The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1878-11-23

said, patting the satin-smooth skin aud
speaking very much as a mother would to
4 child.
The baggage-master was standing near
pile of trunks and parcels.
sis this your trunk, Miss?' be said as
Josie approached him.
Eyes. | was expecting friends to meet
me, but they are not here. There must
be some mistake"
~ know most Of the people around
here. What might their name be ?"
''CrOfton."
''Why bless me, you've got off at the
wrong station. They live at North Bay
bridge, five miles beyond"
"When does the next train leave p
Tomorrow morning"
Josie looked the dismay that she GER
tainly felt at this announcement.
sits too bad, / declare, said the good
natured official, plying JOsie's evident
distress"
Then, as his eye fell upon the owner of
the team, who was looking toward them,
he added
"If this is not streak of good luck
Here's John Manning, their next neigh
Dor. lie can take you along just as we'll
as not"
"John, here's young woman that's
got off at the wrong station. She wants
to 90 to Crofton's / tell her that she can
ride with you
The young man removed his straw hat,
revealing forehead broad and full, and
whose wilderness eoBtrastsd strongly with
the beautiful brown of the cheeks below,
81 shall be very happy, if the young
lady has no objection to riding with farm
err, and in farmers wagon ?"
The admiration so clearly visible in the
honest blue eyes that met her own, made
,Josie's cheeks redden.
eff it will not be too much trouble"
As the young man listened to those low,
softly-spOken words, he felt that nothing
The speaker could ask would be any trou-
bic al II. Springing to work, he soon
improvised quite a comfortable seat for
Josie by passing rope from one stake to
another, Just back of the board in front,
throwing . thick, soft blanket over the
whole.
Glad to be released, Jenny and Kate
bore them swiftly along the winding eoun-
try road, dotted here and there BY farm
houses, nestled down among the trees and
shrubbery. As soon as Josie got a little
used to it she enjoyed her elevated and
novel position, and which gave her fine
view Of the beautiful country through
which they were passing.
Her companion smiled at her enthusi-
astic EXPLANATIONS and comments, seeming
to take delight in the pleasure so frankly
and innocently expressed.
do you think you would like to live
in the country?" he said, stealing an ad-
miring glance at the glad young face.
"Aboye all things" responded Josie.
''That is," she added, after a moments
pause, "if papa could be here too. wish
he could be, just for a little while; he
would enjoy it so. Papa was brought up
on farm, All it would seem like old
times to him. | heard him say once that
he wished he had never left it.
II had a strong desire, when boy, to
go to the city, where l could have a
chance to get rich, and not have to work
so hard. But | am an only son-an only
child since last winter here the speak
er's eyes saddened. Il promised father
just before be died, that | would never
leave the farm while mother lived, and |
don't care to do so now"
,-1.,iIntf r ..a-, =,
said Josie, with wise shake of her pretty
head. "It's dreadful hard times in the
city. Everybody is groaning about them,
which makes it dismal enough. And as
to working hard, I'd like to know who
works any harder than pa does. It's ever
so much nicer here"
The honest young fellow, whose heart
was in his eyes, inwardly hoped that she
would always think so
"There is where | live" he said, aloud,
pointing to a house, with a wide piazza
running rounh two sides, and which looked
very pleasant amid the green verdure that
surrounded it.
Young Manning drew the reins at tie
gate, inside of which pleasant-faced, sill
yer-haired woman was standing.
"Here's the mail mother, he said, toss
ing down to her some papers and pamph-
lets. "Been lonely any? I'm going to
take this young lady to Mr. Crofton's My
mother, Miss Wilson"
The young man took leave of Josie with
feeling at his heart such as he never ex.
perieneed before.
GLOW pretty she isl he thought; land
as good as pretty, am sure"
"What an honest and pleasant face l
wonder if l shall ever see him again p this
was what she thought.
Josie did see him again and quite often.
The Mannings and Croftons were not only
neighbors, but very intimate. Mary Croi.
ton had been strangely attached to Mrs
ManDings only daughter, who died the
preceding winter. She spent a good deal
Of time at her household and Josie fire.
quently went with her. Mary was never
weary of praising John; he was such a
good son, and so intelligent, steady aud
industrious"
John soon got over his shyness with the
city girls, who took so kindly to country
ways that it seemed as If she had always
lived there. He used to walk home with
her, Mary considerably lingering by the
gate 10 talk with his mother, both well
pleased at the turn affairs were taking.
Then there were rides and walks, pic
mics aud social gatherings, at all of which
John and Josie had fashion of getting
of by themselves-i fashion that every
one seemed to honor and understand.
And SO the happy days went on, each
day binding those young, loving hearts
more closely together.
When Josie returned to the city, which
was two weeks later than she intended, she
had a pleasant story to whisper in her
fathers ear
"lf you love him aud he is worthy Of
you, he said in reply to the query with
which it ended.