The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1878-01-04
LETTlE RIDGEWAY'S ROMANCE.

Everybody looked upon Lettle Ridge
way as an old maid, and yet, among all
the girls Of Marchbrook Village there
was not one with iresher red cheeks ana
prettier rounded figure than she, for all
she really counted her years by thirties
instead of lwenties or the more ad.
yaneed OF the 'teens."
She had always been jolly and gay
your black-eyed, blaok-haired, rosy
checked, plump little women are almost
Invariably oil mat happy, beaming tenn
perament; and although OF late years
ever since she had lett her twenty-fi th
birthday behind her-5he had been some
what-yes, considerably less jolly anu
gay; still there was always u pleasant,
hearty way with her, that made people
like her, and even CAUSED the young girls
to discuss among themselves how queer
it was that all the men passed her by to
marry some less sensible, prudent
| woman. But it was an undeHiaDle fact
that of lovers LetLie had none, nor had
one, and she often iaughingly told the
groups Of gu" girls who SO delighted in
| her society that it was perfect nonsense
| for people to say that every woman had
chances 70 marry. She knew better, Tor
never, in all her lite, had she had an
offer; never, in all her life, had q lover,
or the least sign OF lover.
When the girls begged her for cher
romance" which certaily she must have
thao, Miss Ridgeway would honestly as
sure them she had never had a romance /;
that her life mad flowed on quietly, un-
eventually, while she performed her
duties as best she knew how, their even
| Tenor undisturbed by even the most dis
tant hint of love or romance.
But away, away down in the further
most recesses of Lettie Rdgeway's
heart was the memory of name aud q
face that should never leave her until
!her dying day. The name and face of a
igallant young fellow, who had never
been lover, but who had been an inti-
mste frienu of the Ridgeways from the
earliest remembrance Of Lettie until the
time, ten years ago, when he had sailed
for distant lands, and had become al
most forgotten i'll the ten years elapsed
since.
He had always been kind enough to
Lettie, but that was all, 30 far as he was
concerned, SO that there was no possible
foundation for romance; but his hand
some face, so sunny and frank; his fair
blonde hair and golden mustache; his
bright, laughing blue eyes; his tall,
| strengthtul figure, 50 perfect in its form ;
his genial, happy disposition, had made
their impression upon Lettie when she
was girl OF seventeen, and to-day, at
tnirty.fige, there was the same quiet,
loyal worship or Frederic Glenham in
| her maiden heart that there had been
the day he bid her good-by With only a
cordial hand shake, telling her that
when he came back he expected to find
her a settled-dowp, long-married, many
olive-brauched maLron.
| Yet Lettie was absolutely cons scien-
tious when she declared to the girls she
had not, and never had had a romance
| for where was the romance? She hau
| unfortunately set up Frederic Glenham
\ as her ideal, and her quiet. womanly
persistent alteration of that ideal was
tue reason, l think, why there was that
about her that Kept men from seeking
her-that reticence Of itself that was an
invisible barricads.
And so, while Frederic Glenham was
abroad in foreign lands, coming gold
every hour in India, and Japan, and
China, and South America; while he was
royiug from place to place, across South.
ern seas, this curious, honest-hearted
woman was pursuing her daily duties
at home, never forgetting him, never
| looking upon him as The most remotely
possible lover, never expecting that he
was long ago married-and yet too true
to herself 10 attempt to win any love Tor
| herself.
1 All that had happened years ago. 1t
| was ten years now since Mr.. Glenhan
| had been at home, or since Lettie haC
more than heard from him, and now, for
the first time in all the pleasant, monot.
onous routine of Lettie Rldgeway's lite
| came break, a change-0ne that was
very acceptable to her, and that opened
a new avenue to happiness and delight
| The death Of Lettie's one married sis.
ter, and the coming to Lettie OF her sis.
ters child, Eflie Germon, was what was
at once griel and joy to Lettle; bu
gradually the griet was expended, ant
there renamed only the delight in the
society Of the fair, beautiful gir,, wht
was very sunshine III the pleasant lit
lie nome tnat was Lettie's own.
She was a lovely creature, with laugh.
ing, tender eyes Oi liquid gray, and lou &
| flowing hair OF soitesL brown, with u
complexion pure as AN unsunned snow.
DRIFT, and kissable red lips, tnat parteC
in frt quent smiles over pearllest oil
teeth.
IL was not long after she had mad,
her home with "Aunt Lettie" before she
| became acquainted with the young peo
pie, and Lettie used to see how the
young men admired her, and III her big
loving heart she would think OF the time
coming when it would be her delight anC
happiness 10 deck Ettie out for BRIDE
when she would spend upon her The
hopes and joys she lad never realized
tor herself. .......
| Then it was that Frederic Glenhan
came home from abroad; tnen it was
that he renewed his old-time acquant
auce with LeJtie Ridgeway, and looked
into EHie Germoffs lovely lace with the
ahdsome, admiring eyes that had seen
many fair woman, none of whom how
ever, as yet had succeeded In touching
his heart.
He had come as he went In at 1eas
two respects--he was grand-looking as
ever, heart-Whole as ever; but, besides
he had made his fortune abroad, anC
came home full OF determination Il
make his home among the scenes Of hi.
| boy oyho0d-among friends Of early days
| He was prime fayorite with every
body, OF course. Rich, good-lookint
bachelors are never at discount, ant
the young girls considered him glorious
cquisitloh-Efie Gernon especially
! with whom he was the most intimate
much to the disgust aud distress o
Frank Howard, heretofore Eliie's mos
ardently devoted. ,.
| Mr.. GlenAam went often to Locust
! Cottage-that was the name of Lettie't
lovely little place, nesting among very
forest of the dainty, fragrant -fowerel