Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1882-07-20
YOUNG JOHN.

Back and forth along the green ter
race of the Chestnuts strolled beautiful
Ruby Londesborough, her silken dress
of silver-gray trailing over the emerald
turf, her diamonds flashing, her flowers
glowing in the afternoon sunlight, and
by her side strolled Charles Henrick, q
pleasant, blonde young gentleman
whom she had known only during the
present summer. But she had never
known more agreeable companion for
leisure hour, and something in this
thought made her impetuous young
voice little sharp as she said:
Married. Yes, suppose 80 some
time. You know that am engaged,
MIR. Henrick ?"
"No, I did not know" he replied,
quietly.
Betrothed by my father when was
child" sheremarked, ooolly, stopping
to add red rose to the two white ones
she carried in her hand, and attentively
viewing the effect.
Charley observed it too in silence for
moment.
"To whomP Or is that secretY
"Oh, no y answered Miss Londes-
borough, going on with her walk. "To
the owner of the Prince estate, adioin-
Ing ours, half a mile below here"
"Do you mean MIR. John Prince p
asked Charley, with quick glance at
the perfect profile of this glowing
young beauty of nineteen.
"Yes. I have never seen him, you
know. He has never lived here, and
perhaps never will The old squire
who did live at Three Elma was papa's
godfather and grandfather to-well,
Young john"
"Young John"
eyes. They were ell Johns, youBee.
The squire and his son and his sons
son, the present heir, were all the same
aame. The squire, Old John and
Young John, I have always heard them
called" laughed Miss Londesborough,
musically.
"And you are engaged to Young
John?"
eyes, Ali the others are dead he
is coming here this autumn and am
to be married to him."
In spite of herself the careless voice
faltered little. With an unexpected
hasty movement she flung the flowers
she had been so tender OF into the fish
pond, at the edge OF which they had
stopped. There was flashing of silver
fms about the white and red; then Miss
Londesborough shivered, said she was
cold and must go in.
he gave her his hand up the terrace
steps, for he was not going in, then de-
scended, and stood with his hat in his
hand watching her as she made quick,
graceful gesture of farewell, and passed
the portals of the old mansion. When
the last simmer of her dress had van
ished he went away very thoughtful.
His pretty little sister May was one
of the guests ct the Ohestnuts. He YVES
himself staying at the Spring house
with party of friends. He often came
to see May, but he fingered 10 see
Ruby. Her frank hospitality was ire
sistible, especially when she gave him
half an hour of her bright society
alone. She was not like other girls; she
never feared misconstruction of her
actions. Why need she? he thought.
He was poor; she was an heiress, and
engaged to Young John. He went down
the road, frowning ct the birds and tine
buttercups. But ne came back that
evening with buggy, and took May to
drive. Ruby watched the spirited chest
nut horse disappear among the trees.
"You have Lost your game" eaid
young Viviers, with whom che vas play
ing chess in the long drawing-1oom.
"Checkmate !"
She pushed back the table imperi-
ousty.
tThere, that will dor
'The rubber" he imp:ored.
sNo."
She went up to her room and Rung
herself face downward aCrOss the blue
satin coverlet of her bed. The color