The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1882-11-02
III A COAT POCKET.

Ashley COWper, hat IN hand, was Just
turning the handle of the street-door,
when soft call from the stair-top made
him pause.
care you going to the postoffice, Asst
ley?"
mo, not exactly, but near it. Is
there anything you want done?"
''Only this letter to post" and girl
ish shape fitted down the stair. Asst
ley watched as she descended, and with
suddenly sharpened recognition of the
fact, said to himself, What a pretty
girl Rosamond isn' 10. -.e..-
Brothers are not always so alive to
their sisters charms, but tho fact was
that rarely in her life had Rosamond
Cowper been SO near to perfect beauty
rs at that moment, when she came
down the old staircase, letter in hand
her checks flushed with deepest pink;
her eyes shining, and her red lips part
ed with I know not what happy stir of
emotion and expectancy.
Two long braids of pale brown hair,
thick and glossy as those of German
Gretchen, hung down her back On the
fair forehead clustered q fringe of light
waving rings, not cut and trained af-
ter the manner of tho conventional
bang, hut a happy freak of nature and
accident.
The slender figure in its white dress
had all the rounded grace of youth and
perfect health. Over all was an air of
virginia. freshness, indescribable but
charming. 1t was one of those bel mo-
ntcnti which come at times to most
young creatures.
cupied to be conscious of her looks, as
she handed the letter to her brother,
with fingers which trcmbled a little and
said, anxiously, ''You won't loso it, will
you, Astley?"
Certainly not;'' with superior
smile. He stuffed it carelesslv into
side-pocket of his ,oat, coat made,
like the rest of his suit, of that immac-
ulate white duck, in which our youth
full swells delight to- array themselves
in hot July weather. -'-..-
Forth he went, clean, alert, hand
some, the very picture of o luxurious
young fellow enjoying a summer holi-
day. No thought of betraying Rosa
mond's trust was in his mind. and his
steps had already turned toward the
post-onice, when u dog-cart drew up
suddenly and CHEEKY hail reused his
attention.
..Well met, old fellow. l.. was just
going round to ask if you felt like
game of tennis. The Porters sent q
note early in the morning, to ask me to
drive down to the Croft for luncheon
and q game, and to bring YOU"
''All right. 1 will" Ashley jumped
into the cart and in another moment
was bowling down the road toward the
Croft-a pretty country place some
three miles distant. ROsamond's COM
mission was clean forgotten.
Tennis was followed by luncheon,
that by more tennis, and conversation
under the shade of the branching cedars
which fanked the ground. Then pref
tv Mabel Porter proposed walk, and
led the way through grassy valley to
the gorge beyond, where little brook
tore its wild way from higher levels to
the water meadows below,
The rocks over which the party
climbed were slippery here and there,
and in saving Mabel from fall, Ast-
ley himself had a tumble, trihing in it.
self, but damaging to the duck suit; SC
damaging in fact that the suit went to
the laundress next day.
Before its return, the weather had
changed to that odd, almost autumnal
| GOODNESS which checkers and tempers
| the heats of our American summers. II
was some time before Ashley had occa
sion to wear it again. When it was ta
| ken for use, by mere accident, he wa!
searching for something in the pocket
when his astonished fingers encounter
| ed and drew forth rather Thick, flat
hard square Of paper for which he coulc
in no way account,
His first sensation was one of unmiX
| ed bewilderment.
''Why, what on earth? A letter, ant
what letter." he proceeded t.
smooth the rumpled mass 6 ut on the ia
bic. A few family written character
were discernible on what had been al
envelope.