The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1884-07-31
liz OF THE PINES.

LIZ OF THE PIN ES.
Night, and wild storm coming.
The wind howled dismally among the
Canadian pines, making them groan
and bend their stately heads, as if they
whispered ominously; the sky was
black, without single star, and a
heavy, drenching rain was falling
drearily.
stood at the open door of the rude,
tumble-down shanty which Liz-'Liz
of the Pines" called her-had ap-
pointed as our place of rendezvous;
and us watched the threatening as
pect of the night, my mind caught
something of its gloom.
And that was quite unnecessary. I
was unsettled. and dissatisfied. and
miserabl enough without any such ex-
ternal influence. Here had Ned
Gray, a bachelor of leisure, and edu-
cation, and wealth, a man of thirty,
who ought to have been superior to
such nonsense-here had l come, steal
ing through the lonely pine woods long
after | was supposed to be asleep, to
keep an extremely risky appointment
with an ignorant, half-wild beautiful
creature, who bore among her relatives
and familiar associates the elegant ap-
pe1lation of "Backwoods Liz"
AS I waited-and particularly as I
speculated upon the possibility of her
making q still more egregious fool of
me by not coming at ALL alternately
cursed the feminine whim and love of
power which had induced her to sum-
mon me hither, and my own mad, fool
ish infatuation for her beauty which
had compelled me, as it were. to obey.
Her beauty! While waiting for her
living, breathing presence to gladden.
my bodily eyes l conjured before my
mental vision a fair picture of her
matchless charms. Matchless? Yes.
Nature unaided had done her best, and
Liz was altogether beautiful.
/ despair of describing her. The
slight, 1.-the. graceful, exguisitely
rounded figure. whose every movement
and attitude was full of unconscious
and unstudied grace. The darkly bril-
liant and expressive face. sun-kissed
to softest rose or vivid crimson on the
lips and cheeks; the large grey eyes,
with their long ebon laShes; and the
wealth of splendid hair-these were
but physical charms. l knew that the
fair caskot held q worthy gem,-that
the ignorant girl, who could not read
nor write, possessed 81 mind of more
than common intelligence, and pure
and lovely soul.
And was in love with her-really
love-with a serious passion that was
more than half made up OF pain, and
which 1 experienced for the first time
in my life. 1t was a strange madness;
alternately yielded to it or struggled
against it, well knowing that only mis-
cry could come of it all the time.
She had told me that. She was SIM
pie and straightforward as truth itself,
and knew nothing of double-dealing.
What use is love between you and
me?" she said. sorrowfully. 81 am
no mate for such as you"
Personally she might have mated
with king. Surely King Cophetua's
beggar-maid was never fairer. But
she had relatives-low-lived ruffians of
the coarsest mould. Could / ally my
self-mv family-with them?
..And if you could and would, you
should not" she said. resolutely.
you must go-for my sake and your
own-go, and forget me!''
And I had promised to comply
ma2's love is somuch more selfish than
woman's. Although in my anxiety
and pain I scarcely realized the humil-
iating fact, l know now that it was less
of her interest or happiness l thought
than of my own.
] had left England some three months
before this present stormy night. on a
hunting expedition in the wilds of Can
ada. An enthusiast in the sport, no
woman. until l met "Liz of the Pines. "
had ever proved rival to my gun.
But it was different now.
| started as the sound of her light,
swift footsteps fell upon my ear at
last; and as drew her into the for
saken hut, and touched her for a mom-
ent as took the dripping cloak from
her head and shoulders, my pulses
thrilled with a sweet, half-delirious
Joy, and the heretofore gloomy, DESC
late place seemed changed to an earth
ly heaven.
She was trembling, and very pale.
She had kept me at terrible distance
always, this backwoods beauty. who
now summoned me to a rendezvous at
| night; but when | saw her shaking SO
that she seemed likely to fall. | sud-
denly threw my arms around her.
What was my surprise when, instead
of gravely repulsing me, she clung al
most conyulsively to me for an in
slant. and burst into a passion of tears.
For moment only. Almost immed.
lately she had recovered her self-con-
troll, and drew little away from me,
though not quite out of my arms, look
ing up earnestly into my face.
'Ive come at the risk of my life,
she whispered, ''to warn you that
yours is in danger.
We were standing in the doorway OF
the hut. The rain had ceased. and the
wind had lulled, and pale sickly
moon stole out timidly. BY its faint
light | could see the sweet, pale face
and the gray eyes, full of love and fear,
uplifted to my own. Suddenly, and
before she knew. stopped and kissed
her-for the first time. She sprans
away with faint, low cry; but l flung
pride and prudence to the winds at the
touch of those velvet lips.
''Heaven bless the danger thai
brings you to my side?' | cried. ''Oh
Liz-sweet Liz!-I love you"
She stood ut little distance. watch
ing me with startled eyes. as if uncer
tain whether to stay or fly. Her indie
cision was very brief, however.
IL know" she said. putting up he
hand with deprecating gesture. as i
to keep me Off know you do. AnC
/, too-no, don't touch me, please
didn't care for you more than all tn
world. should be here to-night?'
| Oh, Liz! but it was hard to hear yol