The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1881-02-26
L0UIE'S KING.
BY cHRIsTIEE CARLTON.


The soft summer wind, creeping through
the closed Venetian blinds, swayed the
snowy curtains to aud fro in the pretty sit
tng-room of Mr.. Brewster's country house
1t brought with it the fragrant breath OF the
June roses, and lifted with its light fingers
the wavy silver hair that framed in Mrs
Brewster's sweet face, as she sat busily hem
ming dainty cambria ruffle; for that dear
old lady's fingers were seldom idle.
She was not the only occupant of the
pleasant room. Upon cretonne- covered
couch near one of the windows q girl was
lying, one small hand half buried in her
golden hair, while in the other she held q
book. Lying there, with her bright hair
falling about her, she looked much younger
than she really was; for although the love
ly, ridnte face was almost childishly sweet
and tho graceful form unusually petite, Louie
Ellesmere was nearly Is years of age.
Evidently the book she was reading was
not an entertaining one or, if it was, it GER
tainly did not meet with her approval. Her
brown eyes moved slowly and indiferently
oyer the pages, and rather disdainful ex
preston settled about her mouth Sudden
ly, with a rapid, impatient movement, she
threw it violently across the room.
"Louie," Mrs. Brewster said, rcproachful
ly, looking gravely at her, "you should not
be so impetuous, dear"
"But, grandma" said Louie, rising to q
sitting posture, at is such stupid book
don't soc how any one could write sucl
nonsense. If ever write novel shall a
least make the hero and heroine conduc
themselves in q somewhat natural manner
| think, grandma, will take a ride thi
afternoon; it is such a charming day"
Every well, dear" said Mrs. Brewster. g.
think the exercise would do you good
Louie"
Singing softly to herself, the girl left TIN
room, and when she returned, the whit
peiqaoir had been replaced by dark. blu,
riding habit, and a small black hat will
dropping feathers rested upon the colder
hair gathered up under sillen net.
"Goodby, grandma" she said, kissing
Mrs Brewster's cheek.
"Good-by, Louie, and try and be home b,
o'clock. at the very latest"
Rising from her chair, Mrs. Brewste
watched the slender figure as Louie rod
down the winding road under the droopin
elms.
1t was scarcely Louie Ellesmere's faul
that she had grown up self-willed, impct
uous, often violent in the sudden outburst
of temper which her old nurse sagely des
| ignated "tantrums." II she had not natur
ally possessed the sweetest, most penitent
and lovable disposition in the world, sh
might have developed into perfect littl
fiend. Her mother, Mrs Brewster's onl
daughter, had died when Louie was yer
young, and until she was ten years oil
her father had pettcd, spoiled and indulge
her-in which work he had been aided an
abetted by the nurse, who fairly worshipe
her little mistress. After Mr.. Elesmere
death, Louie went to live with his sister an
her husband. They were wealthy, chile
less couple, and, loving her dearly, they d,
MED her nothing, and humored all h,
childish caprices. At school she had held
little court; even the teachers became h,
loyal subjects. Every summer she. MAD
her grandparents visit. Mr. Brewster, h,
grandfather, idolized her; hersauey speech,
and gay willfulncss delighted him; and eve
Mrs. Brewster, who realized more fully tina
any one else how impetuous Louie wa
could not bring herself to ehide, be it ev
so gently, the girl whose brown eyes an
golden hair remined her SO plainly of h
dead daughter.
So in all her life Louie had never m
any one who dared to defy her authority,
dispute her most unreasonable wishes. 81
enjoyed her ride so much that lovely JuI
afternoon; her horse, Carlo, cantered merr
ly over the hills and dales, seeming to enic
it all as much as did his pretty mistres
She was riding quietly over a charmir
road, when she noticed that the trees wei
casting long shadows, telling that the su
was sinking low in the west; and consultiu
her tiny watch, she found that II was nea
ly o'clock, and she was still some distant
from homo.
The road was winding one; 10 the riel
Of il lay smooth, level meadow; by takin
a cross cut over it she would gain half
mile. To be sure, there were two high stbr
walls to jump, but Louie thought nothiu
of that; she was a perfect horsewoman; h,
uncle, who was very fond of horses, ha
taught her himself to ride. A gentlema
riding behind her watched with some cur
osity the small figure, as Louie backed he
horse to the side of the road; theu as be rt
allied what she was aboutto do, he gallope
swiftly over the intervening space.
Settling gherselffrmly in the saddle, Loui
gathered up the reins, and was just about /
scale the wall, when a'voice rang out eleo
and distinct
"stopP it said, imperatively.
Glancing up in surprise she beheld
strange gentleman riding rapidly towar
her.
"What are you going to do ?" be askeC
as he refined up his horse.
81 sm going over into the meadow" sh