The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1877-03-15
Bellies Beau


overhung with Virginia creeper and scar
let woodbine, and the gay glmpses o
garden on the right The haze and colo
of a superb September afternoon oyel
everything. Two girls, evidently just from
school, stood at the gate, one within, tht
ether leaning on the fence to gossip.
.What is She going TO wear >" the latte
was asking with deep interest.
White silk and pink trimmings
Wont she look lovely What shall yol
wear yourse!f?"
II Belle says shan't come in he room
at all She says I'm only child | al
ways have to stay off in the nursery Will
David evenings when there's company.
did think | might come into her birthday
party, though y and the speakers lip quiv
cred, and tears stood in her eyes
And she won't let you what shame
Why, you're sixteen years old, though you
don't look it If | was vou Td-Oh. see
Christy 7" she finished in Il hurried whs.
per, as horseman galloped out Of the
sunlit vistas OF the road, and passed them
there's Charlton Ross, your sisters beau y
Christy looked up in time to catch the
momentary glance OF a pair of dark eyes
why don't you bow p
Christv did not answer for moment
She was watching the gray horse, and
noting the careless grace of the rider AZ he
wheeled and dashed through the stone
gateway of the Ross mansion.
"Don't YOU know him ?"
"Only Just by sight When he comes to
our house never see him. But sometimes
see him in his grounds They Join ours,
you know
Ter companions eyes followed hers to
where, at a little distance, a cluster of
gray stone chimneys rose high under an
cent elms.
''ls your sister going to marry him ?"
II don't know. | don't suppose he's
ever asked her Why ?"
''Oh, | should think she would if he did,
that's all He's ever so handsome = and
rich | heard Honoria say
Il must 60. Kate; there's Belle calling
me now," and with a hurried good-by
Christy ran up the walk, rushed into the
hall and tossed her books on the table \
voice from the top of the stairs, rather in
clsive than sweet. stayed her progress
bring those books straight up to the
nursery. And attend to me Christy. You
are to show the ladies their dressing room
tonight Maria'll be busy in the Kitchen
and therell be no one but YOU to do it,
You can Just stand here at the head of the
stairs and show them which way to 90,
you know. Your white muslin dress will
do to wear, and mamma SAYS it's all ready ::
and afterWard-" ,,,,,,- ,,,,u s,.,Ir.
.,.,. & ,n1 one u,,uclhg atterWard ~
The pretty blonde at the head OF the
stairs tossed back her half-bralded hair
with a gesture OF veXaton.
You are the greatest baby
But its your party, Belle, right in the
house. and | do SO love dancing, ii it's
only to look on. And I'm sixteen years
old, and Kate Clapham-"
ooh, don't quote Kate Clapham, and
don't bother me. Wait till it's time for
you to go to parties
"Why, Belle" said a voice from one Of
the chambers. good humoredly, "do let
the child come down. She won't be in the
way, and her dress looks very well. Ma
ria can curl her hair
AS if she could help being in the way"
muttered Belle, turning away with shrug
Of the shoulders as she noted Christy's IA
dient face. "School girls are always awk-
ward and stupid in company
"Oh. Belle
Come, come" said the good natured
voice again, as a portly matron appeared
at one of the doors. ''don't stay there talk
ing Come back, Belle, and let me finish
your hair
cam | to come down ?" queried Christy,
breathlessly.
There was q hearty ~ es" from her
mother, and a sulky one from Belle.
Christy waited for no more. Dropping
her books on the stair landing, she ran
down and out the rear door into the sun
shine, tossing up her flat hat exultingly.
"Oh. my | almost feel as if | was a
young LADY,"
She did not look much like one, as she
raced down the river, intent on rowing off
a little of her excitement She looked
very Young indeed, with her slight figure.
short dress, ard careless curls tied down
under the flat hat, as she loosed her boat
and pushed out into the stream. And she
felt Just like child as she rowed off in the
perfect air and sunshine OF the autumn
day The ripeness and mist of Septem-
ber We're on the russet fields and painted
woods Warm scents came from sedge
blooms and gardens along the banks. and
here and there the dark water caught a
scarlet reflection from Il vivid cardinal
flower or a redeemed bough. Christy. row.
ing lazily down with the current rounded
shady bend in the stream, and came up
on little cove, where an adventurous
wild grape had climbed over low trees an(
hung its rare purpling clusters from pen
dent boughs. Now Christy had an especia
liking for wild grapes. She no sooner saw
them than, with q deft movement of the
oars, the boat was pushed into the cove
and the rover, standing on one OF the
teetering seats, was trying in vain to reacl
the lowest tempting cluster. 1t was out o
reach. In vain she jumped for it, at thu
imminent risk OF drowning herself; il
vain, forgetting her aspirations afte
young ladyhood, she wished herself boy
> that she might climb the willow from
which it hung She did not know what
pretty picture she made as she stood ther
: in the rich purple shadows, the richie
purple of fruit above her, the gold of stra,
sun rays filtering down through the milliol
leaves above Her dark curling hair wa
+ pushed back, her cheeks were flushed
, and the sleeves had fallen away from he
appraised, rounded arms as she stood OF
tlptoes below the provoking cluster. !
> voice startled her, and brought her eye
+ back to the shining levels of the river
= will you allow me to get you tn
= grapes ?'
If Christy had been young lady, sh
would not have turned scarlet and uttere
an exclamation of surprise. Being a schoc
girl, she did both; for there, beside tn
boat, was slender scarlet wherry, tn
oars lying lengthwise, and the occupan
: standing within it, cap in hand. Christ
= did not need to glance twice at the close
; cut jetty hair, the bearded lips, the fac
/ olve.tinted by the sun, for surely the dar
4 eyes looking down at her could belong
/ no other than the hero of her girls
: dreams = Bellies beau. Nor could tn
+ "fated fairy prince" who comes soone
e or later into the life Of most girls, hav
e come in more attractive guise than in tn
z person of the young aristocrat who stoo
5 awaiting Christy's reply, and regardin
! her with mingled amusement and admir'