Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1880-01-16
The Belle of Wolf Run.

A company of strolling players IN a
barn. The great space is lighted by
lamps of every description, the mo,
ambitious of which is a 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 green curtain, are two persons
a man and young girl, whom, even
the Impractical eye might take as rustic
lovers. He is a tall, finely 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 a 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 a play, therefore she was prepared
to IT aliZe all the emotions of novelty,
terror, wonder, delight, with which a
novice looks on he strut and action of
those who cater to the profoundest
emotions. Of course she rgot where
she was; cf course she was dazzled and
terribly stirred at the love scenes, which
We're, as usual. exaggerated.
The h rO tf the drama was hand
some, worthl, IS rascal, who learned,
before the evening was through, to play
at our unsophisticated little Margaret
reading her admiration in her eyes, and
enjoying the smiles, the tears, and almost
sooken interest, of the beauty of Wof
Run.
"Pretty good - wasn't it P" said
Charlie Vance, as he held her teecy rcd
shawl to wrap about her, at the close
of the performance.
Margaret had no words, she only
gasped: oh, Charlien as they gained
the door, and caught at his arm; for
their stood the hero of the stage, still in
his bespangled velvet finery, and evil
IDENTIFY stationed st that particular place
in order to catch glance at her lovely
face.
"Confound his impudence!" Charlie
Vance muttered between his teeth.
Margaret shivered little as they lett
the barn. Everybody was laughing
and talking. The soft, clear, round
moon shed its light upon a scene of
sylvan beauty; but the two spoke but
few words until they had reached Mar
garet's home square white house set
back a garden.
"a little of that goes great ways"
said the young farmer, who had evil
IDENTIFY been thinking the matter over.
"Thcy stay here week or more. |
don't care to go again, do you ?"
"Oh, do believe l could go every
night" said Margaret, fervently.
"They're hard set, Maggy," said
ho,. louor. n 1ittlo n, 1ioa -, hiO
How do you know Are you sure
of that ?" she asked, eagerly and re-
provingly.
"Oh, they're generally thought to be
Well, good ght, 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, sulleniy, hall
aloud; land that fellow stays at hel
uncle's tavern, too. Why should it net.
tie me SO, anywayP
Now Margaret anG her cousin Anne
were almost as inseparAble as sisters. Il
was with quick beating heart that the
former took her way to the tavern mex
dav, meeting Anne as usual at the pri
vate entrance for the family.
"Oh, Magn' cried Anne, her eye'
sparkling, you've made conquest"
What do you meanp" asked Mar
garet, her fair face flushing, her pulse
beating tumultously.
"Why, you know-last night. Oh
isn't he glorious!-exquisiteP And onl.
think he asked papa who that YER
lovely girl was in pink ribbons in tn
second seat-and that was you! Pap
laughed and told him his niece, an
somebody else said something yer
handsome about you at the table, an
then papa up and said you were engage
to Charlie Vance, which sounded S
ridiculous. And give you my word {
honor the gentleman turned pale"
"Nonsensem said Margaret; but TIL
flattering words had accomplished thei
work, and it was not hard to persuad
her to stay to dinner, where of cours
her lovely blushing face did not litt
execution.
"Well, Maggy, what is it to beP
asked Charlie Vance, sterbly. This WI
only week afterward. All the sof
ness had gone out of his face as hesr OK
His eyes had lost their gracious, sparl
ling beauty. 1T might be that h
cheeks were trifle thin, and certain
his dark face was haggard
"Oh, Characteristic stood on Il
other side of the spacious hearth, droo
ing and timid, her face very white, an
the large eyes startled in expression
like those of frightened fawn.
You are changed, Maggy. l don
say it. alone. God help us both, ii
talked about all over the place. La
night, when heard something at Dill
ways, ! felt like going home and bio,
ing my brains out"
"Oh, Charlie"
The voice was more plaintive, ard &
little figure dropped yet lower.
"And it all comes of that Internal V
ain. 1t all comes of your going ba
and forth to the hotel, and with yo
Cousin Anne, to see him."
Margaret lifted her head with p
fll gesture.