Richland beacon., 1881-02-12
n GIRLS FANCY.
By EDWARD J. suRivNER


II is n quiet sumner afternoon. and
the valley III the Catskills where we find
ourselves lies III perfect stiffness; the
sklif that monopolizcs the little lake
moving gently along without ripple TO
make pretcnse of barring lis progress.
Browniiclds is n delightful place, but if
1t We're not for the visitors with whom
the Peters fill their house in the sum-
mcr. 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 rs look at the fisher-boy, the sole
occupant Of the skih.
Jimmie Gordon is ambitions. and for
the son Of an Irish workman-the fore
man at one of the shops-is well edu-
Gated and refined. Mr.. More, a city
clergymen who spent some of his vaca-
tionS at Browntields. was struck with his
quick native shrewdncss. and, taking an
interest in him. loaned him books.
talked with him, helped him orally while
in the mountains. and afterward by cor
respOndcnce; 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 sangl,ine-
ness. TO rise. but is far better equipped
for the battle he has enlisted III than
many even who start on 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 e.
lis; III fact, we are very much inclined to
agree with George when he thinks of
her today as much more of Grace; but
If she Is not a Fate herself she is GER
talnly notable instrument of their will.
They are all three stopping with large
party ut Montrose, the nearest apology
for town, and this full four miles away.
Miss LartOn, however, 'goes in" for
walking as the proper thing in the noun
falns. ami 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
Brownsfelds valley. Rather dark, of
medium height, and in sturdy good
health, shall he the whole of her per-
sonal description; 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 row on the clear
little lake that is SO invitinglv laid out
below, SO that the one duty of her obedi-
ent companions is TO find the wavs and
means; not altogether an easy task, see.
ing that all the boats are carefully locked
up, except the one that Jimmie and his
fish use with not the best effects rs to
cleanliness. Still, as it is the only one,
it must be had, and Jimmie, in response
to Larton's request, Immediately rows ND
and takes the party, Miss Eta in the
stern and in full view of the handsome
bOatman.
Is there such thing as love at first
sight? Surely; and before the trip
around the lake is finished, Eta is COM
pletely conquered by the blue eyes Of
this Irish fisher-Iad On his part he felt
the natural attraction toward lovely
girl that any man would; but never ex-
pecting to see her again any more than
other chance visitors who have happened
to row over the lake. he hardly thinks of
her as more to him than beautiful pic
ture. If for a second anything further
had entered his mind, he would instantly
have dismissed it as an absurd crving
for the moon. But Eta is not used to
giving up her whims so easily. No
sooner had she discovered that she liked
his looks than she made up her mind to
see more of him: and when Jimmie.
after explaining all the surroundings of
the lake, lands them, and somehow i'm
presses on them the conviction that he
is not the sort of person to fee, she takes
her cousin aside, and persuades him
a little against his will to try and make
return for his politeness by asking him
to the hop at the Montrose hotel the
next week.
And now opens the new era in our
hero's life. He is quite good-looking
enough and mice" enough not to seem
out of place in a frock-coat: and by
careful use of his own and brothers best
he is able to appear at the hotel
quite correctly attired for country hop,
and so far from finding Etta's infatua-
alton vanished as suddenly as it was
born, she seems worse than before.
Going to meet him as he enters the
room. with an eager, bright smile, she
quickly exclaims:
Then you haven't failed us?'
"Why. no; surely l wouldn't miss
'uch chance as this" And then. sud
ienly rejecting that if would be best TO