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

Loring, of the Thirteenth Regulars
was an inveteratc flirt, and was sup
posed TO have done more damage, from
his cadet days to the present time, thar
any officer in the army. And here
little country maiden had nonplussec
| him.
"Do you know" he continued, "tha
| believe have lost my way2 How
far am from Gordon's Gulch?"
"Sixtcen miles," she answered, ant
turned away.
"Sixteen miles," he cried, after her
''and the sun sinkingl 1t is impossible
to walk that distance. Is there nc
place nearer where can get shelter fol
49, tIS ut!
"Perhaps Uncle Silas would give you
a bed"
"You mean the uncle with whom you
live?"
"IVith whom l am staying-yes."
"May accompany You there?"
"Certainly," she answered.
And picking up his gun, he followed
as she led the way.
For the first time in his life, Jack
Loring discovered that his fascinations
seemed OF no avail. City bellies, in
every instance where he had wiIled il
SO, had fallen victim to his wiles
This little country,rustic seemed utterly
impervious; every shaft he sent ont was
returned to him, bent with the rebuff OF
a sarcasm so delicate, so refined, that il
was difficult to give it name.
At last long, low farmhouse came
in view. When they reached it, the
girl opened the door and entered.
uiu IaIncI stuUu wasulnS ms
hands in tin basin. In the same room
table was neatly spread for tea.
"Uuclc Silas," said Lea, her voice
richer and swecter, Jack noticed, than
when it had addressed him, "thisgentle-
man has been ovcrtakcn by darkness.
VIII you provide him with bed and
supper"
"Ccrtainly," the old man answered,
and, turning. extended a hearty wei
come, with an apology for all discom-
fort. GAS for Miss Lea, here" he
began.
But instantly she glidcd to his side,
and whispered something in his ear
which caused him, though he left the
sentence unfinished, to laugh heartily.
In after days, in after months, in
after years, Jack Loring often looked
back to this evening. lie pictured the
ichha .Yl;hfnHJ9lno Gave "i.lu. l. Kind
weIcomc) al lis foot, and tic bright
Young face opposite him, of such rare,
pi1nant lovoiness.
The supper We eimnlo ono br,
never had he SO enjoyed Dclmonico
feast and afterwards he and Miss Lea
had talked until the clock struck ten,
which for her, she said, was late hour.
lie could hardly believe it, rs he looked
at his watch to corroboratc the state
ment.
Where could this girl have been
educated that no discordancc of speech,
no ignorance, Jared his ear?
She asked him Of his life, aud he told
her more franSly Than he had often
talked. lie fanccd she treated bin
more kindly when she learned he was
a soldier.
"And II bachelor, of course" he
nIln1 Obj, -~. ~""'''" '""ii "
Girl without money, you know, nor
wonld wish 10 make money consid-
Grafton; SO live my life as it is, and
find have little to regret"
"But suppose you fell in love with n
poor eirl?"
ara fall OUT he laughed.
"No, no! mean a serious passion,
which she returned?"
"We'd weep, and-part," he persist
ed.
81 should like to see You tried" she
retorted, and bade him goodnight.
Tie next morning he found himself
looking forward to seeing her with a
pleas urablc anticipation uncommon to
him, bat which the realization fully
fuliillel.
Lea was more charming in her man.
ncr. There was fascination in all
she said or did, until Uncle Silas painted
the glofes of the sport within ten miles
about tle farm. Jack suddenly discov-
cred an immense longing to try it.
"Wo,l You put me mp for the night
now AMI then?" he asked.
"Yes, indeed, and give you hearty
welcome, said his host, remembering
the liberal compensation he had already
received.
"May come?' he whispered 10 Lea
and she, with faint blush now on heI
lovely Cheek, answered, eyes"
Many city belle was hoping for hi'
presence at some fashionable resort
TO many had he given ground for hope
but all this bad been forgotten. Would
il be So with this latter promiseH
So far as he was concerned, he coulG
give no ready answer.
Within three days he was again
claimant to Uncle Silas' hospitality
This time Lea, too, extended him
welcomc, halfswect, half.shy, whicl
rendered her in his eyes more bewitch
lug than before.
The days passed, aud still he staye
on. The game went unmolested i
their haunts, llo suddenly Develops
a preference for fishing, for IN thes
| o,.oureinua IA aoull accOmpanV him,