The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-10-12

a proper caution, ] Yancied, In the words
wrote. 1t was evident that she was nnmar
| ricd, but outside Of that certainty there lay
q vast range " possibilities, some OF then
alarming enough. However, II any nearer
acquaintance should arise out of the incident
the next step must be taken by her. Was
one OF the men she sought? / almost imaR
ined so-certainiy hoped so.
Ilaid the book on the rock as | had foune
1t and bestowed another keen scrutiny OF
the ravine. That evening | went early K
the ladies' parior, chatt vi more than usua
| with the various damsels whom knew. and
watched with new interest those whom ]
knew not. My mind, fnvoluntarily, had al
| ready created u picture Of the unknown. she
| might be twenty-five thought; n reflective
habit would hardly be developed before that
| age. Tall and stately, Of course; distinctly
proud In her bearing and somewhat reserved
In her manners. Why she should have large
black eyes, with long dark lashes, could not
| tell; but 90 seemed To see her. Quite forget
| ting that was Tor had meant to W ttgRohhs.)
| found myself staring significantly ~ one Or
covered some slight general resemblance to
the imaginary character My fancies, must
confess, played strange FRANKS with me.
They had been kept III coop 80 many years
that now, when / suddenly turned them
| loose, their rickety attempts at flight quite
bewildered me.
No! there was no use In expecting sudden
discovery. | went to the glen betimes next
morning; the book was gone q 50 were the
faded ilOwers, but some of the latter were
scattered over the top of another rock, few
yards from mine. HA this means that am
not to withdraw, said to myself; she makes
room forme But how to surprise her for ~
this time l WIS fully resolved to make her ac-
quaintance even though she mil ht turn out
TO be forty, scraggy and sandy-haired.
/ knew no other way 30 likely as that or
visiting the glen at all times of the day.
even went SO far as to write a line OF greeting
,tYt#
cided, ana laid IT under stone on the top OF
her rock The note disappeared, but there
was no answer In Its place. Then | suddenly
remembered her fondn+ss for the noon hours,
at which time she was utterly alone" The
hotel table dhote WAS ut / o'clock; her family.
doubtless, dined later III their own rooms.
Why, this gave me, at least her place in So
ciety. This question OF the age, to be sure,
remained unsettled; but all else was safe.
The next day took u late and large break
the guests had all struggled back 70 the hotel
from glen and grove and lane. 50 bright and
hot was the sunshine. Indeed, could hardly
have supported the reverberation OF the heat
belief that should be successful. Wsile cross
Ing the marrow meadow upon which Il opened,
caught glimpse OF something white among
the thickets higher up. moment later it had
vanished, aud ! quickened my pace, feeling
the beginning Of al absurd nervous excitement
in my limbs. At tho next turn there 1t was
again but only for another moment. |
paused, exuting, and wiped my drenched
forehead. "She cannot escape met | MUIR
INJURED between the deep draughts OF cooler
air l inhaled In the shadow of a rock.
A few hundred steps more brought me to the
foot or a steep ascent, where | had counted
on overtakng her. I was too late for that,
but the dry, baked soil had surely been crum-
foot. followed in reckless haste, snatching
ut the laurel branches and paying little heed
up / slipped, fell, caught bush which snapped
at the root. slid, whirled over, and before |
fairly knew what had happened / was lying
doubled up at the bottom of the slope.
| rose, made two steps forward, and then
sat down with groan of pain my left anele
was badly spratned, III addition to various
minor scratches and bruises. There was
plete and hideous. I fairly hated the IN
known. "Fool that was!" / exclaimed ID d
theatrical manner, dashing the palm OF my
hand softly against my brow; ''lured to this
BY the fair traitress! But no-not fair. She
shows the artfulness OF faded, desperate
spinsterhood; she Is all y compact Of enamel,
liquid bloom OF youth and hair dye!'
There was fierce comfort in this thought,
but 1t couldn't help me out Of the scrupe. /
dared not sit still, lest sunstroke should be
added, and there was no resource but to hop
Or crawl down the rugged path, In the hope OF
finding forked sapling from which / could
extemporlze u crutch. With endless pain and
trouble | reached q thicket, and was feebly
working on branch with my penknife, when
the sound OF a heavy footstep surprised me-
A brown harvest hand In straw hat and
shirt sleeves presently appeared. He grinned
when he saw me- and the thick snub Of his |
nose would have seemed like a sneer at any
other time.
Are you the gentleman that got hurt?"
ne asked. lis it pretty tolerable bad?'
Who said was hurt?" | cried In astonish- |
nent.
Zone OF your town women from the hotel !
reckon she was was binding oats In the |
ield over the ridge; but | haven't lost no |
lime in comm here"
While was stupidity staring at this an
louncement he whipped out a big clasp knife,
IND 10 few minutes nut fashioned me prac-
,cable crutch Then, taking me by the other
lrm, he set me In motion toward the village.
Grateful as was for the mans help he ag-
,ravated me by his Ignorance. When I asked
he knew the lady, he answered: Its |
where did she come from? Down from the
I'LL, he guessed, but 1t might ha' been up the
Dad. How did she look? Was she old or
'oung? What was the color OF her eyes? OF
Ter hair? There, now, was too much for
pecklcd wells over her face, turned her head
way, and held her parasol between, how
we're you to know her from Adam? I declare
9 you, couldn't arrive at the positive par
lculdE. EVeu WH6u ue dIIlrmeQ Lnat she was
all. he added the next instant: 'sNow,
ONE to think on 1t, she stepped mighty quick,
0 | guess she must ha' been Short
By the time we reached the hotel was In
tate Of fever; opiates and lotions had their
I'LL Of me for the rest Of the day. was glad
, escape the worry Of questions and conven-
onal sympathy expressed In infections of
ne voice which are meant to soothe and only
desperate. The next morning, as lay upon
~ sofa, restful, patient, and properly cheer
II, the waiter entered with bouquet OF wild ,
overs. ,
who sent them ?" asked,
Il found them outside your door, sir. May |
there's card; yes, here's a bit O. paper"
opened the twisted slip he handed me, and ,
sad From your dell-and mine" took j
le flowers; among them were two or three
ire and beautiful varieties, which had only |
'und In that one spot. Fool again! I noise
ssly Kissed hss them while pretending to smell
zach, and fell into state OF quiet and agree Y
bic contemplation.
Four days afterward there was hop il the I
lrge diniDg-room OF the hotel. Early in the '
corning fresh bouquet had been left at my