The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1884-10-11

A'ii NOIol' n SMOKY maze tempered
the sun. The crickets piped OF frost.
The summer was gone The city's rest
less finger beckoned them back to
Change. to desk, to opera, theater,
ball, and rout.
"One more picnic-one more hot cof-
Zee in the woods" begged Ellington,
who had so hated picnics.
Mrs. Roscoe made ready.
Where shall it be?"
las far from everything and every
body as possible. In the Wilderness"
"We'll have tug take us half way
up to the Jordan, leave us, and come
Tor us at night" decided Mrs Roscoe.
1t was done, The day was the per-
lection of smoky hush and warmth
They steamed acr IS the emerald wa
ter Venus on her shell, with the Adri-
attic sea-foam at her prov, in the in
fancy of the world, of Love, of Poetry,
could not have splashed up whittier
drops, or cut a clear wake in more
translucent water. Fanny had her
sketching materials. zone final bit of
north woods for my room in winter"
she said. "
Ellington sighed in his heart he was
pensive and reflective, and while Fanny
watched the scenery he studied her
profile. He had been given to signing
about many things for several weeks,
and more than once had expressed a
tender philosophy of life, instead of his
old-time pessimistic creeds. Cragmore,
while bursting with amusement at it,
had not dared to seem to see.
infragmore, as usual, was assigned to
the commissary-he and Mrs. Roscoe
johnny, also as usual, was everywhere
and at all times in the way, playing
tricks on Ellington, tormenting Fanny,
but ever comforting his royal approval
on Cragmore.
For their camping-ground they found
a steep, shelving shore, with hemloc'5,
and cedar, and pines, and other IN
Gus smelling woods growing or me alb
rupt bank, back to the plateau above.
They unloaded from the tug all their
appliances, boats, rugs, dishes, ham,
pers and hammocks, and the little bum
blebee of boat buzzed away. And it
was the beginning of the last day.
Ellington became but the shadow of
the young goddess. He directed her
choice of view for the picture. He car
ried her impedimenta. If she walked,
he walked; if she rested. he rested.
Johnny was also a shadow, if anything
can be said to be shadow that literally
surrounds its object. He had never
been more strenuous or eXacting, and
had never quite so desperately irritated
Ellington. But Fanny was patient and
indulgent and did not seem to mind,
but rather to like, the nuisance.
''Fan, see that tree!' cried johnny;
sit bends way over the water. May
climb it?'
80, no, Johnny, it isn't safe"
''It is perfectly safe,' interrupted
Ellington. 81 should like to 90 out on
those limbs myself"
"Him yelled the savage at this en-
couragement, and off he ran to do the
very thing most likely to keep people
uneasy.
Ellington was relieved and set about
making himself captivating. o, the
blessed quiet of the cool, green woods,
with the pine-needles under foot, the
whispering boughs overhead and no
small boy to interrupt.
Miss Fanny, our summers happi-
ness is nearly done. "
.''Yes, it is September"
81 came here reluctantly, but 90
away more reluctantly"
"And see how brown | am-see my
hand, " and she held it up smiling.
He caughtit fervidly in his.
Splash! shrek!
Johnny had climbed the perilous
tree and had fallen from it into the
lake. Fanny sprang up, dropped
sketching board, brushes, ct al, and
down the steep bank she bounded, Ed
ington at break-neck speed behind.
Johnny was foundering Justify, striking
wildly out with legs and arms, and
struggling and snorting. Fanny would
have plunged into the water but for
Edington's strong hands which grasped
her just in time. He set her abruptly
aside and down upon the stones, and
without waiting to throw off his coat or
otherwise prepare himself rushed into
deep water, caught the boy by his blouse
and dragged him out
so, Johnny, Johnny" moaned his
sister, beautifully pale, but not hys-
terical or troublesome. When the Emp
urchin was laid at her feet she clasped
him in her arms and rocked to and
fro. She did not mind the wet nor even
look at Ellington, who stood shaking
himself like a huge Newfoundland dog.
The Shrek had brought every member
of the party to the spot in alarm.
Johnny gurgled and gasped, and then
began to cry.
"Hes all right" said Cragmore.
"Who got him out?"
"Mr. Ellington" sobbed Fanny,
yielding her dripping charge to her
mother. ''And 0, Mr.. Edington,"
going to him impulsively, chow can I
thank you? How brave you are -
She put her cold wet hands in his
and looked tearfully into his face. 1t
was irresistible no one was looking
he stopped and kissed her on her sweet
mouth.
1t is needless to tell how they built a
huge bonfire, dried themselves as best
they could, made coffee, coddled
Johnny, and whiled away the time
until the tug came at the hour arranged
to their relief. Ellington was in a
somnambulism of bliss; Fanny was
blushing and shy. 1t had been fate
full day. But the evening was more
fatnful still ELLINGTON and Eannv had