Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1882-08-26


"Harm. Aunty Nellie? What possi-
BILE harm could come of it?"
CT don't know. Somehow do not
like the idea. If you give your name,
people will be sure to guess who you
are."
swell, then. won't give my name.
I'll call myself Lela-Lela I'll
take your name, Aunt Nellie-Lela
Malcom."
X \
The sun was setting among the white
birch-trees behind the old red farm
house-the homestead OF the Parker
family, near North Attleboro'-a an an
cient buggy drew up, and young lady
stepped out.
at declare, Aunt Mabel, here's the
bosrder come already f." exclaimed
Daisy, Mrs. Parker's rosy-cheeked
niece.
Il declare-so it isl Well, Daisy, go
and ask her in; can't quit the fire till
the breads out"
Half-shyly, half-gladly, Daisy obeyed.
She wanted to see the new boarder, and
yet she felt timid.
Miss Austin, the young lady who had
spent the previous summer with them,
had highly recommended Miss Malcom
"a nice, quiet girl, who wanted to
study and enjoy the advantages of
fresh air, new milk and berries. Agnes
Austin had smiled to herself as she
penned the letter, thinking how soon
the eelle would tire of the old red
farmho1. :.
Tea in the Kitchen was a new expert
ence to Leila. She watcne,;- ssLe amount
of home made bread and tea tnaS so
rapidly disappeared with astonishment.
She drank fresh, creamy milk, ate
fresh Strawberries, and admired the
red flush that came and went so rap
idly on Daisy's round cheeks, She
retired early, and rose next morning
when she heard the first stir in the
house. On consulting her watch, she
was surprised to find that the hour was
five.
"Dear me, what shall do till break
fast time ?" she said to herself. "I'll
take book, and sit down beside pile
of hay"
The wish was hardly formed when
it was carried out. Seated bv the hay,
book in hand, she watched the chang
ing colors on the dewdrops, the shift
ing lights among the birch-trees, and
the clouds passing out of sight before
the ardent gaze of the sun.
A manly footstep reused her from
her reverie. A tall, dark man stood
before her, dressed in loosely fitting
suit OF gray, with soft felt hat pulled
over his grave, brown eyes, and book
in his hand also.
Have I taken your seat? inquired
LEILA, preparing to rise.
Yes and no. l sit there at this
hour usually, but the seat is not
mine"
swell, you may have it, if you like.
think will go and walk through that
grove."
Indeed, will not occupy the spot
if drive you.from it. Is not there room
for both of us?"
Leila did not know what to say or do.
She wondered if this was Mr.. Parker
her host. But no; if that was the case
she certainly would have met him at
supper the night before. Perhaps the
Parkers had a grown.up son. This man
appeared to be about twenty-four years
of age, and somehow he had not the
look of rustic.
She stole a glance at his book. It
was q medical work. He was very
quiet, and Leila studied his face for
some time. A very good face, she
thought lt-resolute and. perhaps, a
little stern.
Suddenly he looked up, and caught
her regarding him steadily. smiled
slightly as she looked abashed, and
began to talk, How we'll he talked
speaking on all sorts of subjects He
had travelled, and, before she was
aware of it, had drawn from Leila an
account of her one visit abroad.
cit is breakfast.time," said the
stranger, rising and offering his hand
to assist Leila to do like. 81 suppose
you are staying at Parker ?"
eyes"
al heard Daisy say they expected
friend of Miss Austin's to spend the
summer.
He was one of the family then. But
no, for when he entered Mrs. Parker
hailed him with friendly "Good morn
ing, Mr.. Studley."
They took their places at the table,
and the conversation became general.
Mr.. Studley could talk as we'll to the
farm people as he had done to her, and
was as well posted on other topics as
on travel. Without his hat he was
finer-looking than with it. An earnest,
thoughtful face, wonderfully attractive
to Leila. who was thoroughly tired Of