Huntsville gazette., 1886-07-17

fourth his uncle addressed him as he
was going out:
"Your aunt Harriet is coming foa q
week or two," he said. II believe she
brings . young friend with her-no
doubt . simpering miss, who will de-
mand all your time and attention; but
you will remember, will countenanoe
no Irritation, no nonsense"
"Never was guilty of any in all my
life. " Jack said, innocently; land I'll
not begin now; what is the name Of
the simpering miss, unclep"
His uncle Bit his lip, but turned to
the letter he held open in his hand.
Something silly; here it is-'Ditha
Fitzgerald! What names some people
give their children!"
''H they all gave them as pretty
names as that one Jack paused;
''there wouldn't be any Judiths in the
world, uncle" And he laughed light
ly. "When do our guests arriveP"
To-day. They will be here for
dinner"
s'Then I'll be on hand" And Jack
whistled merry tune as he went for
his ramble, while his uncle smiled pc
culiarly.
He was very particular about his
general "get-up' that evening, and
paused a moment before opening the
door of the drawing room, from which
came low murmur of voices.
"Wonder what she's like?" he
thought, turning the knob, and finding
himself submitting to a kiss on either
cheek from his aunt with laughing
protest.
II sayr' he exclaimed, holding her
off; "this is ELUSIVE. But, auntie, you
bloom like midsummer rose, and I'm
awfully glad to see you"
"You ought to be. when I've come a
hundred miles to let you see me-" his
aunt replied, "and l brought young
friend with me. Ditha, my dear, this
is the nephew of whom l told you.
Jack, let me present you to Miss Ftz-
gerald.
"Overjoyed." said Jack, taking the
white hand held out to him, and the
girl gave him laughing, roguish look
from a pair of the bluest eyes he had
ever seen.
Recognizable on sight from your
very accurate description of him, Mrs.
Trewson," said q sweet, girlish voice,
which, somehow, made Jack feel as
though he had known the owner all his
life.
And then he was leading her in to
dinner, and could quietly take survey
of his companion without any danger
of being thought rude.
Chn ho1 4f ~aI1sah kro
hair, which was waved and drawn
back in a loose, graceful coil at the
back, while few soft ringlets fell over
the white forehead; eyes as blue as
violets, full of laughing light and heav-
lily fringed with reddiSh-brown lashes;
sweet, spirited lips, red as a cherry; a
complexion fairly dazzling in its pure
pink and white, and slender, willowy
form, which the simple white dress she
wore set off to good advantage.
Perfectly lovely!" was Jacks in
ward verdict; aloud, he followed some
thing she had been saying about his
finding it dull living SO far from the
city.
''Dullp" he repeated; mot exactly; l
read little. you know, boat a little,
fish little and ride great deal. Do
you ride?'
''Do Ip" she began, with enthusiasm;
then, dropping her eyes demurely, -
little"
"Then we'll try a daily canter,"
Jack said, forgetting his uncle's ad-
monition. eff you are timid we can
furnish you with very gentle piece of
horse flesh"
"Thank you," Ditha said, an amused
sparkle in her eyes, and then she spoke
to Mrs. Trewson, and a general con-
versation ensued, bright and sparkling,
often interrupted by laughter, which
lasted through the whole meal.
"How do you like JackP" Mrs.
Trewson asked Ditha, when they were
alone in the drawing-room. The girl
laughed merrily.
every well, indeed" she answered.
''We are to ride tomorrow, and he Of
fered me the gentlest piece of horse
flesh in the stable!' and again she
laughed merrily.
''Hushr' her companion whispered.
"here they are," as Jack and his uncle
entered. s.Now, Ditha," she con-
tinued, ego and sing for Jack. Iwant,
to have long talk with my brother-in
law" And Jack offered his arm to
the girl and led her to the other end of
the long room where an elegant piano
stood. And presently he was leaning
over her, turning the sheets, while she
gave him laughing glances from under
her curling lashes, and the lamplight
fell on her FURNISHED hair. making it
crown of glory.
The days went by and the two young
people spent most Of the time in each
others society. It was a horseback
ride in the early summer morning, be-
fore the older people were out of their
beds; walk through the cool shades
of the pretty grove back Of the house
in the afternoon, or reading to each
other on the wide verands, or drifting
with the tide on the smooth surface of
the river, that flowed like silver near
the fine old homestead, and Jack
was drifting more rapidly than he
knew into the deep waters of an un-
bounded love for the beautiful laughing
girl, whose blue eyes held so much
merriment and from whose FURNISHED
hair the sunlight fell in flashes.