The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1880-07-29

floating up from the tangled recesses of ferr
and cowslip, on either side of the solitary
rniled-in road
All at once, old Pomp gave sidewise
start-his ancient idea of shying-a ther
| saw man, pale, dusty and tired-looking,
sitting on a fallen log, just outside of the
road. felt sorry for him; was like
mother-who never would let the shabbiest
or meanest looking vagabond go past our
house without a draught of milk, or piece
of fresh baked pie, or a slice of her famous
homemade bread cake-and without STOP
ping to think drew in old Pomp's rein.
"Are you going toward -Lenox Cross
Roads ?" said 1. eyes? Then jump in
I'm going in that direction, too, and I'll
give you lift" a
He thanked me in silent, dropping sort
of way, and seated himself on the board at
the back of the wagon, toward which I
pointed with the handle Of my whip.
"You look i'll, " said I. ...-.....
"Pm not ILL.," he said, with a smothered
cough. "Only tired with my long walk.
I didn't know it was so far to Lenox"
81 suppose you are going for work
said I. Deacon Briefly has good many
hands Just now in his tobacco factory"
"No," said he; "I am not going to
work."
the idea of mans shrouding himself in
mystery in that sort of way; and, as 1
glanced around once more, q sudden revela-
ton came across me, like blaze of light.
It was the same man who had eyed me
keenly ON the steps of the Park Hoiel.
Then remembered my mothers words
of caution, Leeman's reiterated exhorta-
tations, the landlords friendly words of
warning.
And, in spite of it all, had deliberately
thrust my silly head into the jaws of dan
ger. There was only one thing remaining
for me to do-to get out of the scrape as
| well as could.
cast about in my mind how to do this
and presently, with beating heart, drop
ped little paper parcel of blue ribbon into
the road
:" Oh" I cried, checking old Pomp, GIVE
dropped my parcel Would-would you
mind getting out after it ?"
"Not in the least" !" said the stranger,
and he climbed laboriously out of the
wagon. s-ssste as-t
He had scarcely set his foot on the ground
before laid the whip on old Pomp with a
will and rattled away over the long, straight
road at pace that seemed positiv ely marvel
Gus to me and Pomp both.
So we left our passenger behind, in the
middle of the Red Swamp. could see him
standing there, blank and astonished, the
sole figure in the long perspective, as ven
tured to look back; but I only. whipped
Pomp the harder, and never let him bate
his pace until we stood well out of the Red
Swamp. ir-t',..a
"Pve out-generalled him, said I, to my
self, "and I've saved Leeman's twenty -four
dollars. I'm sorry about the blue ribbon;
but it was only yard and a quarter, afte,
all, and can trim Lirs hat with something
else"
They were delighted at my prowess wher
related my adventure at home. Leeman
declared was a capital little market-woman.
mother shuddered at the idea of the desper.
ate tramp alone with me in the tangled viii.
dernesses of the Red Swamp; Lii declared
that I was heroine.
"Wasn't it a good idea for Kate to drop
the blue ribbon, and send him after it?"
said she.
Kate was goose ever to let him get
into the wagon" said Leeman, knitting hie
brow.
kate mustn't 60 by herself such long
distance again." said mother.
And drank a cup of tea, and rested N.Y.
sell, and went out afterward to see the new
brood of darling little yellow chicks, which
old Speckle had brought off the nest during
my absence. t Hs uHat
I.was on my knees in the hen-house, feed
ing them with scalded meal from the palm
of my hand, when heard mother calling
me from the house.
"Kate! Kate! come up at once. Colonel
Hay has arrived"
Colonel Hay?"
I started up, looking in blank dismay at
my calico dress and the meal l-stains on my
hands. 4su@st''-s
However, there was nothing for it but to
obey the summons; SO I went up to the
house. A sort of blur seemed to come be-
fore my eyes as 1 entered the sitting-room,
and heard my mother saying: ztsr ".
"Colonel Hay, this is my eldest daughter,
Kate"
And then the blur cleared away, and I
knew the man had twice before seen that
dav-the pale, tired traveller, whom Ihad SO
reckiessly abandoned IN the middle of the
Red Swamp.
t"I-I beg your pardon, Colonel Hay"
cried out, impulsively. 81 thought You
were thief"
The burst of laughter that followed from
every inmate of the room effectually scat
tered all embarrassment.
That was my adventure. And Colonel
Hay has long since forgiven me that un-
kind desertion of him. In fact-this is
quite private and confidential, mind-we are
to be married soon, and I am going with
him to Florida, to try the effects of South
ern climate on his health. That is all.
Isn't it enough? ~ ..
QUEEN vICTORIA'S CHILDHOOD.