The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1885-03-06
SELECT STORY.
AN ACT OF JUSTICE.

aud how deliciously fragrant the air i'll
But it's warm, though. | wonder if I'm
near my destination
Pausing, the soliloqqizer transfers
his satchel from his right hand to his
left, while with his handkerchief he
wipes his brow.
Just then, CHANGING to glance over
the low stone wall beside him, lie sees
a charming picture.
Seated upon the daisled grass be-
meath the shade of an old tree, is a
young girl, busily wreathing her straw
hat with roses.
A great cluster nestles at the throat
Of her cambria dress, while another
fastens her belt The delicate pink
harmonizes with the tints of her own
perfect complexion, while wound
about her small head are wreath of
soft braids, whose purely golden hne
would make society girl sick with
envy.
After gazing until he is satisfied,
the stranger coughs gently but audi
bly,.
As the girl looks up and secs that
she is observed she springs TO her
feet.
Il beg your pardon for alarming
you" the young man hastens to say.
"Can you direct me to Brierwood Farm7
l was told that it was couple of
miles from the station, and as have
been walking some time l thought that
| must be near it."
A charming smile breaks over the
lovely face, as the girl recovering her
self possession, answers him with the
welcome announcement
"You thought rightly, sir This is
Brierwood Farm
With light spring the young man
clears the fence and comes to hei
side.
II must confess that | am very glad
1t is the essence of GOODNESS and shad-
ow here, but ont upon the open road
the sun is scorchingly not. Is Mr.. Ar.
mold at home ?"
"No, sir, but my aunt is."
As they walked together to the
house. under the welcome shade of the
green trees, the stranger says, smil.
ing:
"If Mrs. Arnold is your aunt, why,
then, we must be cousins. My name is
Rupert Arnold, and my father is re-
lated to Mr.. Arnold"
Il am Rose May, the niece of Mr.
Arnold's wife," the girl replies as
frankly.
"Appropriately named," the young
man says pleasantly, with significant
glance at the flowers that adorn 80 Law
ishly his companions simple toilette
II hope you will allow me the friend
ly privileges of a cousin, even if we
cannot claim the relationship through
ties of blood
"Have you ever been 10 the farm be
fole.' Rose asks.
Eyes, once, when l was a little chap
h five years. But that's long while
ago"
at must be-" Rose answers demure.
ly.
BY this time they are at the farm
house door, which stands Hospitality
open, and, ushering their visitor into
the sitting room, Rose hastens to ap.
prise her unt of the arrival.
"a perfect little jewell How she will
shine in the golden setting that awaits
her, and how glad | am that l fell in
with mothers views!' Rupert Arnold
thinks as he answers her smile and lis
tens until the last echo of her light
step dies away.
IL am on my summer vacation, and
remembering that my father and cous-
ins are out this way, l thought I would
look them up. He was speaking OF
your husband the other day, lamenting
that his busy life prevented him from
keeping track of his relatives Rupert
explains, later.
The cordialty of his reception leaves
him nothing to desire, and when Far
mer Arnold urges him to spend the re-
uaining weeks of his vacation at Brier.
wood Farm he willingly assents.
OF course, 10 that time his acquaint
anhe with Rose makes rapid progress,
and Rupert soon tlat,ers himself that
he has sounded the height and depth
of her simple mind.
Her beauty is of kind that could
never pall--that he ackno nowledges; but
to the habitue of society, the absolute
truth and candor of her character after
the first cease to interest.
'However, do not fear, mother, dear,
that / am going to spoil your plans.
Although ! must confess that, after the
girls of our set, This country maiden's
attractions pale, still a hundred thou
sand is not to be picked up every day,
and, if possible, ! do not mean the tidy
little sum to go to any other than
your dutiful son, RUPERT"
Such is the conclusion of an epistle
Rupert dispatches to his mother during
his stay at the farm, and which brings
a smile to the receivers face Of mingled
and qualification.
LUZ lNosc 10 uoI 81 ~ auepaiNHI 40
Rupert deems her to be, aud has al
'eady formed her own opinion of the
visitor, who is so pronounced in his ad-
of herself, and who has so
eagerly availed himself of the privilege
acitly permitted him of calling her by
he title of his cousin.
She by no means dislIked MIN his
'ivacity and companionableness would
preclude that but she gauges rightly
he vanity and shallowness of his char
'cter, and when she mentally compares
lin to some one else who towers as
high above him in mental attributes as
Ne does in stature, could Rupert read
he verdict, chagrin would mark him
n its own. As it is, however, he leaves
e farm with his self-satisfaction un-
paired.
: "A season 10 town to complete what
e W two weeks have begun, and Ru-
rt, old fellow, your futures assured
o / q, )re need to quail before the gov,
nor Is eyes when the dues come pour
o il !! AS to fun and freedom Bene-
Ct sas much his own master as
cht lor, if he chooses to be-
Su, ,h ar. the thoughts that ill :he
,unt man = mind as the train bears
m, 4 mon hi a hOmeWard iourney