The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1880-01-15
The Belle of Wolf Run.

A company of strolling players in
barn. The great space is lighted by
lamps of every description, the mo-.
ambitious of which is circle of hoops
stuck full of candles. This does duty
as the grand chandelier, and is quite
effective.
Seated near the stage, before which
hangs Il green curtain, are two persons
man and II young girl, whom, even
the unpracticed eye might take us rustic
lovers. He is tall, inely-formed
young fellow, with a noble head and
keen. sparkling blue eyes. She is the
beauty OF Wolf Run, faultless in figure
and feature, and with something in
her expression denoting that she is not
quite satisfied with her position, even as
the belle of the village, or her surround
ingS.
Margaret Lee had never in her life
seen play, therefore she was prepared
to realize all the emotions of novelty,
terror, wonder, delight, with which n
novice looks on he strut and action of
those who cater to the profoundest
craOtions. OF course she flrgot where
she was; Il cour,e she was dazzlCd and
terribly stirred at the love scenes, which
We're, rs usual. exaggerated.
The hero of the drama was hand
StIlG. Ntlll IS IiSt.tl, VIII IttTuttl,
before the evening was through. to play
ut our unsophisiicated Rttle Margaret,
readilg her admiration in her eyes, and
enjoying the smiles, the tears. and almost
spoken interest, Of the beauty of Wo1
Run.
Pretty good - wasn't il ?" said
Char ic Vance, us lie held her Heecy red
shawl to wrap about her, ut The close
of the performance.
Margaret had no words, she only
gaSpcd: oh, CharliC" us they gained
the door, and caught at his arm; for
their stood the hero of the stage, still in
his bespangled velvet linery, and evil
IDENTIFY stationed at that particular place
in order to catch Il glance ut her lovely
face.
"Confound his impudence!" Charlie
Vance mutteTed between his teeth.
Margaret shivered Il little as they lett
the barn. Everybody was laughing
and talking. The soft, clear, round
moon shed its light upon scene of
sylvan beauty; but the two spoke but
few words until they had reached Mar
garet's home IL square white house set
back Il garden.
"A little of that goes n great ways
said the young farmer, who had evil
dently been thinking the matter over
They stay here a week or more. l
don't care to go again, do you ?"
"Oh, [ do believe | could go every
night" said Margaret, fervently.
They're a hard set, Maggy," said
her lover, a little malice in his voice.
How do you know ? Are you sure
of that ?" she asked, eagerly and re-
provingly.
"Oh, they're generally thought to be
Well, goodnight, Maggy;" and he
had gone ten steps before it occurred to
him that they had parted without a
kiss.
81 don't care" he said, sullenly. half
aloud; land that fellow stays at her
uncle's tavern, too. Why should it net
tie me SO, anywayW
Now Margaret and her cousin Anne
were almost as inseparlble rs sisters. 1t
was with quick beating heart that tie
former took her way to the tavern next
dav, meeting Anne as usual at the pri-
vate entrance for the family.
"Oh, Magr cried Anne, her eyes
sparkling, you've made a conquest"
What do you mean?" asked Mar.
garet, her fair face flushing, her pulses
beating tumultously.
"WEy, you know-last night. Oh,
isn't he glorious !-eXquisiteP And only
think lie asked papa who that very
lovely girl was in pink ribbons in the
second seat-and that was you! Papa
laughed, and told him his niece, and
somebody else said something very
handsome about you at the table, and
then papa up and said you were engaged
10 Charlie Vance, which sounded Sc
rldlculnus. Aad | give you my word oi
honof the gentleman turned pale"
Nonsense!n said Margaret but the
hattering words had accomplished theil
work, and 1t was not hard to persuade
her to stay to dinner, where of course
her lovely blushing face did not little
execution.
"Well, Maggy, what is it to beP''
asked Charlie Vance, steruly. This was
only a week afterward. All the soft.
ness had gone out of his face as hes oKe
His eyes had lost their gracious, spark
ling beauty. 1T might be that hi.
cheeks We're triile thin, and certainly
his dark face Was haggaId.
"Oh, CharlieI-she stood on tn,
other side of the spacious hearth, droop
ing and timid, her face very white, ant
The large eyes startled in expression
like those of a frightened fawn.
You are changed, Maggy. don
say it alone. God help us both. it'
talked about all over the place. Las
night, when heard something at Ollie
ways, / felt like going home and blow
ing my brains out"
"Oh, Chsrlie!"
Ihe voice was more plaintive, and tn,
little figure dropped yet lower.
ana 1t all comes ofthat Internal vii
'ain. 1t all comes of YOUR going bacl
and forth to the hotel, and with Won
Cousin Anne, to see him.
Margaret lifted her head with a pitt
lul gesture.