The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1884-11-27
AN ACT OF JUSTICE.

AN ACT OF JUSTICE.
"Ah, this is the countryi How
Quiet it seems after the hustle of the
city, and how deliciously fragrant the
air is. But i, ) warm though. / won.
der if I'm near my destination"
Pausiag. the soliloquiser transfers his
satchel from his right hand to his left,
while with his handkerchief he wipes
his brow. -
just then, CHANGING to glance over
the low stone wall beside him, he sees
a charming picture. -
Seated upon the daisied grass be-
Meath, the shade of an old tree, is q
Young girl busiIy wreathing her straw
hat with wild roses.
A great cluster nestles at the throat
of her eambric dress, while another
fastens her belt. The delicate pink
harmonises with the tints of her own
perfect complexion, while wound about
her small head are a wealth of soft
brai,ls, whose purely golden hue would
make society girl sick with envy.
After gazing until he is satisfied. the
stranger coughs gently but audibly.
As the girl looks up and sees that
she is observed she springs to her feet.
II beg your pardon for alarming
s0u." the young man hastens to say.
Can you direct me to Brierwood
Earn? | was told that ii was couple
Of miles from the station, and as l have
been walking some time l Thought that
/ must be near it. "
A, charming smile breaks over the
lovely face, as the girl, recovering her
seif-possession. answers him with the
welcome announcement:
4'You thought rightly. sir. This is
Brierwood farm"
With light spring the young man
clears the fence and comes 10 her side.
II must confess that l am very glad.
1t is tho esseucc OF GOODNESS and shadow
here, but out upon the open road the
sun is scorehingly hot. Is Mr.. Arnold
at homer"
mo, sir. but my aaat is,''
As they walk together to the house,
under the welcome shade of the green
trees. the stranger says, smiling:
If Mrs. Arnold is yOur amt. why,
then we must be cousins. My name is
Rupert Arnold. and my father is re-
lktLcu W V1T. AIuOld.
II am Rose May, the niece of Mr..
.Arnold's wife, the girl replies as
frankly.
appropriately named," the Young
man says pleasantly, with significant
glanee> at the flowers that adorn so
Iaxiahly, his companion simple
toilette 81 hope >yon will allow ma
the friendly privileges OF a cousin
even If Me cannot claim the relation
ship Through the ties of blood.
.'Have you never been to the farm
before?" Rose asks.
Yes, once, syhen was little chap
of five years. But that's q long time
ago. -ys---.-==, ---=------i i--.s-- :.
ssft must be-" Rose answers de-
murely.
By this time they are at the farm
house door. which stands Hospitality
open. and, ushering their visitor into
the sitting-room, Rose hastens to ap-
prise her aunt of the arrival.
"A perfect little jewel: How she
will shine in the golden setting that
awaits her, and how glad l am that l
ELL in with mothers Views?' Rupert
Arnold thinks as he answers her smile
and listens until the last echo of b, :
light step dies away.
81 am ON my summer vacation. and
that my father had
cousins out this way, 4 thought !
would look them up. He was speak-
ing of your husband the other day, and
that his busy life prevented
him from keeping, track of his rsla'
~ lofnr
The cordiality of his reception leaves
ail a nothing to desiEe, and when Farmer
Arnold urges him to, spend the remain.
srm, he willingly assents. l.
OF course, in that time his acquaint-
anee with Rose makes rapid progress.
and Rupert soon tiatters hifuself that
he has sounded the height and depth oi
her simp&e mind. =.
Her heauiy is of kind that could
never paal-Shat he acknowledges; bat
to the ha6its1e of society, the absolute
truth and eandef of her character; after
the first cease to anterest.
However, do not Gear, mother dear.
chat am going to spoil your plans.
1 must confess that. after the
girls of our set, this country maiden's 8
attractions pale, still hundred thou
sand is not to be picked up every day,
anSIi If possible, do not mean the tidy
iitails sum to go to any other than
YotH dutiful son, RUPERT. "
Such is the conclusion of an epistle
Rupert dispatches to his mother during
his stay at the farm, and which brings
8 smile to the receivers face oi
mingled amusement and qualification.
But Rose is not. so transparent as
Rupert deems her to be, and has al
ready formed her own opinion OF the
visitor, who is So pronounced in his
of herself; and who has SO
.aaeserly availed himself of the priyi.
ilege tacitly permitted him OF calling hei
ia3y the title Of cousin. ...-..'.
I She by no means dislikes him; his
wiyacity and companionableness would
ppeelade that; but she ganges rightly
the ganiay and shallowness of his char
aeter, and when she mentally compares
him TO senesns else who towers q
high above him In Haental attributes a.
he does in statlire, could Rupert read
tie verdict, chagrin would mark hin
h ~ its own. As it is, hoYssSrs h
sa ye the farm with bis self-satisfscr
ion. u nimpaired.
"A A eason in town to complete wha
.hese Il wo weeks have begun, aad Ru
nert. oil. fellow, your futures assured
No mohe need to quail before th'
eyes when the dues com'
nomfng i'm! As to fun and freedom,
Bene aict is as much his own master a
! bachelor, if he chooses to be. F"
Such are the thoughts that fill thu
Young mans mind, as the train bear
him 1pon his hcmeward journey.
Two months 90 by. and then two let
ters come to BrierwOod Farm, one ad
dressed to MIR. Arnold, and the Orhe
for Rose.
7 They are both from Mrs. Arnold
Rupert,s mother. and contain al
urgent invitation for Rose to visit he
iuncle's cousin in their city home.
The letters are w0fded with suci
scraceful tact, and such warm cordially
srh at even had the wish to say no beel
strong, it would have been difficult t.
do SO. !.
! .xVould you like to go, Rosebud, t.
see with your own eyes what the won
derfnl city is hke?"
Roses brown eyes fairly shine.
/ .Idndeed ! would" she cries.
hot H., oou9'' FIJI