The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1882-09-29
LEA'S EXPERIMENT.

1t was not Rip Van Wrinkle sleep in
which Jack Loring was indulging, lazi-
ly outstretchcd on the grecnsWard in
the heart Of the Catskill; or if it were,
the charm with him had worked more
kindly than in tie old legend, for there
were no silver threads among the brown
in the close cropped head of hair, or the
silkcn mouslache; no signs of age in the
handsome face in its perfect, statuesque
rcposc; no shrinking in the splendid
stature, which required so much space
for its grassy bed.
The hound, too, watching at his side,
was wide eyed and active; the gun, on
which one hand rnsinh n"""e'nh aud
OF the newest make.
II was at this uncturc that another
figure appeared upon the scene.
Through the trees there pecpcd bright,
mischicvons face, wonderfully pretty
as it lighted mp with an inner light
such as the sun sheds, scattering the
darkness from the earth.
II was an arch, lovely face, changing
with each moment. as its expression
changed. Jnst now the expression was
of incrcdnlous surprise, for, even in
this hasiy glance, Lea Dancmorc recOg-
nized that the unconscious sleeper was
no one belonging to this region, but
evidently n wandcrer from the city to
the heart OF the deep woods, in quest
OF idle amusement, afforded by his gun
and his dog,
She would have rctrcated as she
came but for the latter. Light as had
4.
with = lond bark in his masters car,
.- .i.>....~I, 10 ioI nivou ~ hume" signal
TO awaken him, he sprang TO his feet
and toward her.
She must appear TO him no hidden
enemy and instantly she stepped in full
sight, that he might not attack her.
The movement had the desired effect.
He stopped, but stood before her with
a low, ominons growl, just as the lazy
blue eyes opened and took in the pic
turc. =
A sudden fash drove the Idle ennui
from them. Captain Loring sprang to
his feet.
"Quict, Cato!" he called. Gene
here, III !"
The dog, che, ing, turned and crouch.
cd al his side. Th' yonng officer
conrieansly bowed.
frightened lon, he saId; "put ne Is II
faithful watcher, aud dare say scented
dan@cr.'
There seemed n second Thor sht, II
hiddch meaning, in those latter words,
tor Il covert smile played about the
corners of his mouth.
"lndeed," she answered.
Simply this and nothing more. Ii
was one word, but il held volume.
The tone was tingcd with sarcasm, in
fcctcd with scorn, condcscending in its
own superiority. Certainly, if Jack
Loring had expected an answer, it was
not This. No girl in New York draw
ing-room could have been more cool,
more admirably selt-passesscd. The
sudden blush, for which he had looked,
the stammering reply, were wanting.
lie scruIinizcd her more closely. She
would bear scrutiny. She wore dress
of blue calico, he decided; but what
mattcred the material which revealed
the exquisite figure which it so closely
and perfectly fitted? The foot pecping
from beneath it, spite of its mountain
shoe, was small and beautifully shaped ;
the hand equally so in its neat glove.
Jack decided mentally, that though
hc had lost his way, and had had little
use for gun or ammunition since the
early dawn, when he had set of from
the camp, he had discovered in the
mountains better game than that OF
which he had vcnturcd in search.
Evidently this girl was not unused lo
admiration in her mountain home
Certainly she was pretty enough tC
compel il anywhere. And Jack had
been on the plains for three long years
where pretty women were not always
to be fouud. lie had only recently bee,
ordered to homc-station.
"But, by Joyc," he was apt TO say
ATS more dangerous than the Indian
fire! Never saw so many pretty girl
in my life; but | can't marry rich ON
for her money, or poor ono without
since Eve nothing but my pay, and
don't think my heart is equal to In
sacrifice Of making it do the work o
two, which always leaves me short nov
for one"
II was, perhaps, for this reason tina
he was so ready TO join party O
| friends setting ont on a Campinp tom