Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1883-11-01
The Stutw Teller.
A SIMMER ROMANCE.

A SUMMER ROMANCE.
est. Philips Street," A lonely little sta
tion, quite in the woods it seemed to the Gu
riOus travellers looking out as the train SLOW
ed up. A pretty girl stepped to the plat
form, and man, holding book still open,
followed her. These were the only passen-
gers for St. Philips; the whistle shrleked,
and the next moment the train was thun-
dering away beyond recall.
This was the thought flashing on the man
who stood vet on the platform staring after
though whether he would have recalled it,
if he could, was a question with him even
then. A bit dazed, he turned and stared at
the opposite mountain, at the houseless
country all around then slowly he stepped
over the track into the one grassgrown road
round which the girl had disappeared.
He thought to close his book, and, with
smile which broadened almost to laugh, he
walked on down the lonely road. Whither
would it lead him ? in what sort OF place
was he doomed, at tleast, to spend then
For he had never before stopped at st. Phil
ip's he had, in fact, never dreamed to stop
there now, or ever till that last little mo-
ment when he left the train so suddenly ne
had not time even to close his magazine.
He walked on still smilingly. 1t did not
matter any way. True, he was bound for a
place far distant, and his luggage had gone
ahead; but he could follow on the morrow.
What mattered one night, even though he
must camp out in the wilderness? And per-
haps beyond he would find some very at
tractive spot where he would prefer to pass
his vacation trifie would bring the lug
gage back, and So
He strove to argue down the odd circum-
stance of his stopping at St. Philips; head
mitted no cause to quarrel with ms y imPulse,
vet he inclined to all the same. Suddenly
he frowned bit-asa man must-suddenly
realizing that he has made himself ridicu--
lous; still, whether he would have recalled
the train was question with him even yet.
That moment he looked ahead and saw
what there was of st. Philips he had now
come upon.
A small struggling hamlet, hugging close
ly the base of the mountain which hung
down over it. A picturesque place enough
it looked in the evening sunlight; 1t Woulo
have captivated an artists or poet's soul
at once but Howard Ralph was neither,
and he only walked prosaically up the first
street, seeking place to pass the night.
There was no sign Of an inn anywhere ne
could see. He stopped to inquire OF a man
he saw standing in a doorway.
"Inn 2" the man answered with laugh.
''There never was an inn in st. Philips
Street as 1 heard on. If you want to stop,
you can stop here we make a business OF
taking boarders. You come from the train,
of course" he added, leading the way into
the little parlor. "You must have walked
powerful slow; the young lady's been here
five minutes and more"
''The young lady?"
'The young lady, yes You saw her
No doubt such a face as hers wouldn't be
chap as you. She's one of our bOarders.
regular; has been here two years now.''
The man glanced with an honest, wistful
dissatisfied look from the newcomer to his
magazine. "Guess you don't mean to take
long board, though; you don't seem to have
much luggage. But perhaps you left it at
the station? The boys going right off fol-
the young lady's, and he can bring yours,
too"
eyes, but"
ooh, see, you just want to spend the
night? Odd, but, of course, you're well
come. Perhaps tomorrow" he bent closer,
and ended in sly whisper perhaps, when
you see our young lady closer, you'll de-
eide to stay a while"
Howard Ralph was man not easily en-
barrassed, but he fairly writhed now under
the speakers innocent words and glances.
He plunged into his answer right recklessly
albeit it cost a lie.
''rhe fact is-the fact is, did not intend
to stop at st. Philips. My luggage was
checked to Brumpton, but the-the natural
beauty of the place attracted me, and the
fact is, may like to stay here: What at:
fractions have you? Fishing, boating, all
that, suppose of course?'
M oh;oaf Of HnnpiviOp Won StraOppr
There isn't water enough to float boat in
ten miles of st. Philips. All we have is
the mountain"
Cali the same, think I'll stay"
He was not looking at his delighted host
he had turned, ere answering at the sound
of light step and ripping laugh in the
hall without; he stood now gazing at the
little figure tripping toward the roadway
with the words invOluntarily on his lips
He did not see it again that night; but once
yet, while at supper, he heard the rippline
laugh once, talking after with his host or
the piazza; once, when the latter was leav.
ing him at the door of his sleeping-room.
"Who is the young lady?" he asked, with
one Of his impulses.
''She's Miss sHerndon-N1iss Marion Hern
don. She's"
The man on the door-sill did not finish
for he within had hastily set the lamp or
the table staring at him with an expression
which caused him to retreat below with the
barely expressed opinion that the young
man with the magazine might prove a very
good boarder, but he was afraid he was ;
little "otf."
Marion HerndOn!
Midway between a gasp and an ejacula
lation, Howard Ralph sank into the chail
beside the table and took out his cigarettes
r. ,voc u nOincidancp trulV It was no
strange that he should smoke up the mos
of them ere he could compose himself t.
sleep.
4 coincidence indeed? He began to real
ize it in the morning. So far it had been ;
dream, a tumble; he had come almost t.
believe the very words he heard fancy o
his own. But the scrap he came in contac
with while dressing forced down on him
truth. \ letter in his pocket ending thus
"Your obstinacy in regard to this girl exceed
my comprehension. What possible oh)ecdlon, ,,
1our max ur her :cullaiutauce? lie