The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-05-26
A YOUNG LADY'S LETTER.
TContinued1

A few minutes afterward and the pa
per, the punt, and Mr.. Lescar came to
rather sudden bend in the river. The
current took the piece of paper with it
to the elbow, as it were, of the bend;
where, being light craft, not drawing
more than the huudreth part Of an inch
of water, it wriggled for moment or SO
in the grasp of small eddy, and then
sailed off again into deep water and went
on its way. Not 50 the punt of Mr.. Les
car. They, too, were taken to the bend
by the current, but being too large and
heavy to toss lightly about in whirl-
pool the size of washhand basin, there
they stopped. For young Lescar was of
too impatient temperament to stop there
with it, and rail with Fate. And after
all it was as easy to follow its course,
down the banks on his legs, as to float
helplessly matter of ten yards or so at
ter it in a poleless punt.
Follow it to the best of Instability he
did. 1t may be thought strange that this
piece of paper should have gone so long
on its way "unstopped by twig or snag,
or overhanging bush, or venturous weed
upcreeping through the water to the air
and hght;n but the fact is, that it did so
Aoat in that unfettered manner. One
sees the straws and twigs that have been
stoppedAbut can not tell how far they
may have come, tumbling over weirs and
gliding through open locks before they
we're 50 brought to standstill.
Nor was Mr.. Lescar stopped. Cows
were of course nothing to him. Boards
with such warnings painted thereon as
"Trespassers will be strictly prosecuted" "
"Beware of the dog" ""Private," During
the floods this road is under water," "
troubled him not at all. He passed a
few people certainly, hut however hotly
he might himself be engaged in the pur.
suit Of Miss Munniss's truant correspon'
dence, he was quite sensible that it would
be of no use to ask assistance. One old
gentleman he did stop, because the Ole
gentleman had his dog with him, and be-
cause the dog was wet, and having pre-
sumedly been in the water for his pleas
ure, might possibly be induced to 60 into
it again on business.
"Sir, sir =. your dog has been in th'
+ water hasn't he -. mean he'll
fetch things out, won't he -. There
something in the river"
"Good Cd, sir! where f.. p crie'
the old man, stopping short at once witt
face of horror. Here, Vixen, Vixen.
"Allow me to explain. There it goe
:. No, by Jove, I've lost it! No! Their
it is out in the full of the stream. It's
little bit of notepaper -"
The old man was furious.
II daresay you young fellows think
very clever thing to startle quiet oil
gentleman out Of his senses. call it yer
vulgar and i. +. and ungentlemanl
:. but you are quite welcome 10 you
fun, sir; if such little things amuse you
"Good heavens sir" cried horrifie(
> polite Paul Lescar. "T aln quite serior
:. / assure you. Do let me explain -
"You'll lose your bit Of paper if 70
do" said the old gentleman sarcastic
ally. .,
"By Jove! so shall!" cried the your
man, and was off, leaving the old gentl
man standing staring after him in utt'
amazement. ...,..
"Poor follow, touched in the heao
That's what comes of competitive exam
nations Every brain stuffed exactl
alike. Healthy, strong brain doesn
burst. There you have the whole thin
in nutshell. Poor fellowp
Meanwhile the poor fellow was scan
pering (having very nearly lost sight {
his piece Of paper) across, firsta meadow
and secondly a remarkably welLkel
lawn, having calmly opened and com
through a littlegate that divided the or
from the other; shaking with suppresse
laughter at his own impertinence, an
devoutly hoping that "the family" WEI
all out. For behind the lawn of cour
there was house, and behind the wal
of that house presumably there wou
be family.
Fortune, however, is known to fave
the bold, and she not seldom extends h
patronage to the impudent. AT Il
further end of the lawn was dimin
tive harbor Of refuge, cut in the Law
itself, Just wide and long enough to ho
a canoe. And in it there was cano
and, crowning mercy! apaddle. The
are some temptations too strong to I
successful battle with; Mr.. Lescar d
not attempt to fight with this one.
get into the canoe, to tear after the |
Of paper-to pass ito gently fish it |
with one end Of the paddle-to return
the little harbor--to chain up the can
and to walk triumphantIy to Miss Mu
niss-seemed such harmless set of pl
ceedings, that he at once proceeded. T.
chain was unfastened, the canoe :.
He was so excited, so delighted, abo
all in such a hurry, that perhaps he h
not ears to hear. Anyhow, he did not he
the thud Of quickly coming footsteps U
til the person whose feet were steppi
was close upon him. Then he turned,
course, with the most guilty, horrii
start possible. And the next second
young man, as excited and as strong
himself, had put his hand on his should
Until the moment Paul Lescar look