The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1878-02-22

handsome, and gallant, and popular
and during his thirty years had mad
no small number of love conuuests.
He had two ways of wooing. He wa
openly, almost obsequiously tender an,
deferential to the most desirable belle
and heiresses Of society, while towar,
the more obscure and humble beautie.
who touched his wandering fancies, h,
was a sort of lordly, passionate, non
committal lover, whom many maidsi
remembered with secret tears of humil
iation.
His title of "Captain" was merel,
honorary, his income was large, and hi
favorite amusement was the game o
hearts, and his delight was proportional
to the difficulty and excitement of thai
game.
His first meeting with Kathleen
TraYers was in newise romantic, al
though m after days he would have
persuaded her that he thought it so.
Late one summer afternoon as he was
rambling through the widest part Of
the Ramapo mountains, he was startled
by q lew sigh that was almost sob,
and that seemingly came from the depths
Of wild-rose thicket. Very quietly
and cautiously he pushed aside the
therny bloom and peered through it.
At what he saw, his full lips curved
with sybaritic smile, and his black
eyes glittered with delight.
"a nest Of the loves A seraph fall
en- out Of the sky What a glorious
girl, and what place in which to find
her |" he thought, aud his fancies, iaded
by many adventures, freshened with a
thrill of new, sweet feeling he had never
known before.
Beneath the pink and white blossoms,
on the soft grass, two children were
sleeping like the Babes of the Wood,
and above them stood lovely ,syoung
creature, tall and supple of fern, and
dark Of hair and eve. Her simple
white dress was seiled and torn, and
one little hand was bleeding from the
thrust ef some cruel briar.
care you lostT inquired the captain,
In tones Of the blandest solicitude.
"Can 1 help youf"
The fair girl uttered quick cry of
surprise and alarm, as the gallant in
tr1lder pushed through thescented shrubs
into her presence.
1--WE ara lost, answered pure, rich
voice, as she looked keenly and gladly
upon him 'and l think you can help
US, thank you"
Never give thanks for an obvious
duty that is a pleasure to the giver,' y
was the gay reply.
Perhaps the captains 'obyious duty"
would have heen less pleassrable had it
involved the protection Of lost lady
less fair than Kathleen Travers, for the
homeward way was beset with vexa-
tious toll and trouble, and danger also,
as the dusky twilight began 10 Ell the
tOrtuous path with gloom.
els it very far yetf' asked Kathleen,
YEARLY, as the heavy dew began to
drench her hair and garments with
penetrating dAmpness, and the tagging
little ones began to moan and cry.
"No. There is the farmhouse light,
and think your friends are searching
for you. Do you not hear them callingf
81 fear they would have had long
searching and terrible fright but for
you," she said, frankly.
"Don't let them make me hero,
please" he laughed, and then very earn
estly, "you will let me call tomorrow
and assure myself that you have not
suffered from this grieyous exposure l
hope that this may be the beginning of
q pleasant acquaintance"
He meant to make it the beginning
of pleasant. Irritation.
But it became something more to him
as the long summer weeks went on, and
Kathleen's rare and fresh young beauty
grew upon him until his worn-out heart
grew young again beneath her magical
smiles.
"What wife she would make" he
used to think; ''but not for me. If she
were net farmers niece, would real
ly marry her, poor as she is. But l
shouldn't relish the situation of nephew
in-law to that old clodhopper in his blue
blouse, aud that carieature of Aunt Je-
NINA with her nasal twang."
And the elegant captain drowned a
doleful sigh in gay whistle, and vowed
to his vanity that he would win Kath-
leen's proud heart, even though it should
ache little when he should 60 away
to see her no more.
And the time came when he fancied
that he had made his conquest, although
KAthleen's prOvokingly cOquettish ca
prices puzzled him sorely.
s'When she knows I am going away
she viii betray her feelings" he thought.
at will be pleasant memory to know
that this splendid creature has really
loved me.
So he announced his intention Of re-
turning to the city the next day with
pathetic and impressive abruptness, ex-
pecting to see the scarlet lips whiten
and quiver, and the merry dark eyes
brim with sudden tears.
He was tremendously disappointed.
She turned her bonny, Viuaaat face
upon him with a quietly-pleased smile.
"Then I shall still see you occasion
ally, hope, as I 60 there myself next
week for considerable stay"
Indeed, /" he observed, quite surprised
out of his well-bred rePose and manner.
"In what localityP
She mentioned a most elegant and
dissingste quarter.
"Indeedf' he reiterated, utterly rnys-
tilted.
And thsn sudden thought came
that shocked him. This beautiful coun-
try girl too refined for coarse, country
u.