The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1885-06-06

The singular coincidence that brought
| them all to this particular spot in the
mountains together, with associated
thoughts, had been in Chilton's mind as he
fished up the brawing stream all the day
with such poor luck, and was uppermost III
his cOgitations as he unjOinted his rod and
took the homeward route.
This led him, when near its close, through
the Cathedral Woods-a wide and long
stretch of heavy pine and hemlOck growth
that occupied the plateau between the
green meadows of the intervale and the
slope of the Weehausett range. The lofty
stems mounted straight from the ground,
bare, after the manner Of their kind, until
they reached a height of thirty or forty
feet, where scragggy branches began to
Obtrude, finally widening far above the
head into masses of foliage that jealOusly
struggled to interpret the sunlight, softly
muttering and crowding against each 9TH
er as the wind swept by. In mid day it
was indeed church like, and in moonlight
it was weird as the woods about Camelot.
In the season it was not unusual for church
services to be held here, and it was, more
over, daily resort for such boarders at
the houses within the range Of few miles
| as affected poetry and sentiment and lazy
solitude.
1t was here that Alice Burleigh had be-
! taken herself that sunny September after
noon, and thlther had George, much to her
discomfort, followed her His boyish Cab
bic distracted her thoughts from the high
romantic subjects of which at that time
she considered much, and his unsvmpathiz-
| ing practicality Jared upon her customary
mood. Therefore it was 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 at little
distance.
"Mr. Chiffon! Mr.. Chiltonw cried the
| irrepressible youth, hailing the advent of
a more congenial companion. Glow many
have you Caught?"
FLUSH, 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 telgn Ignorance or to make a
graceful retreat. The salutatiOns were
somewhat awkward on his part, trife
cold on the other, when George interrupted
the formal exchanges: -"
"We're just going to the house, Mr..
Chiffon; amt we, Alice? And l 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 elf-possession
enough to realize that if his rival was soon
to appear on the scene, fortune had not
done him an i'll turn by bringing him into
the field Of action even in wet clothes and
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.
Il suppose it was very gay here earlier
in the season." at length ventured her
companion. "When | left, all the town
had returned, with reports of excursions
by day and hops by night"
"N es, it was quite lively at some of the
houses; but mother prefers quiet, and |
really don't care much for such things"
replied Alice, adding, with an air as if the
gravity of 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"
And 50 you come out for the best of all
good cOmpany-yOurself and solitude.
Well, | can't disagree with you. But you
see you are not safe even when you take
sanctuary in the Cathedral. Society fol-
lows you, even ia wet boots; and no Won
der"
"Please don't make it personal, Mr..
Chiffon" said Alice, annoyed that she
should have led the talk along i'll that
channel. 'All my friends know how l feel
on this subject. What | do not find in So
ciety is IA high and earnest purpose, a
knightliness and true elevation Of spirit
which | feel confident would make them
selves evident in the face and form as well
as in the mind of the people who had
them"
"SaRa mems in corpora S0n0," murmured
the young man, quietly amused at this
girlish rhapsody.
There is nothing ideally good or great"
went on the young woman, now fairly
mounted on her hobby. ut is all common
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
Arthur's knights would be laughed at in
our society, but true woman would wor-
ship him"
This is the very place where one of
these knights ought to be found, if any
where" said Chiffon, anxious to make a
diversion. "How his chargers hoofs
would crush these yellow ferns! But armor
would be uncomfortable wear in fighting
the dragons of these days"
"YOu don't understand me-" replied
Alice, with touch of haughtiness in her
tone. 81 could recognize knight in blue
flannel or broadcloth."
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
hope mother will be satisfied, and get
ready to go home"
"Who is coming?" asked Alice, a little
nervously.
"Why 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."
They met at the supper table. Lankton
was fine fellow, physically and mentally,
model Of elegance both in action and re-
Sc. His manner was fautless and i'm
'ssive; and whether he was listening to
). Burleigh's talk of her symptoms, or
IS interfering remarks in Alice's fluent
conversation on more aesthetic subjects, his
tone and his air indicated the most intense
sympathy. Chiffon recognized him as
dangerous companion where the peace of
mind of 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 not
always come to match makers, of seeing
her work prosper under her hands from the
start. Chiffon saw that, while he had
doubtless won the esteem and a measure of
the confidence of the girl who had rejected
his warmer advances, the brilliant Lanl5-
ton had already fascinated her, and know
ing the man to be in some sort moral
sham, he was by no means content.
One morning, at the end of the first week
of his stay, coming down to a late break
fast, Chiffon found the Burleigh family,
with LanktOn in attendance, already
packed IN mountain wagon, preparatory