r, came slowly sauhtering around Il O sumacs and elderbeiry bushes. Su' l. denly he appeared to catch sight of Il
 group-R Ret and Charlie side by sid e and Charlie chewing birch bark, whl
 Henry. the youngest, was gathering pu r. balls, acorns, or pine cones from Ii r. ground.
 Max lifted his hat Ret, with h r fragrant wand, and her pretty face X little paled by excitement, faced hi d like fairy wraith.
 "A fine morning." he said, taking l Il notice of her flashing eyes. Miss R