The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1882-10-26

sunftowers and cat-tails. But she is
carrying her devotions to extremes, if,
even for their aesthetic sake, she es-
chews the society of her kind"
Trafton felt amazed, as well as net
tied, by Loye's cavalier dismissal of
his request. He was by no means
vain still, he could not but be con-
scious that he had a we'll knit, athletic
figure and a remarkably handsome
face; and he knew there were few
young ladies who would not prefer his
society to seclusion, even when bright
ened by the yellow charms of the most
gorgeous sunnower that ever lit
Kansas prairie or bloomed upon
chair-back. He reflected, however,
that Miss Travis apparent check upon
his advances might be only coquet-
tish thorn, intended to sting and stim-
ulate him into seeking the rose, her
self. And then he fell to wondering
if he would see her at the lawn social
that evening.
He had told her that he had seen her
sometimes at church, but he had not
informed her that, after his first sight
of her there, he had attended it's ser
vices regularly for the sole purpose of
looking at her.
He had strolled into the Episcopal
church at Fort Raynor, and his atten-
tion had been attracted by very
pretty girl who looked, as she listened
to the sermon, like child listening to
an absorbing fairy story. Her eyes
were wide and attentive, her head
thrown little back and her lips
slightly parted. Loye never posed for
effect, but she had way of doing
heartily whatever she did, which habit
included even listening to rather poor
sermon.
TraftOn came again and again, max
ing the lovely face, with its fascinating
combination of earnestness and pi-
quancy, his prayer-bool, sermon and
song. He had never been able to OBJ
tain an introduction to it's owner, for
the reason which she herself had given
that afternoon. Then the time for
his annual hay-fever coming around,
he had run away from it to this north
ern retreat, trusting to find Miss
Travis in her usual place on his re
turn.
She was not at the lawn social, nor
did he meet any one who knew her, so
he was forced to fall back upon the
hope of another chance encounter.
1t came three days later. lie found
her seated on camp stool trying to
sketch bit of river scenery. lie Was
as familiar with paint brush and pen
ell as she was with skipping stones,
and under his instructions and finish
ing touches the sketch was much more
satisfactory than it would have been
/ otherwise.
my self-respect is at last restored
said Trafton. "We have mutually in
structed and surprised each other and
may as well cry quits"
"Perhaps," said Loye, with look
which suggested the possibility Of hel
having further surprises in store
Then she gathered up her material;
preparatory to another flight.
"Are you Cinderella running off tC
your pots and pans?" laughingly in
quired Trafton, as he noted the quick
look at her watch with which she pre-
faced her withdrawal.
perhaps" tersely replied this mys
teriouS young woman. 81 am-stop
ping-at Mrs. Blanding's," she added
with an odd little dimpling smile, Il,
Trafton begged her to tell him wher,
she boarded then walked away with ;
swift, elastic tread.
The next morning found Trafton in
stalled as a guest at Mrs. Blanding's
IN the margin OF time which borderGi
the dinner hour some Of his fellow
boarders assembled in the wide hall o
on the shaded porch. He scanned tht
little knot for Loye, but she was no
visible. Eminent among the ladie
were a classical girl, two scientific girl
and flirting girl. The classical gir
had woven several Homeric thread
into the web of desultory converse
ton; the scientific girls had set VI
Darwin and Herbert Spencer in op
position to Homer; the flirting cir
had angled for and obtained severa
neat little compliments, yet Loye di,
not appear. They were at the Dime
table; every chair was occupied
TraftOn's eyes wandered eagerly il
search of Loye, still she was unac
countably absent. He turned suddenl
as sweet, unusual voice behind hi
chair inquired his choice of soups, an,
his eyes rested upon the face for whicl
he had been searching.
, This creature of surprises wore
blue gingham, with white apron an
white collar and cuffs. Her waywar
hair was filleted and coiled into subieC
/, ton, and if any merriment lay in an
bush under the dark lashes it reveale
itself only by the merest twinkle. Be
aila this severely grave young perso
toms ideal woman, as eXemplifie
i'll Eve waiting on her celestial visitor,
would have appeared giddy thing.
In his amaZement he had not ar
swered her question, and she Iepeate
it. He stammered something in repl,
and she fitted away. Awaiting he
return, he glanced at the other occl
pants of the table to see what the
thought of having Miss Travis for
waitress. Apparently, they though
nothing of it, for their faces Shove
no marks of surprise, and they contir
ued slipping soup SO placidly that Ira
ton soliloquized somewhat savagely
eff an angel should drop down in
casual way, fold its wings carefully S
as to keep the feathers out of the bu
ter, put large apron over its 'roL
of white samite, mystic, wonderful