Smyrna times. [volume] (Smyrna, Del.) 1854-1987, 1880-12-01

some mistake"
know most of the people around here
What might their names beP"
"Crofton."
Why, bless me, you've got off at the
wrong station. They live Eat North Bay
ridge, FIVE miles beyond"
q" When does the next train leave?"
Tomorrow morning"
Josie looked the dismay that she certain.
ly felt at this announcement.
" It's too bad, DECLARE" said the good
natured officer, plying Josie's evident
distress.
Then as his eyes fell upon the owner of
the team, who was looking toward them, he
added:
1" If this amt streak of luck. Why,
here's John Manning, their next neighbor.
lie can take you along just as well as not
John, to the young man, there's Il young
lady that's got Off at the wrong station
She wants to 80 to Crofton's. | tell her
she can ride with YOU"
The young man removed his straw hat,
revealing forehead broad and full and
whose whiteness scontrasted strongly with
the healthy brown of the cheeks below.
" shall be very happy, if the young lady
has no OBJ ection to riding with farmer
Civ III u ldTLuct > wagon.
The admiration SO clearly visible in the
honest blue eyes that met her own, made
Josie's cheeks redden.
" If it will not be too much trouble"
AS the young man listened to these low
sottly-spoken words, he felt nothing that
the speaker could ask would be any trouble
at all. Springing to work, he soon impro.
vlsed quite a comfortable seat for Josie by
passing a rope from one stake to another,
just back of the board in front throwing a
thick, soft blanket over the whole.
Glad to be released Jenny and Kate bore
them swiftly along the winding country
road, dotted here and there by farm houses,
nestled down among trees and strawberries
AS soon as Josie got a little used to it, she
enjoyed her elevated and novel position,
which gave her fine view of the country
through which they were passing. Her
companion smiled at her enthusiastic ex-
CARNATIONS and comments, seeming TO take
pleasure in what she so frankly and inno-
Gently expressed.
Do you think you would like to live in
the country?' he said. stealing an admirng
glance at the glad young face
"Above all things" responded Josie.
That is" she added, after u moments
pause, if papa could he here too. wish
he could be, just for IA little while, he would
enjoy it SO. Papa "as brought up on
farm. heard him say once that he wish
Ell he had never left it."1
al had strong desire, when a boy, to
! go to the city, where could get chance
to get rich and not have TO work so hard
| But am the only son and only child since
last winter here the speakers eyes sad.
dened. Il promised father, just before he
died, that | would not leave the farm while
mother lived, and don't know that care
to do so now
81 wouldn't if were in your place, said
Josie, with wise shake Of her pretty head.
! It's dreadful hard times in the city. Every
body is grooming about them, which makes
it dismal enough. And as to working
hard, I'd like to know who works harder
than pa does. Its ever so much nicer
here"
The honest young fellow, whose heart
was in his eyes, inwardly hoped she would
always think so.
"There is where live" he said, aloud,
pointing to house with wide piazza run.
ming all around the sides, which looked
very pleasant amid the green verdure that
surrounded it.
Young Manning drew the reins at the
| gate IuSlUS vi WHICH Il plSdSdIl ldCGuy SILVER
haired woman was standing.
Heres the mail mother he said toss.
ing down to her some papers and pamphlets.
this young lady to Mr.. Crofton's. My
mother Miss Wilson"
The young man took leave of Josie with
a feeling at his heart such as he had never
experienced before.
"How pretty she is" he thought, land
as good as pretty, am sure"
"What an honest an pleasant face!
wonder if | shall ever see him again ~
This was what she thought.
Josie did see him again, and quite often.
The Mannings and CrOftons were not only
neighboFs, but were intimate. Mary Crof.
ton had been strangely attached to Mrs.
Manning's only daughter, who died the
preceding Winter. She spent good deal
of time at her house and Josie frequently
with her. Mary WAS never weary of prais-
ing John, he was such a good son, so intel.
ligent, steady and industrious.
John soon got over the shyneSs with the
city girl who took SO kindly to country
WAYS that it seemed as if she had always
lived in the country. He used to walk
home with her, Mary considerably finger
ing at the gate to talk with his mother,
we'll pleased with the turn affairs were
taking.
Then there were rides and walks, pic.
MICS and social gathering, at all of which
John and Josie had fashion of getting of
by Themselves fashion that everybody
seemed to humor and understand.
And SO the happy days went on, each
day binding those young, loving hearts
more closely together.
When Josie returned to the city, which
was two weeks later than she expected
she had pleasant story to whisper in her
fathers ear.
off you love him and he is worthy Of
you," he said, in reply to the query with
which it ended. Josie's quick ear detected
the sadness that underran these words.
"You know your promise to live with me
when was married, papa" she whispered
: laying her cheek closely to his. "And en-
, a farm, tool Won't it be delightful
4
Bell and Lucy returned home with the
conscious air Of subdued triumph and i'm
portance peculiar 10 engaged young
: ladies'"
!, Having attained the end and aim of theil
: existence, there was nothing for them t.
hope or expect. From thenceforth they
were to repose upon their laurels, floating
down the stream Of life with no thought o
: care or anything but the present enjoy
ment.
Bellies captive was Wall Street Rrok or
v owning fabulous amount of paper, Lucy
: was the son of millionaire, whose ambition
. seemed to be to spend as quickly as pos
S sible, the money that his father had laboreC
Q to acquire.