The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1877-11-08

who was industriOusly "shinning up"
tall birch.
YOU'D better not let Rath or that Mr..
Kingsley see you" painted Charlie, half
way up.
The girl gavo quick look round.
81 don't care for Mr.. Kingsley" she
said, swinging bunch of cOlumbine,
which filled the air with its fragrance.
"You would if you knew what Rath
told him." answered Charlie, tugging
away.
"What was that, Oharliep
Charlie, nearly TO the top, gave one
more writhe of his supple little body
and suddenly dropped his weight from
his hands, the tree bent and swung him
down to the ground. When his little
brown feet touched the sorrel, he let go,
and the birch lunged back. Charlie con-
templated his burning hands, doubtful
if they were good Tor another. Ret
caught him by the shoulder.
"What did Rath say 7? she cried.
"That Mr.. Kingsley might have you,"
answered the boy,
Reps pretty face famed.
"Rath had better mind his own affairs,
and hate Mr.. Kingsleyw
Max commenced whistling, and then
came slowly sauntering around the
sumacs and elderberry bushes. Sud-
denly ne appeared to catch sght OF the
group-Ret and Charlie, side by side,
and Charlie chewing birch bark, while
Henry, the youngest, was gathering
puff balls, aeorns, or pine cones from
The ground.
Max lifted his hat. Ret, with her fra
grant wand, and her pretty face little
paled by excitement, faced him like a
larry wrath.
ba tnl
notice OF her flashing eyes. "lliss Ret
and boys. l thought l was the earliest
| riser i'll the house, but you, see, have
beaten me. How fragrant these birch
| woods are! Charlie you know the se-
cret OF the bark, don't you? L used to
chew it in sohool and get thrasned Tor
| it,"
| Charles boy heart was won immedi-
ately. He forgot all about the clet ue
mad overheard, and wnIch seemed to
prejudice his sister so against Max.
Wan HIM and Henry the guest instantly
became u tayorite.
But Ret was another Nemesis. Hardly
speaking 10 Max, sue turned around anu
walked home. Aud hencefortn care
less, merry, romplng r t was changed
TO maldenly young lady.
Mrs. MAJ snail rejolced in the change,
but Rathburn hardly considered IL an
improvement when lie found that Ret
Iseemed to mold nim no longer IN conf
dence, and his friend not AT all in favor.
In vain Max Kingsley tried TO win her
counLenance AZ least. She would hard
Ily looN Az him-Wuuld never smile upon
hlm-was barely CIV |, and stately as a
young Diana. La VAIN he exercised the
powers OF an Orpneus-prUNeu hImsel4
an Ajax OF bravery, "a CaieAas of WIS
G0m, an Arion ot rehued tastes, and all
II Jus OF principle and natural nobility.
Ret Wouldn't be WoOed and won.
So a fortnight passed away.
| At last came The Time for Max Kin as
ley's return. He nad long ago maze his
way to the hearts of the o.d people.
TueY were sorry to have MN leave them.
charlie and Henry were DlLLerIy grleVed
at his departure, and declared it u
"burnlng shame" that lie should 80 be-
lore the Ghestnuts were ripe.
Bath came over to the window where
Ret was standing.
"Ret, amt you sorry to have Max 90
away p lie SAID, In low voice.
"No," she SAID, briefly, and turned and
walheu out OF the room. But something
in her iace made Raths eyes fash. He
turned quickly TO Max.
$50 fud ner,' he whispered.
Max went to the door. R3t had gone.
} He saw her ILtle figure winding iu and
out through the shruDbery of the mea-
uoWs. Sne was walking last.
He followed her, So far behind that
she dId not hear h!m, aud Keeping from
sight, in case she should look back. Ga
he went, over the clover anu mailows,
past the knoll where The golden vIulets
grew, and through Inc brentwood. Ret
didn't stop to swing on the birches.
Pas sing through the wood, she sprang
over the silent, winding little brook, and
knelt down by the meadow spring. Max
tnougntit place tt Tor the belrotheu
of lairies. The sunshine lell on the
, golden sand beneaLn the crystal water,
aud the wild pink roses growing beside
| | it were reflected in it.
Ret knelt down by the spring. Was
she repeating The charm Of The place
Max stole nearer and nearer. He was
close AZ her side at last, and she did OF
: see him. Bending over, his face was r.-
t1.cLeu in the water, and then he saw
Q wnaL Ret was doing. Sue was bathing
away the tears, or trying to, for they
lell as fast as she baLAed away then
traces.
t "On, dear! oh, dear!' she sobbed, as
= if her neart were breaking.
q. suddenly she caught sight of MaX's
face IN The water, and dropped breath
less. Tnen she turned her astonIsheu
! fearful face upon him. The young man
Ibroke into low, merry laugh.
. ''Ket, ReL." he sand, "Lnere is no us
3 in you repulsiug me any longer. FaIe
t has taken tue matter in hand. We nave
= looked together In the meadow spring
. and you must marry me-"
r For some reason-of course 1t was the
} work Of the charmed place-Ret maue
no more objections, aud when Rain came
, TO lind them, two hours later, ne uls.
= coveted Them happily beIrOt led. s.
much Tor the meadow spring.