The Lamoille news. (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1877-1881, 1878-05-15

OAd JOa NaAA Ahtu u
line voice, to her great astonishment;
and as with slight start she turns in
the direction of the voice she sees a
young man walking rapidly toward her,
the sound of his approaching footsteps
having been completely lost in the in
quiring bow-wows of her canine guar
dian. "Did you call me" he repeats.
No, sir" she replies, blushing pret-
tily, and looking at him with frank,
child-ike eyes. "I was speaking to the
horse. Be still, Liou."
Beg pardon. 1 thought for an in
slant you were speaking to me. 1t seems
have the honor of being a namesake of
your fiery steed. But you are in trou-
BILE. What is the matterP Can I help
you in any wayP"
"There's nothing very serious the
matter" she says, with smile. "We
are moving to day, and father went on
ahead long while ago, having some
business to settle with our new landlord,
and he must be at this very moment
waiting for me at the new house, and
wondering what in the world has become
of me, You see, we have no boys in our
family, and the other girls are younger
than myself, and father and mother both
thought-this being very quiet road
that Lion and could look after Charley
and the furniture; but Charley, who
generally behaves very well, has been
awfully contrary, and has stopped every
few moments, and the consequence is
we have been already two hours on a
journey that should have taken us but
one, and there's just as long a distance
to go yet; and with Charley-oh, you
wicked horse standing under that tree,
I don't know how we are ever to get to
Grasstown."
"It's almost as bad plight as the
old woman. was in with her pig, when he
wouldn't go under the stile, and she
was afraid she couldn't get home that
night" laughs the yourg mana nice
looking fellow he is, with gentleman
stamped on every feature of his hand
some face. "But suppose 1 cut you
switchP Perhaps that, used with dis
cretion, might have some influence on
the fiery steed."
"Oh, no, that would never do p she
says, shaking her head emphatically.
"Charley was never whipped in his
life. He'd be so scared at the very
sight of q switch that 1 believe he'd run
away"
"Wouldn't that be a desirable thing
under the circumstances ?" asks the
young man, with broad smile, the idea
of the old horse, whose principal desire
appeared to be not to move at all, run
ming away, striking him as inexpressibly,
comic and thinking, "Bless her kind lit
tie heart !" he continues. "Well, since
you refuse the switch, I will try how
command in the masculine voice will
affect him." he commanded, "G'long,
Charley /"
Charley started, turned his head to-
ward the speaker, recognized a master,
backed away from the oak, and went off
on quick walk.
"Well, the idea ' exclaimed his young
mistress.
"And, now, with your permission,
I'll walk with you to the end of your
journey, for I'm sure if I leave you,
Charley will note my absence imme-
diately, and stop under the next tree"
ooh, no, indeed you must not, says
thepretty country maid. "You were going
in an entirely different direction. I
could not think of taking you so far out
of your way. Many thanks for your
kind offer, but indeed, sir, J couldn't.
Charley will behave well now. Won't
you, Charley2"
"Good heavens I never knew my
name was SO musical before" thinks the
young man, and then explains: "I was
going in an entirely different direction
because I missed my train at the last
station, and, if had waited, would have
| had to wait two hours for another; but
being rather impatient by nature, and
tempted by the fine day, I set to walk,
my destination being the next village.
And now if 1 return with you shall
have much pleasanter walk, catch the
next train, and lose no time after all.
Lion approves of my plan. Don't you
Lion % And Lion, usually very suspi-
cious of strangers, comes and lays his
startlingly cold nose in his new friends
hand.
And so the two young people walk
along side by side, crushing the pretty
flowers under their feet as they go. and
Charley, looking back every now and
then out of the corner of his right eye
to see if the masculine voice is still
there never falters, but keeps steadily
on winding his way. After few mo-
ments' silence the innocent little maid
raises her blue eyes-they have
been hidden by the long lashes-and
says, in shy voice:
"You said you were going to Daisy
vile. Ihave lived there all my life."
"Not very long time" says the
young man, with smile.
"Seventeen years. was born and
my three sisters were born in the same
little farm house we are leaving now.
and tear trembles on the long lashes
and rolls down the round rosy cheek.
The young man looks at the tear with
pitying wonder.
"And were you happy thereG" he asks.