The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1880-11-04
A STRANGE INTRODUCTION.
~. BY LEoLA GLENwooD.

a BY LEoLA GLENwooD.
] sMother, may take pail and PC
down to the cherry tree at the end of
the orchard and pick some of those
beaut ties for tea? Father loves them SC
well, and the tree is just loaded" i.
81 suppose So" said Mrs. Merle
Nbut Louie, you are getting altogether
too large to 60 roinping about ia the
way you do. DO you forget that you
were sixteen your last birthday"
81 "I'm real sorry / am getting SO old.
Oh, dear! what shall do hereafter il
must be always prime and precise.
am sure shall not live half my
days" And pretty Lou Merle tried
to draw down the corners of her
mouth, and stiaig ten the dimplcs out
of her rosy cheeks, i'll the vain attem pt
to look demure, but it was Of no use,
for, catching d sight of the frown upon
her mothers brow, a ringing laugh
brought the ,dimples back again.
ooh, mamma, don't look SO disgust
to try and mend" a.
"I should hope 30, for you know to-
morrow Arthur expects his college
friend, and he was saying. only this
morning that your hoydenish ways
would shock Harry Morton, for his
sister was SO very lady-like."
Ibid he, indeed? the bad boy! I
will show that brother of mine that I
can be as dignificd as any other per-
sons sister i'll like; but must 20. /"
And merry Lou caught up the tin
pail, skipped lightly down the Or
chard, climbed into the chcrry.tree
and began operations. -
She had almost filled her pail, when
hearing a step along the road, she
peeped through the leafy canopy and
saw q strange young man briskly ap-
proaching. 10 her horror, he sprang
lightly over the fence, and began pick
ing and eating cherries from the lower
branches, 10 " > is,g rts1 .tf 1880
Poor Lou, not contented with the
centre of the tree, and being quite dar-
ing, had climbed out upon the very
end of a limb, and perched there like a
bird. Although screened from q cas-
ual glance by the thick leaves, her
position was not in the least enviable.
At any second the stranger might dis
cover her, or her slcnderfooting might
give way. Lou wished herself at
home, for she recognized the stranger
to be no other than Harry Morton, as
she had seen his picture, and he was the
very one whom she had made up her
mind to freeze with her new role OF
dignity. Scarcely daring to breathe,
Lou anxiously waited for him to go;
but he was leisurely eating cherries,
and seemed in no hurry, at all.
Her hold and footing were both In
pxyo nd hx-
Lou landed on her feet in front of the
astonishcd stranger. .
The Young man started back in
amazement, but seeing only beanti-
full girl with golden curls, sparkling
black eyes and rosy cheeks, and that
she wasn't hurt, he raised his hat, and
bowling low, said with mock solemn
ity,- -. 5T-a,
81 heard a soft rustling of leaves and
lo!- fairy queen has descended from
her throne and stands before me. You
are Miss Merle, are you nOt?" with D
mischievOus smile. a..s .......
Lou blushed and stammered assent,
mentally wishing herself miles away.
"YOur brother has described you SO
often that knew could not be mis-
taken. I am Harry Morton, your
brothers college friend. l was Oh my
way to the house, when, seeing those
cherries, and being warm and thirsty,
] could not resist the temptation of
picking few. Miss Merle, you have
not learned yet tho art OF alighting
from the branch of I tree without
slight accidents. Allow me to restore
these cherries to the pail" -,--..----
BY the timc the cherries were oil
picked up from the grass, Lou felt at
ease, and as they walked together to-
ward the house, they cllatted quite
like old friends. ..r .Is.=.4
Arthur Merle was standing in the
doorway, and, when lie saw who was
approaching, fastened down the path,
and grasping the hand of his friend,
gave ita vigorous shake. . . -. p =
s"Why, Harry, d0ixi do you do, old
fellow1 am ever so glad to see you,
although you have taken Inc by sur
prisey coming day earlier. than you
wrote. l am sorry you had to walk
from tie station ia llfis hot sum-
81 did not mind the walk much. 1
found it convenient to start a day car
her, and thought would do so.' t;j
81 am glad you did. i see there is
no need Of Introducing you to my sis
ter. You appear 10 be very we'll ac-
quainted."
Harry smiled and glanced at Lou,
who blushcd q fine rose color.
81 wonder what pranks Lou has
been up to now," thought Arthur, but
said nothing.
e The three entered the house, and
soon after Lou escaped to her room,
and, girl fashion, after all was over,
had good cry from sheer mortifica-
tioiI, and then and there made VOW
never to climb trees any morc-during
college vacations. s'f e-... ~
Harry Morton remained at Merle
farm week, and then Mr.. and Mrs.
Merle asked him to prolong his stay.
Finally he concluded to stay another
week, confessing to himself that the
bright eyes of Lou had something to
do with his decision. The week was
most agreeably spent in walks, drives,
and gay little evening parties.
The day before Harry Morton's de-
parture, Lou went with him for .
stroll along the river side. Before
they returned she had promised to be
his wife. They looked SO inexpressi-
bly, happy when they entered the
house, that Arthur Merle immediate-