Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1885-04-16

everything around me.
Fate broughtus together in the gloam-
ing.
was speeding dinnerward, and was
still good three miles from the mutton,
when at turn, not in the road, but in
the rocks, / encountered the Misses La
Fanu. Both were laden with mountain
flowers, and both we're proceeding in the
direction Of Farm Lodge.
Now, to pass them would have been
boorish. people living beneath the same
roof with me, SO with little guivering
at the heart-no, not palpitation--I
doffed my beaver, and asked if they
i were going homeward.
eve are, answered Miss Kathleen,
the elder-mine was Gladys eff we
can, but we greatly fear that we have
lost our way"
'Will you permit me to have the honor
Of guiding you?"
"We shall be awfully obliged" This
from Kathleen, while her sister never
youchsafed q word.
did you walk up here2" demanded.
aoh, yes, we are splendid walkers.
We have been miles further on.
By the time we reached Farm Lodge
we were on almost intimate terms. You
see, up in the mountains one is not con-
ventional. II was like shipboard, and I
found that knew some of their friends
in Boston, and they discovered that they
knew some of mine in New York. More
than that, their mother was actually ac-
quainted with my maiden aunt, with
whom resided in West Forty-fifth
street.
Late in the evening was presented to
mamma" and we sat far into the moon
light gossiping to our hearts content,
while to the old lady was as attentive
as though had been wooing her.
From that date commenced our walk
ing trips, mamma doing sort of s.she-
dragon" business by joining us in
two horse break at some given distant
place. At given distant hour. And,
OIL what walks! How gracious every
thing looked How blue the sky; how
beautiful the mountains; how exquisite
the foliage; how delicious the flowers
gathered my rosebuds while might.
Gladys La Fanu was very superior
sort of girl. She knew SO much and yet
was SO humble in producing her wares.
Her French was pure Partisan, her Ger
man Austrian. Her sketches were alb
solutely charming. am gazing at one
ofthem Of the mountain facing the Pro-
file house as I write. She was up in
botany. and a .sdab,' to use slang
word, in number of the ologies, but
she never pounded one with her accom-
plishments, or discouraged. by her su-
perior attainments. 1t was not until
very recently that became aware Of the
fact that she had gone through course
Of Latin and Greek, to say nothing about
the higher mathematics
Bless me what blue stockings we
met rambling the White mountains
Girls who could and would talk
of nothing but pre-something or
other, and who wanted a post
something reason for everything. How
astonished have seen them when Gladys
quietly gave her opinionl
Mr.. La Fanu came to us to spend
week. He didn't seem to take to me.
He regarded me suspiciously. and was as
if on his guard. It was sorrowful
week to me, for he was no walker, and
as consequence absorbed the girls dur
ing his entire stay.
IF was you, sir, I'd go strayagin
about the mountains while th' ould chap
is here, 7 suggested the Land Lacquer, a
hint that I took, for he was rather an
oppressive sort of person--in fact, too
learned by half for me.
Well, was madly in love with Gladys
La Fann. Yes, from the very moment
laid eyes upon her that morning in the
garden. Cupid came to me like prize
fighter; the more | fought against him
the more punishment he gave me-
knock-downs and facers every time. /
was simply nowhere. Gladys was my
alteration, the perpetual subject of my
perpetual thoughts. Without her life
was black mist She was SO radiant,
SO lovely, so bewitching But did she
care for me9
When this question propounded itself,
sickening sensation throbbed through
me. She had given me no definite en-
couragement, and yet yes, there was a
nameless something in her eyes that told
me to hope with all my might and main.
The day came at length when the re-
turn to Boston was announced. A letter
had arrived from Mr.. La Fanu, who was
pining for his doves to return to Beacon
street ark.
| Ah, what dull thud my poor heart
gave when thought Of the ending Of
our walks, Of our companionship, Of our
| freedom; when thought Of the stern
conventionalities Of Hub life, when, in
deed, Of seeing my precious pet every
day, and all day, and in the most glori-
GUS and romantic surroundings, that a
stray glimpse Of her while passing up
the street, peep at her in the public
gardens, where, thank heaven she
walked every day, and few words be-
fore Others when called, perhaps, once
a week
/ resolved upon riskinr ali. bv nlacine