The Penn's Grove record., 1884-03-01

block" said GLADYS. we Couhleu
them yesterday, Dora and L. DO you
suppose there are nineteen old maids on
Lake MolechunkamunkP"
"Nonsensel" said Mrs. Templeton.
s.And besides" added Gladys, the
aughter fading from her eyes, lis it
really the end and aim of all female hui
manly to get married? Why shouldn't
| be an old maid as well as another? Do
YOU think | shouldn't survive itr Wait
and see!"
GLADYS Garland had definitely made
up her mind on the subject. Within
three DAYS size had purchased a pair of
thick boots, a blue flannel suit, and a
poke bonnet of rough straw, trimmed
with blue ribbons, and gone out to Lake
MoIechunkamunk.
Uncle Paul was glad to see her. He
didn't live in a wigwam, as she had al
most taught herself to believe, but own
ed a pretty little lodge in this vast will
derness, shaded with forest trees, and
empowered with blue cupped morning
glories.
He was civilized, and did not assas-
sinate English grammar like the cham
pion hunter in the dime novels. And
he had provided a pretty little boudoir
for her, whose pink mosquito-netting
set the black flies and gnats at defiance
and an exquisite engraving Of the Ma
donna di San Sisto hung oyer the broad
mantle.
.Oh, 1 think l shall be quite, quite
happy here" said Gladys, as she sat in
a little boat where the drooDing boughs
of the hazel bushes made blots of sha-
dow on the glittering lake, and read
while Uncle Paul fished
Don't regret any of the New York
cavaliers, eh?l" said Uncle Paul.
And Gladys stoutly answered:
mol"
But afterward she asked herself, had
she told the whole truth2
''If Darrell Vaudeville chooses to
marry Miss Dorrance, let him." she
thought. l shall never pursue any man.
Let other girls do as they think mr."
That very afternoon, however, when
she returned from a long ramble in the
woods, with her straw hat full of black
berries, she found the little lodge oceu-
pied.
Il am sorry to take you thus uncere-
moniousy by storm" said a handsome,
mlddle-aged gentleman, who looked to
be what he was, a Wall street broker
come out into the wilderness for his
summer vacation. "But my friend has
fallen over a cliff and broken his leg,
and this vas the nearest point of shell
ter within a range of seven miles. Per-
haps your husband will excuse us, if"
"But it isn't my husband" said Gla-
dys, composedly depositing the berries
on the table. SIT is my Uncle Paul.
He is fishing, up the lake. But if he
were here, he would say, rs | do that
you are very welcome. Where is the
poor man? | am not much of a sur
geOn, but"
She stopped abruptly. There, lying
on the little chintz- covered lounge, hts
pallid face supported by cushions, lay
Mr.. Darrell Vaudeville.
"Miss GarlandI" he exclaimed. 81
am so gladl"
"Mr. Vaudeville" she uttered, in
the Same breath, 81 am 50 sorryj"
because l have drifted here, of all
places in the world" he pleaded.
because you are so badly hurtl''
faltered Gladys, with the tears coming
into her eyes.
II knew you were somewhere in this
region, " he said. SIN fact, Miss Gla-
dys, l was looking for you. But / didn't
expect to find you just now and thus, l
thought"
And then he closed his eyes; a deadly
pallor crept across his face.
81 think he has fainted," said the
Wall street broker.
And just then Uncle Paul came in
Uncle Paul, who was a born c~hirurgeon,
and who understood all the healing Sc
crets of the glen and forest-and Gla-
dys heayed a deep sigh of relief. 1t
would all be right now.
A broken leg is no joke, especially in
the back woods, where splints have to
be manufactured out of the most in
eongruous material, and arnica cannot
be had short of twelve miles.
MIR. Vaudeville made but a slow CON-
valescence, yet he did not appear to re-
gard the detention as unpleasant. The
Wall street broker went back to his
stocks and bonds.
y think we could easily get you to
Andover, "hehad said, wistfully. "And
a parlor-car from there"
"Oh, hang your parlor-carsl" SAID
Mr.. Vaudeville. impetuously. 81 am
doing very well where | am now.n
"Ohl" said the Wall street broker, a
sudden light of comprehension irradia-
ting his dull brain. 'Oh, in that case,
| may as well leave you 10 your tate
It's the old story of Ulysses and the
Sirens over again"
Mrs. Templeton came into the room
where Dora and Juliet were remodeling
their white dresses for a theatre para
the Casino, M September day, with
flushed cheeks and shining eyes.
Girls" she cried, what do you
think? Gladys is engaged"
no some buffalo hunter?" said Dora.
scornfuly.
mol" said Rosie. ITO Mr.. Mande-
vile. He has been up there for a
month-at Lake Molechunkamunk."
Juliet dropped her work.
tImDpSaih1atSJ eba Ill a-