Richland beacon. [volume] (Rayville, La.) 1869-1890, 1888-06-02

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ing between them which do not COM
preheDd.
Even Aunt Jane unbends in the magic
of his frank speech and laughing voice.
We are very good friends, but l am
perfectly thunderstruck, when, at the
end of a months acquaintance, our lodgcr
makes me an offer of marriage.
l am nineteen years old, and have
never had a lover; but l have very
romantic ideas of what a lover should be,
and Robert Shaftcr falls very short of
my ideal.
So l reply decidedly in the negative,
and endcavor to explain to him what
manner of a man l intend to honor
with my heart and hand.
He does not seem as despairing as a
rejected lover should.
Indeed, | think he is very much
amused at what l say, for he shrugs his
shoulders and walks away, laughing.
am provoked and disgusted with his
lcvity, and treat him with much dignity
and GOODNESS for day or two; but this
seems foolish in the face of his frank,
jolly manners, and soon we drift back
into the old pleasant comradeship.
l can see the band-stand from our
piazza, but, being rather near sighted,
l cannot distinguish Mr.. Shafter from
the other mus sic,ans.
never 90 over to the hotel when the
band is playing; prefer to listen to the
music swinging luxuriously in my ham
mock.
There is a cornet solo1 ist st-Reede-
whose playing greatly admire; and
implore onr lodger to bring him over to
the house some day; but he will not
promise. | decide in my own mind that
he is jealous and afraid that will fall in
love with Rccdc. | have unbounded
self f-conceit, and do not consider that
the great musician has probably scores
of admiring friends and lovers.
One ever-to- be- forgotten day take
one of my girl friends for row along
the shore in my little boat. Lizzie is a
quiet, solid, unpretentious girl, who
loves me and believes in me in spite OF
my arrogance and vanity. Wcrow along
where the bathers from the hotel are dis
porting themselves in the water.
Presently catch sight of Robert Shat
ter swimming toward us.
He is laughing and blowing the water
from his mouth at a great rate, and in a
spirit of mischief, began to pull away
"Why, that is Reede, the cornetist," "
says Lizzie in some excitement.
"Oh, no." l reply, very decidedly,
''it's our lodger, Mr.. Shafter."
We have no time for discussion, fol
Immediately Robert Shafter throws W
his arms with cry of pain and goes
under.
know, of course, that he is attacked
by swimmers cramp, and my heart
leaps to my throat. l put my oar into
Lizzie's hand and 90 overheard after him.
This feat requires no heroism on my part
as about one-third of my life has beer
spent either in or on the water. When
he comes to the surface l catch my
fingers in his curly hair and draw his head
up to the level of the boats gunwalc
and with the help of Lizzie who is strong
and robust, get him into the boat.
In the meantime another Loaf has beer
sent out from the shore which follows Us
as We row swiftly back to the littlt
wooden pier at the foot Of the garden
The boat contains two men, who carry
Mr.. Shafter up to the house.
/ leave Lizzie to fasten my boat, and
hasten into the house and up to my
chamber to take off my wet clothing.
am trembling from head to foot with {
strange, new excitement. Robert Shat
ter, in danger of his life, seems suddenly
dear to me. When, at last, l regain
some command of myself, l slowly de-
scend to the sitting-room. They have
put Shafter into the little bedroom,
opening from the sitting-room, and have
brought him back to consciousness.
There is a very handsome young lady
sitting by the bed. He holds her hand
in his, and they are talking very earnest
ly together. i am terribly jealous rgh
away; and grow more so when the young
lady comes out to me and introduces her
self as Miss Bradford, and thanks mt
warmly for what she calls my brave con
duct.
"Mr. Reede is MY very dear friend.
she says, gracefully, land there are 9th
ers who will be proud to make the ac
quaintance of the noble girl who ha
saved his life"
"'Twas nothiug,'I return, bluutly,
almost rudely. ibid understand yO,
to say that the gentleIaan's name i
, ReedeH"
She laughs softly.
eyes, your lodger is Robert Shafte
Reedc, the cornetist. He desires me t
, say that he will explain the little decep
, ton about his name satisfactorily"
' She bids me good day and goes awav
/ glanced Indignantly into the bed
a room. but Mr.. Robert Shafter Eeede
: either asleep or doesn't ant to see me
for his face is turned to the wall, and h
? lies quite still.
1t would seem that in saving his lif
q had built great barrier between Us
!. for our pleasant friendship is at an END
). True, he thanks me with apparent fee
u ing for the service l have rendered him
He explains that he attempted to Civ
, his full name to Aunt Jane; that he di
3 eventually tell father, but begged him
keep the secret for awhile, it was s
, novel and pleasant to be just Robel
1 Shafter with no particular accomplish
= ment.
1t is very evident to me that he hi
;. been courted half to death and is Col
e ceited in proportion:
o In the meantime, he and Miss Brat
G ford seem to be getting on finely. The
walk and ride and sail together; tru
t thew sometimes invite me to accompan
J. them, but am too proud and miserab
to accept.
At last the long, bright summer
n ended. City guests pack their trunl
O and turn homeward. Miss Bradford 60
with the first PARTY. Mr.. Reede is gr
: ...,~h 20 ;pforu, me that she r