Nevada County picayune., 1886-01-14
HER FIRST ENGAGEMENT.
BY FRANCES EDWARDS.

old fashioned basket phaeton stood in front of a large cream brick house on Clifton avenue one Tues day morning in late June. The air and sunshine and sky were perfect. X most tempting morning for a drive.
 The owner of tho turnout, Col Baker, was within the mansion so- liciting Miss Hazel Traits compa- ny for drive. The young lady had not the slightest objection 10 going with him. He was an old friend of her ftther's, an amusing story teller, and very fond of his horses. He was called "colonel," not from any connection with mill tary life, but 1t was a title received in his early boyhood days and it had clung to him as nicknames and titles of this sort often do.
 Presently they came out of the house and he helped her into the carriage. Very lovely she looked in a pale ccru dress and hat to match, with q flaming bunch of peoples low down on one side.
 On the way down the avenue 
 they met Dr. Whitbeck, driving slowly and bent over in his seat ne9itatively cycling the dashboard, as if profoundly considering some scientific theory or studying the latest "treatment of a case" The moment he looked up aud saw them he grasped his whip. The horse gave d start, which nearly threw the doctor over back ward and went furiously mp the street.
 "D- that Colonel," lie nut. tered under his breath. "What business has be to be driving her out so much?n Then with grim smile and a long-drawn breath its none of my business. though, none whatever, if she rides to the end of the earth with him.'
 This young man had met Hazel the summer before while visiting a school friend. He was proud. poor, reserved and ambitiouS-a sels- naLe man-hut uncomfortable in society. lie lacked the ease and polish that many an unworthy weak man possesses who IS brought up in the habits of refined society. He felt this lack kecnly-ovcr-es- timated his "barbariSms,n as lie called his unpublished style.
 Hazel first saw him by accident, binding up the broken leg Of a dog one day when she was out for a walk in the country. His good ness to this little stray creature touched her heart, and lis manly form and open face, beamiug in- telligence and kindness as he arose from his cramped position on the ground. impressed her strongly, She went up to bim like a child, without embarrassment or hesita- ton, and spoke of what he had been doing.
 It followed in the con .ersation that he knew her friends with whom she was stopping, and walk. ed home with her. They were in troduced, though as Hazel said, "it was superAuous after such an ex- tensive acquaintance." ." Almost every day during the remainder oI the summer they were companions riding, walking, fishing, sailing Dr. Whitbeck was more at his ease in :he open air. His sclentlt ic knowledge often came into use, and he grew 10 be sort of hero skilled hero in her eyes; she thought there was nothing he did not know and could not do.
 To him this child woman grew more charming every day, Her innocence and open admiration tor him was quite too much for his re- serve, which melted completely away in the sunshine of her pres- ence. She was such a lovable lit. tie maiden, with her merry laugh and ready sympathy. He did not realize how he had opened his heart to her and the strength ot his passion until it was too late. When he did see his danger, with strange fatuity he said to himself: "She does not know 1t. I'll make no resistance now, but go on and be happy in the present, as l shall probably never again know happi- ness in my life" So they had