Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1879-07-09
MIR. COyENTRY,S PLAN.


remember when / counseled you be-
fore you left home, to find some good,
sweet girl, and marry and settle
down, you said: Father, you find
me such a one, and / will abide by
your decision" An old schoolmatC
of your mother, Mrs. Bradley, and
her niece, called on us last week
She was passing through the town
and, knowing we lived here, found
us out. Your mother persuaded
them to stay two days with us
Frank, her niece is the girl. They
have promised to stay short time
with us again when they return from
the country. / want you to come
home in about three weeks, and, if
you don't fall in love with the sweet
est girl your old father ever saw, he
will be disappointed. Your afec-
tionate father,
+. B. COVENTRY.
The letter was lying in the loose
clasp of young man fairly stretched
in the shadow of large rock in one
of natures most delicious hooks. He
was fine specimen of graceful man
hood and profound comfort, as he lay
there with eyes closed, and the soft
breeze ruffling the hair from his fore
head.
He was evidently asleep, and the
rock, jutting around, entirely con-
cealed him from view. BY his side
lay a portfolio.
"Well, Queen Bess, what is your
royal pleasure ?"
The sweet, ringing voice, saying
these words, awoke with start the
young man.
'Sister ALA, want to 90 over the
brook and see what is on the other
side"
"In other words, you want me to
carry you over those slippery stones,
you little tyrant! Well, clasp your
arms tight around my neck. Here
we 60"
Looking around the side of the
rock, the artist (for so he was) saw
far prettier picture than all his sum-
mer's rambling had found him.
A young girl was half way across
the brook which puzzled quietly along.
The supple grace of her figure was
perfectly displayed by the attitude in
which she was holding the little
laughing child. Her face was turn
ed away, but the shapely head,
crowned by soft braids of hair, and
the tiny rings, curling so softly
around the white neck, left the OBJ
server no doubt but that it would be |
a lovely one.
lie watched until the trees hid
their receding figures from his view,
and then, taking his portfolio, went
around the rock to the spot where
they must have been sitting.
A book lay there. Frank took
from his button-hole spray of wild
roses, and laid it in the half open
pages. As he sauntered slowly home
ward he wished he could have stayed |
and seen the surprised look, which
would come in the sweet face (for
sweet he knew it must be- on seeing
the fairy book-mark in the shadow
Of the friendly rock. 1t seemed
long time before he saw the face,
which occupied so much of his
in wondering what it was
ike. But at last he was satisfied.
He heard steps, and a childish voice,
md he knew they were come.
Gala, sister ALA, let me curl your
lair"
my pet, suppose some one came
long, and caught me with my hair
II down."
mo one ever comes here, ALA.
lease let me-"
With a feeling as if he were doing
omething mean, Frank peered eau
iously around the rock. There sat
ALA" on a messy stone, and the lit {
e sister gleefully unbraiding, and !
visiting around her fingers, the soft
air. Franks artist eye was enrap- y
lred.
The face was even fairer than his y
cal. After one long look, he reso- b
tely took book, and resumed his k
ual lazy position.
II am a mean fellow, to peep at a II
ri when she thinks no one is near,