The Centre reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1871-1940, 1878-05-02
Redolette's Escape.

"It is farther than il looks, said
Redolette.
"Not too far for us TO climb, answer
Ell the sunny-faced boy who held Redo
lette's hand while he gaEed resolutely
up at the mountains greenwood height.
1--WE can be there by sundown, and
run back before il is dark.
"Well, then, III ask leave"
Ask leave? Are you not your own
mistress, Reielotte p
"No; must obey my husband,
grsvely the little maid replied.
Your husband - cried Willie Locke.
Eyes, he is here, in the house. l
always ask his leave when he is at home.
do il in the beginning, because it will
be so all the rest Uf my life. am learn
ing, he SAYS. 10 be his wife.
"What do you mean, Redolette ?"
asked the boy, dropping her hand and
turning TO her with great earnestness,
his eyes ablaze, his cheeks flushed
"You do not-you surely do not mean
Judge Hunt when you say my hus-
band ? Oh, you are not in earnest; You
are teasing, you are joking; you are not
in earnest, Reiolette p
"In earnest, Willie" the girl replied.
"Do not look so fierce. Are you a
wolf? Are you going 10 eat ME up ?"
"No, he is the wolf" said Willie, in
dignantly.
"I have always been his little wife, "
said Redolette. Il wss born so. Ever
since Redolette was a baby he says,
L
dian. Ny dying father left me in his
hands, and he takes care of me, and
takes care Of the money ! am to have
when / am of age; but before that, at
least so Aunt Rhoda declares, although
don't say so qUite--before that we shall
probably be married. There Now,
Willie, III go and ask leave.
Without another word she ran up the
path at whose outer terminus. the gar.
den gate, they had been standing while
they talked. and disappeared in the
house.
She returned all smiles. Judge
Hunt has gone down to the village for
the evening letters, and auntie says we
may 60 10 the Block Height, If we will
hurrs home" She offered to take his
hand again as they went through the
gate, but Willie drew proudly back.
She started inquiringly, but still smil-
ing. Now, Willie, she said, "don't
spoil our dear little time. Please don't
be cross.
Al am not cross, said Willie; az was
never less so in nv life. But certainly
shall not take the hand Of another mans
& V 4 - II
olette, said this man OF eighteen to the
baby woman at his side, in a voice
thrilling with emotion and singing with
reproach.
"Oh, 1 do, said Redolette, deeply
shocked at his vehemence. Indeed I
do, Willie. / understand you with all
my heart" They had gone some PAGES
down the maple-arched road before she
spoke again, and during that Ii lie Will
lie had taken the hand he had rejected,
and not only that, but he had transferred
it from his right hand to his left, 2 that
he might encircle with his firm ar her
little waist. She turned to him fully
her innocent, sweet face-was there ever
a face more sweet and more innocent p
and said, "You are the only thing, VIII
lie, in all the world that / 10 under
stand"
"Oh, Redolette?" sighed Willie, and
he kissed her cheek.
She broke away from him then, and
they had race. They raced down the |
road to the lane; raced up the lane to /.
the pasture fence; leaped over the fence,
and this without any appeal for assist |
ance from Redolette, for she was a
mountain maid, and free and agile as q
bird; raced across the upland meadow,
and then Willie caught up. The ascent I
began; it became sleeper and more T.
steep; they went slowly and more slow.
Rugged toe way that looked SO smooth, I.
viewed from below. They climbed wea- /
rily the steep stones, stopping occasion /
ally TO take breath, and 10 look back I.
with delicious little hngerings at the I
pictured field and wood stretched at /
their feet, and the Zigzag village cling /
ing to the rivers brink as for dear life. 1
Before sundowH they reached the /
height. They found seat Just wide |
enough for two in the crevice of the great I
square rock that gave TO this accessible I
hill-summit, perched amid prouder /
heights, its familiar name.
p" Block Height" Flushed and excited, |
and again cooled and Gained, they rested, /
while behind them the sun went down,
its orb quite hidden by interlocking hills,
and known only in its final departure by /
the uplifting from the valley Of the skirt .
Of sumptuous light.
Now, Redolette, we must have a
solemn talk"
Generally" said Redolette, in tha
demure vet coquettish accent, "I do not
ike solemn talks"
"Never mind, Willie insisted, author
itatively, "whether you like them or
not. Redolette-" He paused; he was
zoinp 10 say, "Redolette darling" but
ne restrained, for the sake Of solemnity,
1is boyish warmth. Redolette, how
I'D are you p
She folded her hands in her lap, and
ooked down like child at school called
n the recitation bench. 81 shall be |
ixteen the fifth of next month"
"Sixteenl And what do you know"
Redolette laughed. "I know that"
willie knew that too. "Sweet sixteen
sweetest sixteen % he said In his |
leart.
he asked her, gravely, "Where have
ron been at school? ?"
"I went for some time to DIR. Ks
lass at 2, but ] have not been the
ast three terms. Judge Hunt does not
believe in schooling for girls. AUST now
am taking lessons in housekeeping Of
nv aunt. I stitch shirt bosoms every
lay-four threads OF linen forward and
wo threads back, the regular old-fash-
oned way. sew and cook and bake"
"Bakel" repeated Willie, Indignantly.
"Or sometimes I fry. 1t depends
mon whether tits doughnuts or bread. I
would rather fry than bake; it is more
,xciting."
II should think so. indeed. Why,
these are the tortures Of the
nquisition for you. Fry and bake
Thew might as well roast you at the
take. OF course these things have to
e done. We must have shirt bosoms
nd bread, and it is right that you should !