The Osceola times., 1881-03-05
L0UIE'S KING.
BY CHRISTINE CARLTON.

The soft summer wind, creeping through
the closed Venetian blinds, swayed the
snowy curtains to and fro in the pretty
sitting-room of Mr.. Brewster's country
house. II 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 hemming dainty cambric
ruflle; for that dear old lady's fingers
were seldom idle.
She was not the only occupant Of the
pleasant room. Upon a acretonne-covered
couch near one of the windows girl was
Tying, one small hand half buried in her
golden hair, while in the other she held
Il book. Lying there, with her bright
hair falling about her, she looked much
younger than she really was; for, although
.he lovely, ridnte face was almost child
ishly sweet, and the graceful form unusu-
ally 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 certainly did not meet with her
approval. Her brown eyes moved slowly
and indiilerently over the pages, and
rather dsdainful expression settled about
her mouth. Suddenly. with Il rapid inn
patient movement, she threw it violently
across the room.
Louie" Mrs. Brewster said, reproach-
iully, looking gravely at her, "you should
not be SO impetuous, dear"
"But, grandma" said Louie, rising to a
sitting posture, at is such a stupid book;
/ don't see how any one could write
such nonsense. If | ever write novel |
shall at least make the hero and heroine
conduct themselves in a somewhat
natural manner. | think, grandma, |
will take a ride this afternoon; it is such
a charming day"
"Nery WELL dear" said Mrs. Brewster.
Il think the exercise would do you good,
Louie"
Singing softly to herself the girl left
the room, and when she returned, the
white peignoir had been replaced by a
dark-blue riding-habit, and small black
hat with dropping feathers rested upon
the golden hair gathered up under a
silken net.
"Good-by, grandma" she said, kissing
Mrs, Brewster's cheek.
"Good.by, Louie, and try and be home
by 6 o'clock, at the very latest"
Rising from her chair Mrs. Brewster
watched the slender figure as Louie rode
down the winding road under the droop-
ing elms.
1t was scarcely Louie Ellesmere's fault
that she had grown up selfwilled, impet
ueus, often violent in the sudden out
bursts Of temper which her old nurse
sagely designated "tantrums." If she
had not naturally possessed the
sweetest, most penitent, and lovable dis
position in the world, she might have
developed into a perfect little fend.
Her mother, Mrs. Brewsters only daugh-
ter, had died when Louie was very
young, and until she was 10 years old
her father had petted, spoiled, and in
dulged her-in which work he had been
aided and abetted by the nurse, who
fairly worshiped her little mistress.
Alter Mr.. Ellesmere's death, Louie went
TO live with his sister and her husband.
They were q wealthy, childless couple.
and loving her dearly, they denied her
nothing, and humored all her childish
caprices, AT school she had held little
court; even the teachers became her
loyal subjects. Every summer she made
her grandparents a visit Mr.. Brewster,
her grandfather, idolized her; her saucy
speeches and gay willfuness delighted
him; and even Mrs. Brewster, who real
lied more fully than any one else how
impetuous Louie was, could not bring
herself TO chide, be it ever so gently, the
girl whose brown eyes and golden hair
remainded her 50 plainly of her dead
daughter.
So in all her life Louie had never met
any one whe dared to defy her authority,
or dispute her most unreasonable wishes.
She enjoyed her ride so much that lovely
June afternoon; her horse, Carlo, canter-
ed merrily over the hills and dales,
seeming to enjoy it all as much as did
his pretty mistress. She was riding
quietly over a charming road, when she
noticed that the trees were casting long
shadows, telling that the sun was sink
ing low in the west; and consulting her
tiny watch, she found that il was nearly
9 O'Clock, an she was still some distance
ftom home.
The road was winding one; Ia the
right Of II lay smooth, level meadow;
By taking croas-cut over il she would
eaip half mile. 10 bs surr, tiscro were
~ high Seone walls TO jump, but Louie