The Penn's Grove record., 1884-07-05
THE LITTLE rLiRT.

its steep streets, us Olu-ldSnloleu
houses. whose curiously cut, small Win
dow panes wink in the April sunlight,
and its elms and poplars which cast a
checkered shadow on the stones. 1t
was not far from the sea, and occasional
salt breeZes roamed up the river, to
wander itfully through the by-ways of
the GIANT town. High upon the hill
stood the church, its stained-glasS win
doygs casting blue and gold shadows on
the ground, and bathing the lazy lizards
that crept out to sun themselves, with
an mwouted glory. and in the church
ward the tombstoues cleaned white
amid a tangle of ankle-deep clover,
starred about with daisies.
In this peaceful spot, sentimental
couples often wandered and some few
persons came alone, and fell into a
habit of gazing rather wlstfully at the
mossy graves, and wondering how 1t
felt TO he shut out from the light. One
Young lady, in particular, came often,
but seldom alone-this was Echo Tudor,
our naughty heroine imagine a pair
of great, soft, provoking black eyes,
hair like a tangle of Tippled sunlight,
crimson mouth, short white teeth, and
a voice like a bobolink's in June. Echo
was a born coquette, and from her era
die. upward, she had 1lrted her way
through life at the mature age of five,
irving her Wiles on the youth next door,
and then discarding him for the small
boy across the way. Do not let us be
too hard upon her, for her cruelty IN
not caring how much heartache she
-...n,I 60 aIa rtrog Narall nItniChn1 nnn
day, for her caprices.
Having flirted, successfully, with all
the eligible youths of Riverport, she
declared herself tired of every one of
them, and frowned severely upon all
sentimental speeches, until relief ar
lot V6Fsth0yI6s. a ggfn1I5sttr1aG ud@aaGlaec-
on a visit to Il of Echo's friends.
Luckily for Echo's peace of mind,
May Fox, her friends daughter, was
engaged, and although very pretty, she
was voted rather wonderingly by her
acquaintance, mot a bit of a tlirt."
LaneelOt wa tall and handsome, with
straight features, closely-cropped far
hair, the merriest blue eyes In the
world, and a ''PeJectly l0rely' NOUS
tache. Yes" unused Echo, as she
brushed her curling locks, sit is fortu-
nate that he came, for Pm completely
tired of every one here" Oh, Echo !
my foolish Echo
1t 50 CHANGED. that shortly after
Lancelot's arrival, they had a picnic in
the woods near Riyerport, and on the
day appointed, Echo paid especial at
tention to her toilet, tying a blue rib
bon around her round white neck, and
tipping her hat bewitchingly on one
side. Then size babe her affectionate
mamma goodbye, and departed, ac-
companied by her sister Nellie, who,
like May, was engaged.
When they reached the picnic ground,
they found May Fox, Lancelot, Regin.
aid Browne, Lucy Lyndon, Lii Law
ender Ia fair stranger from the upper
part of the riyer), Victor Despard, and
a good many others, waiting for their
appearance. To describe them all
would take some time but they might
be classified thus Lucy, an amiable
nonentity Victor, a fiery creole, des-
perately in love with Echo; Lii, a can
did young lady who expressed her opin-
ion without the slightest regard for any
ones feelings and Reginald, who de-
spised Echo and adoTed Lii. Like
wise, there was Mays lover, Mark
Townsend, who seemed to consider the
whole earth a paradise, and the resi-
dents therein, angels, IN such q state of
bliss was he and this innocent pair of
lovers wandered together under the
trees, privately wondering If two peo-
pile had ever before been so happy.
swarm, isn't it ?" was Lancelot's
first remark, as he sat on n bank be-
side Echo.
"Ye-es, rather" was her equally
brilliant response, as she inwardly hoped
he would drop that worn. out subject
the weather. sit looks like a Sunday
school, doesn't it ? I'm not very fond
of picnics."
"Ah."he observed briefly, and sub
sided Echo smiled feebly in order to
encourage him, and finally ended by
laughing, more in despair than mirth.
"Are you laughing, " he asked, ''be-
cause my last remark was 50 witty, and
at the same time, so profound ~
"EXaely.n She answered. But il
was partly at Mr.. Brownies rapturogs
-countenance, of which | just o
AAAAkSAk q kim ~. III 10 III AAo tANAAANlAL
now, with Lii Lavender for a COM
panion. She is an innocent who never
reads almanacs. and therefore he can
make bad jokes with impunity."
"Happy fellow he evidently has an
a%ppreciative listener laughed Lance
lot, tipping his hat over his eyes to
shade them from the sun. Miss Echo
u may call YOU SO, may l not Sup
pose You show me the pretty places in
the weod.n
Certainly" aSsented Echo, and the
two strolled off, feeling as if they had
known each other for ages.
"What a queer, pretty little name
you have he said, as they walked
along. "Aul how did YOU get it 2"
''Please don't think It IS because |
always have the last word Myname
Is Re6ecca-lovely, U'tst-ct paS'-but