Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1888-10-05

offered clvllity; but it was more
than charming to be noticed, ever
in the most commonplace way, by
her.
The bit of paper between the
pages was folded in two. He idly
pressed it apart with his thumb
and to his astOnishment read these
words, evidently written in furtlyt
haste: "LOok tomorrow, in my
uncle's hat lining when he comes
to the Office"
This appeared indeed, like the
beginning of a most interesting
adventure, and the overture made
by a girl, whom he feared ignored
his very existence How he sal
quietly through the sermon, and
passed the rest of the day and
night until old Cruncher appeared
at bis usual post next morning
Owen never knew. When he saw
his patron deeply absorbed in a
pile OF letters, Owen, like a coat
and umbrella thief, stole out into
the passage where such articles
we're deposited and possessed him
self of the old gentleman's sedate
looking hat.
There, as he expected, he found
slowed away in the lining a tiny
little note. With trembling fingers
the now hopeful lOYer laid smooth
the complicated folds Of the paper
and read:
Please do not think me forward
or presumlng IN making the follow
ing request am in great trouble
! Tomorrow evening at seven l shal
not be missed for half an hour
Will you meet me at the end of the
! lane leading past our hOuse-whert
the wood beginsl IL. Il.
The following evening Owen wal
at the place of rendezvous fully
half an hour too soon. AS he wa'
beginning to despair of Louise''
coming she appeared, breathles'
and greatly agitated.
"What must you think of me,
she began, "making an appoint
ment with you, almost a stranger
at dusk, in this theatrical manner
| | have a strong motive in this case
certainly" continued Louise. 81
wish to ask your advice on a matter
of the utmost Importance to me.
have studied your face as much as
| dared in church''-Owen's heart
gave a bound of delight. Ther
she had looked at and thought
about him l-"and / think | car
trust you, and call you my friend
| have no other"
She looked so lovely with the
tears in her eyes as she SAID this
that Owen longed to take her in
his arms and kiss her, instead OF
declaring himself her devoted ser
want in plain words.
wet us sit down on this fallen
tree and | will begin my story al
the beginning. You men of the
( law are impatient to unnecessary
| preamble" Louise went on, with
bright smile for a moment dispellinG
the melancholy clouding her face
"Last February, now nearly foul
months ago, was travelling alone
from here to Glover Hill on an
errand for my aunt. My companions
in the compartment were a very
pretty old lady, and ordinary look
ing gentleman of about fOrty-fve
and a younger man, not at all or
dinary looking. He had larg'
black eyes, with a wild look il
them, and his dress and manner
we're quite different from those Of
the people I was accustomed tt
seeing. He sat opposite me ant
soon after the train started begaI
staring at me in most annoyin'
way"
"The impertlnent rascal! Ho7
l wish had been there to puncl
his head!1 exclaimed Owen will
warmth.
'He perhaps did nothing t
merit quite such severe punishment
but he was certainly then, and ha
been since, indirectly the cause o
misery to me. He amused himsel
for some time with casting what
supposed were admiring glances a
me, pressing his hands to his hear
and signing profoundly. The
suddenly, to my utter amazemenl
he threw himself on his knees bt
fore me, declared in very ba
English that he loved me to di'
traction, and, most startling of al
tore off his watch and chain an
flung them into my lap"
"The man was mad, of course
"Yes, we learned of this for
fact afterward. l looked at on
travelling companion-the middle
aged man already mentioned
helpless fright. He started nj
and, with what l then thought az
mirablepresence OF mind, exclaimed
angrily: "How dare you lnsu
my wife, sir 2"
MIhis airnnp lanrnapa had tn