The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1883-03-29
MYRTIE'SLOVER,


MYRTIE'SLOVER.
Mrs. Murray was very much annoyed
Donald Emerson had gone away. He
was her only boarder, and for five years
had occupied her best front chamber.
She had taken him after much per.
sausion, for he fancied the location, the
quietness, the beautiful scenery. just
the spot for a literary man, and Donald
Emerson had settled down to his books
and writing with no thought of change
ever coming to his quiet, lonely
life. ~
He was twenty-seven, though he
looked older; for sad expression rested
habitually upon his face. He was a
Scotchman by birth, though his life from
childhood had been spent in America,
and there was scarcely vestige of ac-
cent in his speech. 49,. .-.
He had no living relatives, and meet
ing Mrs. Murray, an elderly lady, for
mer friend of his mother, and also of
Scotch descent, had become an inmate
of her house.
Mrs. Murray had lived alone, save
her, servants, for many years. They
were two in number, a man and his
wife who had been with her since her
husbands death.
They were true and faithful to her in
terests, and devotedly attached to their
kind mistress
For the last three years her niece,
Myrtle De Forest, had spent the sum
mers at her house. Myrtie's own home
was in large city, and her Aunt Fam
MES rambling, old country house was a
delightful retreat to the young school
girl during her vacations.
A place where she could romp and
ramble through forests and meadows,
and throw off completely the restraints
of city life. Something of a hoyden was
| Myrtle De Forest at fourteen and among
her outdoor amusements were number
ed riding horseback and rowing.
Her Aunt Fannie had given her per-
mission to ride, for she felt sure of her
safety on steady. old Bess, but the row.
ing, when she first knew Of it, gave her
great uneasiness.
Myrtle had done her rowing on the
sly, and as there was a little grove be-
tween Mrs. Murray's house and the pond.
she had become quite dexterous with
her oars before her aunt knew of her
risky ventures; but one sultry afternoon
| Mrs. Murray walked down to the pond,
hoping to find cool retreat unucr the
old naples, and seating herself in rus
tic chair leaned back contentedly to en-
Joy the cool breeze that came off the
water.
Suddenly she deserted her little boat,
that she thought safely moored in its &C.
| customed place, way out on the pond,
while Myrtle seated in it her large sun
hat protecting her face, was rowing slow
| " toward her.
Mrs: Murray was frighter ed, but dared
| some accident should befall her, while
Myrtle thinking herself out of sight and
hearing, was caroling like a Joyous bird
~ she padded round among the lilies,
gathering great cluster of the fragrant
flowers as she neared the shore.
Reaching the little pier built out for
fastening the boat, che secured it with
lock and key, then came sauntering up
the path, with her head bent low over
the pure, golden.hearied lily cups, and
had nearly reached the rustic seat before
| she saw her aunt, whose face was pallid
| with fear and nervousness.
"Why, Aunt Fanny" the girl exclaim-
ed. II did not know that you was here.
Are you ill?" she asked, tenderly. as she
noted her aunt's pale face, and when Mrs.
Murray chided her from venturing alone
on the water, Myrtle threw her arms
about her aunt's neck Caressingly.
"pve been doing it all summer. How
did you think l got the beautiful lilies
we have all the time iu the vases?"
Il supposed John got them for you"
Aunt Fannie replied.
II did not want to hinder John, 70,
what 1 could do myself" Myrtle said,
quite proud of her achievement; and in
| time, finding the girl was really cautious,
| Mrs. Murray forgot her nervous fears.
! Myrtle De Forest did not know that,
had she been in peril, she would surely
have been rescued.
| One window of Donald Emerson's
chamber commanded view of the little
pond, and alter seeing her one morning,
N the tiny bat, way out from the shore,
ne had got into the habit of looking from
his window toward the water, that
would have annoyed Myrtle exceedingly
| had she known that the keen eve OF
| Aunt Fannie's boarder was upon her.
| he seemed grave, courteous, digni-
| fled man, whom she met rarely, save at
her Aunt's table, and she scarcely gave
him 9 thought, school girl as she was,
into the quiet, old country house, and
nto Donald Emerson's lonely life
| Myrtle De Forest had brought light and
sunshine, and her merry caroling echo
ing through the passages and halls of
Mrs. Murrav's house was sweet music to
his ears, and he would throw down his
pen and listen to the clear, young voice
till it passed out of hearing.
Thrice Myrtle had come with the sum-
rner.
! Each time the house lost its brightness
with her going. Aunt Fannie missed the
winning, gleeful way and affectionate ca
resses of her niece; but Donald Emerson
dared not think how much this bright,
young girl was becoming to him.
She was q young lady, now, more shy
and dlgnitied. but quite as charming in
the eyes of the grave, scholarly man
though more hopelessly unapproachable
| She still loved her outdoor rambles
her jaunts with old Bess about the conn
try roads, and her rowing on the little
pond.
Myrtle had become almost handsome
as she gre,; to womanhood.
! She had still the same bewitchine
smile; tho pretty dimples in her cheeks
were not outgrown. Her hair of dark.
rich brown, thick and lustrous, was gath
cred into great coil low on her head,
and few sly: rings lay lovingly about the
low, wide forehead.
Scotch songs were her favorites, as
they were. too. with her aunt and Mr..
Emerson, VINO never wearled listening
to their sweet, sad strains.
1t was sultry afternoon in August,
not breath of air was stirring. and the
fiery heat was intolerable.
| Mrs. Murray was INDUCING in nap in
! her own room. Mr.. Emerson was prob
ably engaged with his writing, and Myr-
tie De Forest, putting on cool muslin
dress, saunted down to the pond fol-
amusement.
She stepped into the boat, and unfast-
ening 1t, picked up the oars and rowed
laZi'y out from the shore.
| Tho hoof vUo oVyo,, ,,,D~n