The Arkansaw traveler., 1884-01-12
WOODED IN THE WOODS.
Exchange

scorching. boiling days that we only get once or twice during the summer. l am lying, it must be confessed, in some what ungraceful attitude in hammock swinging among the trees. But what mat ters IL . We live too far out in the coun- try for chance visitors. Except for the castle. which can see through the trees, we have no houses within circuit of four miles. and who would walk. or even drive, such day as this
 So feel quite safe, and am totally in- different to the facts that one shoe has fallen over the edge of the hammock, and tha, my hair is tumbling down my back in more negligent manner than usual for a young lady nearly iS.
 IL is hot-too hot to read or work, or do anything bu, lie dreamily watching the blue sky through the trees. have nothing very important to think about ; my life has been too uneventtul, too mo- notonous altogether, for me to have thoughts of absorbing interest.
 have lived Tn this same old house ever since was born, and dear mother $ too delicate 10 visit or entertain much :: so beyond tea-meeting or school-treat now and then, which Tn vain try hard 10 enjoy, my life has no change.
 The only people we see are the vicar, the doctor and one or two of the country families. who visit us about twice a year oh. those visits how detest them ' and lie now wondering vaguely what makes them so detes,able. suppose 1t is because they pa,ronize me so, and say how have grown IS though girl nearly T. could not grow any more.
 md speculating on this subject sleepy work. and am just going of into a doze, when a crashing of the underwood by my side rouses me
 look dreamily up. expecting to see nothing more exciting than old Simpson calling me to tea, but the sight that mee's my eyes makes me start up wide awake in an instant, the netting catching my last haIrplas. and tumbling my hair m l wild case ade down my back.
 There. standing riah, before me. Is a man; and not only man. but d young and handsome one, looking cuuously at me.
 Who can he be: We have no young men about here except the curate, who is of short stature and weak eyes. and the doctors assistant. who squints and has d turn- up nose.
 le; me try 10 describe him: Tall. very ,ail he appears to me, perched aloft in the hammock broad as a young Her eules dark, d iirm determined face. with large, though well.Iut features. and merry brown eyes, with at present very amused look m them. Indeed. his ex- pression altogether suddenly makes me desperately conscious of my dishevelled appearance. my shoeless foot. with it's embroidered stocking, my untidy hair. and. wors, of all, my exceedingly con splCuous ankles.
 try to sl, up, and struggle to tuck them under my dress, but the hammock k giveS sudden lueh. and l fall igno- miniously back again, while the unknown stranger bursts into hearty peal of laughter.
 don't know who you are. but 1 think you exceedingly rude :" say. with a feeble attempt 10 look dignihed. which IS renoered quite futile by my other shoe, which came otf Tn the recent struggle falling over the edge. am sure l am very sorfy beg your pardon, he says, family. s,ill s,riv. lng. as l can plainly see. to overcome hls laughter.
 And then he picks up my shoes and holds them out to me. but feel very ho, and angry and pretend no; to see wha, he Is dong 50. after holding them help iessly d few moments. he puts them dowr again.
 We rcmain silent. and l revolve m m, mind the possibility oi get,i.g out of tho hammock.
 determine to get rid of him. and turn around for the purpose.
 fie IS looking at me in a qulzzlcal way as though he read my thoughts.
 Ills expression nettles me beyond en. durance
 do not know if yoa are aware tha ihls IS private property remark, s,inly am So very sorry" he repeat, again but have los, my way Is i too much 10 ask you to direct me to th, high road again :
 He says this in such meek voice ,ha feel ashamed ot my former rudencss and speak 10 him with smile this tune IL Is difficult to explain; but If could get out ot this hammock -
 Let me help you. he says, comm, eagerly forward.
 oh, no -. very hurfiedly: but i you would be so kind-l mean ,o say. i you would nc, m,nd turning your bacl for second or two
 l can scarcely get out the words, and feel myself blushing to an extent that am sure would put boiled lobster [, shame.
 He says nothing, but turns his back a requested
 see his shoulders shaking.
 Can he be laughing again? The though IS too much.
 make a desperate struggle: bu whether sm nervous or Hurried l don know; but cannot get firm foo,in, and the more try the less seem able ts gain terra frma.
 come to the conclusion that if ,her, IS one more detes,able thing on the fac, of the earth than another it is a ham mock, and many are my inward vow never to get in one again.
 But VOWS, however deep. do not hel,