The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1885-01-03

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very kind; but have one at command
already. Get that for Yourself"
Somewhat rebuffed, Didymus colored,
but she added, ''Mine shall not disgrace
YOU" which was a distinct intimation
that she expected him as escort. The
spirits of Didymus rose from zero to
| blood-heat
The next morning, as the riders were
ready to start, a groom, known to be
one of Colonel Parsifall's, rode up lead
ing magnificent blooded bay horse,
equipped with a side-saddle As they
were admiring the animal Miss Scam
per, i'll neat riding-habit, made her
appearance. The groom took off his
hat. Didymus, not little astonished,
| put forth his hand, and the lady vaulted
to the back of the horse with easy grace.
The cayalcade set out, Miss Scamper
and Didymus together, and being better
mounted than the others, were soon at
the head of the column.
About a mile from the Springs there
was bar in the way. A lofty tulip-tree
had been blown down during the night
and had fallen across the road, the trunk
well up on account of the wide roots
Some one had already cleared way by
| letting down fences on the roadside;
but Miss Scamper did not go around
with the rest. She faced the trunk, the
I tfTUrse Went over, and then trotted on.
Didymus faced it, too. His brute got
over, but half stumbled. Didymus was
country-bred, had ridden horses to mill
bare-backed, and was half centaur
] N4rbp bcy-. bf hYC,,1-I,t HI Il 49,,
Miss Scamper smiled approvingly.
Everybody admired the case and grace
with which Miss Scamper managed her
horse, and Didymus more than every
body.
When they arrived at their destina-
ton, the party dispersed in the house
and over the grounds They found old
Scamper there. He had gone over be-
fore in carry-all Almont was the
property of Colonel Almont, and was
for sale, with its fine blooded stock of
horses and cattle, its furniture, its libra
ry, and everything in the house and
around it. The Colonel and his family
were in Europe, and intended to stay
there while he educated his sons at
Heidelberg. So he offered the whole
a house that cost hundred and thirty
thousand dollars, with all its offices of
all kinds, stables, palmery, grapery and
greenhouses, furniture made to order,
and over twelve hundred acres of land
in high state of ultivation-''for," as
he said in his letter, "a mere song"
SO it was; but as it was set to the tune
of three hundred thousand dollars, there
were few who could render the music.
They all admired the place. The agent,
who was there, seized on the Scamp
erS and Didymus, to whom he showed
everything and explained everything.
Didymus was amused at this, and whis-
pered to Miss Scamper: He has picked
out the only three who could certainly
not buy il" Miss Scamper, by the
twinkle in her eyes, evidently appreci-
ated the fun of the situation. Then the
agent seized old Scamper, and dragged
him off to look at the blood horses and
imported cattle, leaving Didymus and
the girl together.
How do you like the place, Mr..
Dodd?" inquired she.
Like it, Miss Scamper! Why, it is
garden of Eden; that is it would be so
~ lllCS IL L IttAl IL Will dlI Eve Ill IL.
The young lady smiled, and said:
''You like country life, then, Mr..
DoddP"
Naturally" replied Didymus. 81
lived in the country until | was twenty
two. I was born and bred there. l
should have been there yet but for the
death of both my parents. went to
the city in search of fortune. | have
done very well for the last seven years,
and have put a little by; but to covet a
place like this is like wishing for the
moon"
The country is the place to live in,
and the city to work in,'' replied Miss
Scamper, sententiously.
ITO live in, l grant you, if you have
the means-a good farm and money to
work it. Otherwise you toll the harder
in the country than in town, with less
comfort and less profit"
Then they discoursed on rural topics,
with a marvellous unity of sentiment,
until the venerable Scamper and the
agent got back, which was at the time
the whole party, each with nosegay
furnished by the gardener from the
greenhouses, was ready to return to the
Springs.
There were yet two days of the young
mans vacation left, when he deter
mined to place his fate at Miss Scamp
er's disposal at the first opportunity.
The chance came that very night.
That evening number were seated on
the veranda enjoying the moonlight.
Miss Scamper sat apart from the rest,
in heavy shadow, with her grandfather.
The old gentleman rose when Dodd
came, and left. Miss Scamper made
room for Didymus at her side, and the
two began to talk of the days doings.
'By-the-bye. a." said Didymus, ..haye
you heard that Almont has been soldP"
Eyes"
'And to the great heiress, Miss Bols-
over. / wonder if she will keep old
maids hall there?"
Miss Scamper laughed low, silvery
laugh. II presume she will, y she said,
''unless she chance to marry. Wasn't
that sad accident at the mill to-day?"
Very. The man has wife and five
children. | went over to see how they
were-to see if they were in pressing
need, you know but that part is all
right. This Miss Bolsover, who must
be staying somewhere near had been
there. and provided for all their wants.