The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1878-11-29

IN occupy her retreat Q little while.
! "Oh, yes! she said, with o bright
smile, lifting the eyes which Seymour
now saw were beautiful brown. "Come
here whenever you please And if you
aver want to be UerY londy and get away
from everybody-see here !" she drew
aside thick screen of momordica vines,
and showed an inner ss.,t, quite hidden
from outside view.
"Glorious! shall enjoy this vastly =
cried Bowen.
81 hope you will. No one ever comes
here but me, and l give you free per-
mission to take possession said the
girl.
"Thanksi If you assure me I am not
displacing you!
81 can assure you that. Besiles shall
generally be busy when you are about
the house. must go now to help man.
ma with the supper"
With little nod of farewell, which
Seymour returned with polite bow, she
went toward the house. He took her
seat and began to wonder why he had
not heard that Mrs. Mortimer had two
daughters.
Though I'd never mistake this one for
the dashing beauty. Sheis hardly pref
ty, but, somehow, she has the most at
tractive face ever saw anywhere"
So ran his thoughts until the tea-bell
summoned him to the dining-room.
Here he met Miss Lizzie again.
"My youngest daughter, Mr.. Bowen"
said Mrs. Mortimer, indicating Lizzie with
an Indifferent nod.
Before Seymour could speak the
young girl, said hastily, "I met Mr..
Bowen in the garden, mamma"
And Seymour fancied that there was
something of entreaty in her glance to-
ward himself. 1t certainly made him
forbear to make the remark he was be-
ginning, about having surprised her in
her favorite retreat.
Before many days it became Seymours
retreat, too. But he did not meet Lizzie
there again, or anywhere else, for that
matter, except at the table, where moth
ing more than brief word was ever ex-
changed.
On Thursday Miss Augusta returned
from the city. And as sne swept into
the room to be introduced, in costume
which was faultless, Mr.. Bowen acknowl-
edged that she was . val beauty, as far
as the outside went, anyway.
But he met SO many of that sort in his
circle that it was almost refreshing to
turn to the simple freshness of Lizzie,
who could not make the smallest preten-
tensions to "style," or to the elegant
possession which would have aided
Miss Augusta to meet the President him
self, with entire coolness, while Lizzie
would have blushed, futtered, and
probably been unable to speak at all.
After trying to pursue the bellies ac-
qaintance fora few days, Mr.. Bowen decid-
ed that she was hardly SO well informed
upon general subjects as even his brief ac-
auaintance had shown Lizzie to be. But he
readily saw that Miss Mortimer's time
was fully occupied with fashionable So
ciety and its amusements, while Lizzie
who seldom went anywhere except to
church, had time for reading and study.
One evening, about month after he
went to Mrs. Mortimer's, Mr.. Bowen sought
his retreat in Lizzies arbor. Some whim
prompted him to seek the inner seat, and
when, shortly after, Lizzie herself came
into the arbor, singing a low song as she
sat at her work, he concluded not to dis
turb her.
1t was rather pleasant to have her sit
ting 80 near, singing SO softly, and Mr..
Bowen was rather enjoying it, when
the sweet voice of Miss Augusta was
heard, not quite SO dulcet as usual, as she
said:
"Oh, you are here, MissIiz! Has any
body been with you"
"Nobody but my thoughts answered
Lizzie.
"Mamma thought she saw Mr.. Bowen
come down this walk" said Miss Augusta.
at must have been with the spiritual
eyes, then. haven't seen him with my
bodily ones," Laughed Lizzie.
"Oh. well, it's no matter since he isn't
here. But l warn you Missy, l won't
allow you to get up Irritation with Mr
Bowen"
81 shouldn't know how. You never
gave me lessons" returned Lizzie will
some spirit.
ut will be time enough for you after
, l am settled, continued Augusta, moi
condescending to notice Lizzie's remark
"And mean to get settled this time, fol
Mr. Bowen is simmensely rich, and l may
not have many more chances. am de
r IL