The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1885-06-04

BILE distracted her hough from the high
romantic subjects of which at that tin
she considered much, and his unsympathiz-
ing practicality Jared upon her customary
mood. Therefore it vas only with in
creased annoyance that an exclamation
from her brother directed her attention to
a figure seen indistinctly making its way
along the avenue OF tree trunks d sasiittle
"Mr. Chiffon! Mr.. Chilton!" cried the
irrepressible youth, hailing the advent of
a more congenial companion. "How many
you caught"
"Hush, George" said Alice. Don't call
any gentleman here"
"But it's Mr.. Chiffon, and he's been fish.
ing. You know Mr.. Chiffon first rate"
persisted the boy.
The angler had advanced until too near
to either feign ignorance or to make a
graceful retreat. The salutations We're
somewhat awkward on his part, a trife
cold on the other, when George interrupted
the formal exchange:
"We're just going to the house, Mr..
Chiffon; amt we, Alice? And I wish
you'd let me carry your fish for you. You
can take Alice's book, or she can put it in
the basket"
Chiffon had recovered his self -possession
enough to realize that If his rival was soCn
to ppear on the sceno, fortune had not
lone him ar ill turn by bringing him into
the field of action, even in wet clothes; n
he set himself to make the most of it, call
ing in all his resources for agreeable con-
versation. But Miss Burleigh was in one
of her lofty moods, to whose prevalence
Chiffon conceitedly attributed his re-
lection, and her responses were not en-
couraging.
II suppose it was very gay here earlier
in the season." at length ventured her
companion. ''When I left, all the town
had returned, with reports of excursions
by day n hops by night"
6VQS- If WAS nnifa liEalv af Soma nf tho
houses; but mother prefers quiet, and l
really don't care much for such things,o
replied Alice, adding, with an air as if the
gravity of a hundred years of worldly ex-
perience rested on her young spirits, 81
don't find society very satisfying as we
have it at these resorts"
San so you come out for the best of all
good company-yourself and solitude.
Well, 1 can't disagree with you. But you
see you are not safe even when you take
lows you, even in wet boots; and no WON
der.n
"Please don't make it personal, Mr..
Chiffon" said Alice, annoyed that she
should have led the talk along in that
channel. "All my friends know howl feel
on this subject. What 1 do not find in So
ciety is a high and earnest purpose, a
knightliness, and a true elevation of spirit
which 1 feel confident would make them
selves evident in the face and form as well
as in the mind of the people who had
Them"
"Sana mems in corpora sano," murmured
the young man, quietly amused at this
girlish rhapsody.
"There is nothing ideally good or great"
went on the young woman, now fairly
place and dull. The girls have their little
sentiments, the women have their dress
and their children, and the men have their
tiresome and vulgar business. They make
money and they grow bald. There is no
romance in it anywhere; One of King
our society, but a true woman would wor-
ship him."
these knights ought to be found, If any
where," said Chiffon, anxious to make a
diversion. "How his chargers hoofs
would be uncomfortable wear in fighting
the dragons of these days."
"You don't understand me-" replied
Alice, with q touch of haughtiness in her
tone. 81 could recognize a knight in blue
flannel or broadcloth." y.
Here the path led them out toward the
road, from which George was seen running
with excitement.
81 told you he was coming, Alice. Now
I hope mother will be satisfied, and get
ready to go home"
"Who is coming?" asked Alice, a little
nervously.
HWhy, Mr.. Lankton-Arthur Lankton;
and he just drove by in one of the teams
from Foskitt's. Come along quick, and you
will see him.
was a fine fellow, physically and mentally.
q model of elegance both in action and re-
pose. His n was faultless and i'm
pressive; and whether he was listening to
Mrs. Burleigh's talk of her symptoms, or
was interfering remarks in Alice's fluent
Il Cnnuargafinn nm mira aaSfh pfio C1hiocfc his
o and his air indicated the most intense
sympathy. Chiffon recognized him as a
dangerous companion where the peace of
mind of a romantic young girl was con-
cerned, especially since the first two days
developed an evident preference and at
traction between the two; while Mrs. Bur-
leigh had the satisfaction, which does moi
always come to mathematics, of seeing
her work prosper under her hands from the
start. Chiffon saw that, while he had
doubtless won the esteem and q measure OF
| the confidence of the girl who had rejected
his warmer advances, the brilliant Lank-
ton had already fascinated her, and know.
ing the man to be in some sort a mora
sham, he was by no means content.
One morning, at the end of the first weei
of his stay, coming down to a late break
fast, Chiffon found the Burleigh family
with Lanktor in attendance, already
packed in a wagon, preparatory
to an ascent of Weehausett, n the young
lawyer WINS asked, with more or less cordi
| atty, according to the individual, to max,
Que of the party. He excused himself, ant
sat down to a solitary meal; in the course
of which, revolving all the circumstance!
in his mind, he decided that his interests
if he had any, would perhaps be BETTE
served by remaining near Alice for thu
short time that was left, not leaving tn
field to the enemy. 1t was not too late t,
reconsider. There would be delay il
changing from carriage to saddle at tn
foot of the mountain, and he could wall
there in time to join them or horseback.
A brisk tramp of a few miles brought tn
young man to the station where guides ant
horses were taken for the ascent. Blu
with the exception of Mrs. Burleigh, VIII
was comfortably ensconced in the farm
house parlor, her courage having failed a
the la st moment, none of the party wa
visible. The rest were already on thei
way up the great slopes of the mountain
and had taken the last horse from tn
stable with them.
There was nothing left for him but
days climbing OF his own account, whethe
OF not fortune brought him into the societ'
of his friends. So, cutting a stout staff
he set out with a swinging step up tn
bridle-path. He passed the cold spring
near which was the fresh imprint of a littl
boot in the moist earth, telling that her
Alice had dismounted, and perhaps dram
from the very tin dipper which Chiffon. o
Ouo CuduCC Vi lOs pun OuOlJ w IL Wv!
lips. He passed on and upward into tn
region of broad lodges, past small planta
tions of stunted pines, ash and cedars Fa
above him once he caught sight of tn
little cavalcade moving like a march Q
ants. Here the bridle-path made a wild
detour to the northward to avoid tn
p~recipitous slope of the eastern side. LIE
him take the chord of the arc described b.
the traveled way, and he would gain
half-hour and meet them at the summit.
1t was u rough scramble after leavin
the path; more difficult than he ha
imagined. He battled his way throug
interlaced scrub, scaled a slippery incline
clambered a precipice. Then he foun
himself among powders, great fragment
split by frost and storm from the lodges
and set standing apart until storm an
frost should again dislodge them for a reel
ing plunge down the mountain. They stoo
breast-high in terraces, with narrow path
between, or hung balancing over eac
other. Chiffon leaped from bowlder t
bowlder on his upward path, helping him
self now with his hands now with his sta 4