The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1885-04-23

tuC clltI-mlne was GlauVS 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
vouchsafed word.
+ ''Did you walk up here?" demanded.
| ooh, 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-
ventionaI 1t was like shipboard. and l
found that l knew some of their friends
in Boston, and they discovered that tLey
knew some of mine in New York. More
than that, their mother was actually ac-
quainted with my maiden aunt, with
whom l resided in West Forty fifth
street.
| Late in the evening I 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 ''sne-
dragon" business by joining us in a
two horse break ut some given distant
place. At given distant hour And,
oh! what walks! How gracious every
thing looked! How blue the sky; how
beautiful the mountains; how exquisite
the foliage; how delicious the flowers
l gathered my rosebuds while 1 might.
Gladys La Fanu was a 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 ab-
solutely charming. l am gazing at one
of them of the mountain facing the Pro
file house as l write. She was up in
botany. and a "dab,' 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 a 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 post
something reason for everything How
astonished have seen them when GLADYS
quietly gave her opinion!
Mr.. La Fanu came to us to spend a
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.
eff was you, sir, Id go stravagin
about the mountains while th' ould chap
is here" suggested the Land Lacquer, a
hint that | 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 Fanu. Yes, from the very moment I
laid eyes upon her that morning in the
garden. Cupid came to me like prize
fighter; the more l 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 me?
When this question propounded itself,
a sickening sensation throbbe;d through
me. She had given me no definite Ell
couragement, and yet-yes, there was a
namelcss 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.
All. what a dull thud my poor heart
gave when l thought of the ending of
our walks, of our companionsIlip, Of our
freedom; when l thought OF the stern
conventionalitics of Hub life, when in
decd 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 1 called, perhaps, once
a week.
Iresolved upon risking all, by placing
all on the hazard of the die; to declare
my love, and be happy or desperate, as
she determined.
A last picnic was proposed, and we
SCdrCCO III tnG GWO-uOfSc DTedk lOT dE dl-
most inaccessible place called the Diamond
Gorge.
Mrs. La Fanu was so busily engaged
in making ounce jelly that she allowed
US to start without her; so drove the
two girls, Gladys beside me.
am good whip, and know a good
deal about horses The two brutes this
morning, as if to spite me, were so fresh
that it took me call l knew how" to
manage them, and, instead of gentle
converse with Gladys, l was uttering
full favored language to the horses
between my set teeth. We came to a
steep hill, the roadway cut deep like a
ditch or trough, and so narrow as to ad-
NIT of the passage of but one vehicle.
Kathleen asked me to pull up.
81 prefer to walk this gorge" she said.
Need 1 say how gladly I stopped2
With the agility of hind she leaped
from the back seat to the fern covered
bank that was on dead level with the
cushion.
See strobe on ahead, picking her way
through the golden-hu autumn creep
ers, and over the tangled roots of the
grand old trees by which the cutting
was jealously guarded.
This was my chance. Gladys and
were alone.
NY heart began to throb great, great
throbs, taking my breath away.
What should l say? How commence?
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