The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1881-01-20
A GIRLS FANCY.
BY EDWARD J. /RIvSER.

1t Is O quiet summer afternoon, and
the valley in the Catskiils where we find
ourselves lies in perfect stiffness; the
skiff that monopolizes the little lake
moving gently along without ripple to
make pretense of barring its progress.
Brownfields is delightful place, but if
it were not for the visitors with whom
the Peters fill their house in the sum-
mer. lonely enough to be called wild.
With the Peters and their friends, and
with the groups of workmen that Mr..
Peters forges have gathered in the val
ley, we have little to do; but will turn
again to look at the fisher-boy, the sole
occupant of the skiff.
Jimmie Gordon is ambitious, and for
the son Of an Irish workman-the fore
man at one of the shops lis well edu-
Gated and refined. Mr.. More, a city
clergymen who spent some of his vaca-
tions at Brownfelds, was struck with his
quick native shrewdness, and, taking an
interest in him, loaned him books,
talked with him, helped him orally while
in the mountains, and afterward by cor
respondence; and Jimmie's own intelli-
gence and earnest application have done
the rest; so that when we meet him as
Mr.. Peters fisherman, he not only in
tends, with a true American sanguine-
ness, to rise, but is far better equipped
for the battle he has enlisted in than
many even who start ON a good deal
higher plane. Meanwhile he attends
strictly to business, and to-day, when we
find him on the lake, has finished his
fishing for the day, and is idly sculling
about, thinking of that better fortune
that he has resolved shall be his in time,
and wondering in what shape the fates
will bring it to him.
Miss Eta Larton does not in the least
look like Fate as she comes down the
hill-path with her cousin, George Lar
ton, and their mutual friend, Harry Ell
lis; in fact, we are very much inclined to
agree with George when he thinks of
her to-day as much more of Grace; but
if she is not q Fate herself she is GER
tainly notable instrument of their will.
They are all three stopping with a large
party at Montrose, the nearest apology
for town, and this full four miles away
Miss Larton, however, ''goes in" TO,
walking as the proper thing in the noun
tains, and rather against the will of her
escorts, has covered the whole four miles
on foot, and is still fresh and ready for
adventures when she enters the little
| Brownsfields valley. Rather dark, of
| medium height, and in sturdy good
| health, shall be the whole of her per-
sonal descriptions; and for her estate in
life" it will be enough to say that she is
the only daughter of the richest man in
Cleveland, and so of course spoiled, but
withal, very fascinating, as Cousin
George can testify She is given to
whims, and just now the fancy that
strikes her is to have a row on the clear
little lake that is so invitingly laid oui
below, so that the one duty of her obedi.
ent companions is to find the WAYS and
/ means; not altogether an easy task, see.
ing that all the boats are carefully locked
mp, except the one that Jimmie and his
fish use with not the best effects as tc
cleanliness. Still, as it is the only one
it must be had, and Jimmie, in response
TO Larton's request, Immediately rows ur
and takes the party, Miss Eta in the
stern and in full view of the handsome
boatman.
Is there such thing as love at frs
sight? Surely; and before the triI
around the lake is finished, Eta is com
pletely conquered by the blue eyes O
this Irish fisher-lad. On his part he fel
the natural attraction toward a Lowell,
girl that any man would; but never ex
pecting to see her again any more thar
other chance visitors who have happened
to row over the lake, he hardly thinks o
her as more to him than beautiful pic
ture. III for q second anything further
had entered his mind, he would instantl,
have dismissed it as an absurd crying
for the moon. But Eta is not used Z
giving up her whims 50 easily. NJ
sooner had she discovered that she like
his looks than she made up her mind Il
see more of him; and when Jimmie
after explaining all the surroundings o
the lake, lands them, and somehow i'm
presses on them the conviction that h
is not the sort of person to fee, she take
her cousin aside, and persuades hin
little against his will to try and make
return for his politeness by asking hin
to the hop at the Montrose hotel tn
next week.
And now opens the new era in on
heros life. He is quite good-lookin
enough and "nice" enough not to seer
out of place in frock-coat; and b
careful use of his own and brothers bes
clothes, he is able to appear at the hott
quite correctly attired for country hoI
, and so far from finding Etta's infatuf
alton vanished as suddenly as it wa
born, she seems worse than before
Going to meet him as he enters tn
,, room, with an eager, bright smile, sh
!, quickly exclaims:
"Then you haven't failed us p
"Why, no; surely 1 wouldn't mi,
; such chance rs this" And then, sue
. denly rejecting that it would be best
: modify this, he adds, "and of seeir
4 you" .-..-.-.
"A quick flush of pleasure comes to h,
. face at this first sign of admiration fro
him, and all her habitual coguettel
: comes to abet the curious folly that h
I taken such hold on her.
4 mo-" said Jimmie, II enjoyed n
. row too much the other day not to con
!, to this hop. Do you know that ha'
lived by that lake all my life, and new
knew how beautiful it was before Ia
Friday?"
"Then this is really your home? Y
/. were wondering whether you belong
. here, or were only O visitor"
n At this palpable attempt to pump hi
r he was silent for moment; but thin
4 ing it best to seem candid, he answere
. "Yes, I was born and raised here
= Then, smilingly, "Tm only q count
v boy, you know. You may be SUI
y y though, not too much of an one to thai
You for your kindness to me-"
!, Little as he yet understands the full q
, tent of his influence over her, and thin
= ing that she only takes some such int,
est in him as Mr.. More has, he yet fe'
that he must not shock this rich you
&c lady with the full truth about hims
1t that he is only poor workman's SC
ly and, to avoid more inquiries, at once as
for the danca iust Commanding VIII