Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1883-02-01
a VICTORIOUS DEFEAT.

Inc little train OF three cars puffe6
slowly over the bridge and around the
short curve, out of sight and sound
leaving behind only long trail OF
blue smoke drifting in. rings up the
side of the mountain.
Leslie Gordon stood alone, close tc
her one great trunk, on the long
sunny, country platform, and looked
about her, wonderingly. Not a house
of any description in sight, only the
neatly-trimmed hedge, guarding yon-
der roai on the one side, and, upon the
other, the dark green of the pine woods,
standing out so boldly against the
rocky surface of the hills.
"No one here p she exclaimed, tap
ping the planks with her foot, impa-
tiently. Whatever am I to do?"
In that remark Miss Gordon was
guilty Of injustice toward party in
blue overalls and checked shirt. who
at the further end of the platform was
busily engaged in unloading a large,
old-fashioned wagon and piling its
contents up against the shed.
Why don't they Gomez" she mur-
INJURED to herself. "Now that man is
going, and I won't stay here alone;;'
and she walked straight up to him,
holding back her dress with one hand
from any chance contact with the
country produce piled upon the plat
form.
Ii you please, sir" she said, smil-
ingly, show far is the old sMetler
Farm from here?"
About three miles, miss" he re-
piled, glancing quickly up from his
work.
"Oh, dearI'' she exclaimed, in de
spair. "They were to meet me here,
and now ! don't know what to do"
The tone, almost of alarm, in her
voice evidently caught his ear, for he
Strengthened up, pushed back his shock
ing straw bat and revealed a brown,
sunburned, manly face under it, made
strong by pair of earne ray eyes.
You need not WORRY iss." he
said, pleasantly. al am working upon
the Metler place. and if you will
deign to honor farm-wagon, you may
ride there with me-"
She looked at him in some consider
able astonishment.
"0h, why = willingly; but my
trunk?"
Is that it sitting at the further end
of the platform? Wen take that with
u.s."
And she stood watching him as he
lifted the heavy article into the bot
tom of the wagon.
Now, miss" he said, wiping the
perspiration from his forehead, aif you
will kindly step on this wheel, we will
soon be ready
Almost lifted in his strong, and
somewhat andacious, arms, Miss Cor
don finally succeeded in perching her
self upon the high spring seat, and the
next moment her companion had clam
bered up beside her.
Out upon the broad, shaded road they
ratified, and down by the broad-eaved
farmhouses, and the shaded orchards
and fields of grain.
1t was all new, strange expert
e~ce to our city girl, with her fresh
memories Of boarding school and fash
ionable watering places new depar-
cure not, we fear, altogether pleas
art one. A mere girlish freak it was
that first took her to this little out-of-
the-way station-a freak she almost
regretted now.
II wonder what papa would say"
she kept thinking, as she held on
tightly with both hands TO the narrow
seat. and glanced over at the tapping
hat-rim beside her; 'and the girls.
Just think, !, Leslie Gordon, the latest
rage. riding in dirty farm wagon.
alone with the hired man-now /
really believe he is going to speak to
me-"
"That is the 'Metler Farm the
house you see under those great elms,
by the river" And she locked out as
he pointed. ever the beautiful picture,
and thanked him.
As, a few minutes later. they drove
up by the gate. Mrs.. MetIer, mother
ly-appearing woman, ran ont, and
taking theyoung girl-who had sprung
to the ground unassisted--into her
arms, kissed her on either cheek.
$50 you are Leslie Gordont" she
cried. "'vhy, my girl, how you have
grown, to be surer'
4 Inside the dark, old-fasbioned farm
house, Leslie found the great front
chamber reserved for her--a cool, low
room, with windows opening out upon
the river, and i great elm tree shading
Them Presently up the broad stair
way her driver amestaggering with