The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1880-12-18

foot, which even into the January chill
lsent forth faint odor, like memory
OF vanished summer Moons; the cold,
blue skys with few light clouds, rose
from the near sunset, sailing across it,
above the swaying fr-tops; the river
flashing icily at the foot of the lawn
slope; the late, keen light falling slant
ing upon the merry group under the
gray old trees. can see Eleanor For
roster, in the short, rough suit of the
dark blue she loved to wear, with the
red of an Astounding and joyous health
in her delicate face, and her bright hair
all tossed and ruffled in the wind. She
had been examining, rather critically,
the pistol Alec Stuart had handed her,
at her laughing request; and now, as
she gave it back.
4" It's quite time 1 had a little prac-
tice in this sort of thing" she said sun
less l wish to lose entirely the aim
brother Jack used to declare my CHIEF
accomplishment in schoolgirl days!"
"My armory is quite at your service,
whenever you propose to recommence
practice, Miss Eleanor" said Uncle
Philip, with the smile which he always
had for her brave young beauty. &c
used to be quite connoisseur in fire.
arms once, and took pride in the little
armory inherited from my father, who
held such tastes before me. | remem-
Der he used to have loaded revolver
kept in every guest-chamber in the
house; dare say you would find one or
two in the old cabinets up yonder still.
/ hod Thorn nrarho,,laI IoJ
not very long ago; and l have an i'm
preston that some of them were left
where we found them. We will look
over them together some day, Miss
Eleanor"
"Thank you; it would give me hearty
pleasure" she said. "I delight in a
well-made little revolver, almost as much
as my brothers do. l have seen the
time more than once when l have felt
the safer for their company"
"It does seem to me-" cried Alec
Stuart, suddenly addressing her with a
brusqueness that had rather grown on
him of late. set does seem to me, Miss
Eleanor, that you possess the most ex-
traordinary number of superfuous &C
complishments of any young lady of
my acquaintance: How you ever find
time to add to your gentlemanly tastes
any feminine pleasures, must confess
puzzles mel"
She turned toward him 1--WE were
walking back to the house, now, and he
was by her side), with a very kind
amusement in her gray eyes.
"And it seems to me-" she said,
gsthot in 1,t %
sex, are very unreasonable on this sort
OF subject! And SO my pistol shooting
is to follow my riding and swimming,
under the ban of unqualified condema-
ton! Unconventional, such tastes may
be in women, grant you; but unwom-
anly am sure they are not. Gentle
women will not need teaching as to
how and where to indulge them; but
properly exercised, such sport brings q
strength of muscle and power of nerve
which women, as well as men, need
sorely enough in the hard places of their
lives! And think that women who
use every means in their power to make
healthy their bodies for healthy minds
to dwell in should be helped, and not
laughed at. beg your PARDON" she
ended, abruptly, as the silence about
her warned her how earnestly she had
been speaking. "Indeed, didn't mean
to make speech. But ], don't like to
be laughed at as eccentric when l am
only using the right, natural means
which believe exist to boys, men and
women alike, to strength and usefulness,
and in the truest sense, self-possession!"
We had arrived at the hall door as
Eleanor finished speaking; and as it
opened. the warm freight flashed out
ruddily across the twilight snow.
Stuart stood aside for Eleanor to pass in,
and taking off his cap, stood uncovered,
" owe you an apology for my rudeness,
Miss Eleanor" he said, /" and l don't
know how best to make it. Only per-
haps you can fancy that man
who would gladly be of service
to a wo-to womankind-and feels
how little he could ever serve them
in the high things of mind and spirit,
may feel resentful, a little, when we See
them so 'arm'd and well prepared
against physical evils; also, that he can
not hope to serve them even there!''
Was it the freight gave Eleanor's
face that rosy glow, as she passed him
with no answer but bend of her fair
headp
"Oh yes, his apology was all very
pretty" l said, resentfully, to Aunt
Hester, as we went up stairs together.
/" But l don't see why Mr.. Alec Stuart
need, in the least concern himself with
Eleanor Forrester's tastes and inclina-
tons, in the first place!"
"Unless, indeed" Aunt Hester an
swered, smiling down into my vexed
face, "unless, indeed, Mr.. Alec Stuart
has come to look upon Eleanor's tastes
and inclinations as upon those of the
woman he would make his wife. have
thought he might be so looking at them
this many month, my dear!"
CHAPTER II.
I think ii happened on a Tuesday aft
ernoon-that little episode under the fir
trees. The following Saturday the
hercest storm of that winter swept over
Ayr. Even the solid, sturdy old Hey
wood House shook under the raging as
sault of the north wind that, charged
with sharp rain and sleet, flung itself
against the wall, and roared at the win
dows. | remember that early in the
afternoon few of us, impatient at the
drowsiness with which the heat of in