Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1881-10-20
THE EMERALD RING,

For my part, I'm tired of regular
proper picnics," said Eva Harold as
she stood on the upper portico of ''The
Double Hill House, among the White
Mountains, and talked with "a circle of
her own particular friends. "Who cares
to drive away from here, with we'll
packed luncheon basket, bound for a
certain place, and sure of coming
straight back from that place as soon as
the luncheon is eaten? Where is the
fun in that ? What should like, would
be to set of, no one should know where,
and without one crumb of provisions.
Then we should have some chance of
an adventure before our return"
Eyes For we should all starve to
death in these lonely woods" laughed
the girls.
Il think not-that is, if you will all
trust yourselves to mel" exclaimed
Herbert Hale, who lived (of late) only
to humor the countless caprices of the
handsome Baltimore heiress, and to
execute her commands. 1--WE will let
the horses choose their own road, once
We are we'll away from here, and then
we will abide by what We happen to find,
wherever they may take lis. | promise
that You shall not starve. And | make
only one condition"
"What is that?" they cried.
"You must all be ready to start from
this door exactly at half-past eleven
o'clock tomorrow, if the morning is
fine"
All agreed to be punctual, and the
group broke up, for it was nearly time
to dress for dinner.
Miss Harold did not take the trouble
to thank her votary in words. But, as
she passed by him. she held out her
hand, with queenly smile.
He bent low over it, and felt himself
amply repaid for all the thought, care
and pains which this 'impromptu" ex-
pedition was to cost him.
As he walked toward the further end
of the long piazza, lost in calculation, a
shrinking little figure drew aside. with
start, out of his way. A delicate,
childlike face looked up at him.
Two weeks before that day Eva Har-
rold had not arrived at the Double Hill
House, with her party of fashionable
friends.
And Herbert Hale, worn out by long
winter of toll in his law-ofice, had been
only too happy to spend those first days
of his mountain holiday at Lillian
Archer's side.
His heart smote him, as he saw the
crimson flush on her face, and the trem-
bling of the perfect lips that tried to
greet him calmly
81 hope you will not fail to make one
Of our party tomorrow, he said, kindly,
as he passed her
And Lillian, who had not seen that
kiss pressed upon the white hand of the
heiress, felt her foolish heart futter with
one of the old throbs of JOY.
Perhaps he has found out what a
hirt Eva is" she thought, hopefully.
"And he did seem really to care for me,
until she came"
So Lily joined the ''new departure
Gas the picnic party called themselves)
on the next morning.
She looked very modest and pretty in
her white lawn dress, dotted with blue
embroidered spots, and her white chip
hat, with its broad blue ribbon.
And the heiress, resplendent in rib
bons of cardinal red. insisted that Lily
should occupy one side of the front seat,
while she took the other, leaving the
centre seat for Herbert, as charioteer.
His face was a study, for moment,
as he saw this unexpected arrangement.
But he said nothing, and they drove of
along a new and unknown road.
After two hours the horses were rested
and plentifully fed. But nothing was
offered to the ladies, until the carriage
drew up before an old-fashioned brown
farmhouse, between four and five O'Clock
III the afternoon.
Here ''dinner tea," beginning with
stewed chicken, and ending with berry
shortcakes" piled high on immense chin.
platters, awaited them.
They ate like famished creatures, al
save Lily, whose aching heart was caus
ing her a martyrdom of pain.
&. The horses were stabbed in the far