The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1883-08-24
A SUMNER ROMANCE.

"SC. Inlllp street "A IOnely III
tie station, quite in the woods it seemed
to the curious travellers looking out as
the train slowed up. A pretty girl
stepped to the platform, and a man,
holding book still open, followed her.
These were the only passengers for st.
Philips; the whistle shrieked, and the
next moment the train was laundering
away beyond recall.
This was the thought flashing on the
man who stood yet on the platform
staring after though whether he
would have recalled it, if he could, was
question with him even then. A bit
dazed, he turned and stared at the OPP
posite mountain, at the houSeless coun-
try all around then slowly he stepped
over the track into the one grass
grown road round which the girl had
disappeared.
He thought to close his book, and,
with a smile which broadened most to
a laugh, lie walked on down the lonely
road. Whittier would it lead him? in
what sort of place was he doomed, at
least, to spend the night? For he had
never before stopped at st. Philips;
Ill lttNpy llCN VI w pboP
there now, or ever: till that last little
moment when he left the train so sud-
denly he hal not time even to close his
magazine.
He walked en- still smilingiy. 1t
did not matter any way. True, he
was bound for 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 perhaps beyond he would find
some very attractive spot where he
would prefer to pass his vacation a
trihe woull bring the luggage back,
and S.
He strove to argue down the I'D
circumstance of his stopping at st.
Philips; he admittel no cause to
quarrel with his impulse, yet he in
clined to all the same. Suddenly he
frOwned bit-as a man must-sud-
denly realizing that he has made HIM
self ridiculous 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 hal now come upon.
A small, struggling hamlet, hugging
closely the base of the mountain which
hung down over it. A pictures tie
place enough it looked in the evening
sunlight; it would have captivated an
artists or poets 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 any.
where he could see. He stopped to
inquire of man he saw standing in a
docrwav.
limp" the man answered with q
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 business of taking board
ers. 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 ant
more"
"The young lady?'
"The young. lady, yes. You saw
her? No doubt such face as her.
wouldn't be likely to escape-well
such a corresponding chap as you
She's one of our boarders, regular; ha,
been here two years now" The mar
glanced with an honest, wistful, dis
satisfied look from the newcomer tC
his magazine. "Guess you don't NEAR
to take long board, though; you dom
seem to have much luggage. But per
haps you left it at the station? TIL,
boys going right off for the young
lady's, and he can bring yours, too"
Eyes, but"
"Oh, see, you just want to spen'
the night? Odd, but, of course. you r.
welcome. Perhaps Tomorrow" h
bent closer, and ended in a sly whispe
-"perhaps, when you see our youn;
lady clostr, you'll decide to stay
while"
Howard Ralph was man no. ea'il
embarrassed, but he fairly writhe
now under the speakers innocen
words and glances. He plunged int
his answer right recklessly, albeit
cost lie.
THE fact is-the fact is, did nc
at all intend stop ing at st. Philip,
My luggage was checked Tor BramI
ton, but the-the natural beauty 9
the place attracted me. and the fact il
/ may like to stay here. What al
fractions have you? Fishing, boatin,
all that, suppose, of course?'
"It's no object deceiving you. straI
ger. Thereisn water enough to ilos
boat in ten miles of st. Philips. A
we have is the mountain"
"All the same, think I'll stay"
He was not locking at his delighte
host; he had turned, ere answering, {
the sound of light step and ripplin
laugh in the hall without; he stoo
now gazing at the little figure trippin
toward the roadway. with the wor,
involuntarily on his lips. He did n,
see it again that night; but once We
while at supper, he heard the ripplir