Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1888-10-05
-1zaoUth CITY
AFTER THklest CHI We y.
BY ALFRED /. KING.


The acquaintance of Marcia Elder,
whose father owned large stock farm
near Philadelphia, and Austin Gaudaur,
OF that city, began in this Wise:
He was leaning on the fence and in
tently watching the antics of twO-year-
old colt. 1t was early morning, but it
was not unusual for her to race through
the fields while the fog still chung to the
grass and the clover leaves were all or
namented with liquid diamonds. So
she went out when Austin supposed all
women, except servants, were abed. She
approached him softly and laid her
hand on his back while she exclaimed:
"Pem, | cannot catch the gray tilly;
she is perverse this morning."
Slowly Austin turned aud beheld a
young lady with her dress tucked up
and wearing no hat. Lifting his, he
exclaimed:
eff you had milk pail on your arm
should think you were the pretty maid
whose face was her fortune"
1t was a bold speech, but Austin was
daring fellow.
"And if it was not daylight 1 should
take you to be horse thief and hiss the
dogs on you," she replied and haughtily
turned her back on him.
He gave his attention to the colt. He
was more interested in horsehesh than in
femininity. Most young men would
have endeavored to follow up the &C.
quaintance so romantically introduced,
but Austin, beyond certain indifferent
mOmentary interest, was not attracted
by womankind. He liked women yet
was seldom in their society. Sports en-
crossed his attention. a fine tennis
player, he avoided games in which wo-
men took part. A good hand at whist,
he was not often found at a table where
a woman would be either his partner or
opponent. He was a puzzle to the
ladies of his acquaintance, and they good
humoredly let him alone. Society knew
little of him, and he never discovered a
romance in any situation.
Marcia was otherwise. Happiest was
she when with the men. Her tirtations
were numerous. The broken engage
ments to which she had been part
were many. She made no secret Of her
eagerness to receive the attention of the
beaus. She rejoiced in the men. Yet
really she cared no more for them than
Austin did for the women, but they were
essential to a Irritation, and in that the
frivolous girl delighted. Quick at re-
partec and careless of the feelings Of
others, she had few friends and many
enemies.
Hamilton Elder, her father, laughed
at her coquetry, hundred her caprice
and encouraged her When asked to
give his consent to her union with some
poor fellow whom she was deluding with
promise to be his only, he invariably
remarked as he sent the young man
away happy:
Sir, you are engaged to the wind"
This information, with the manner of
-skepticism, had led to the conclusion
that he was dotingly fond of his daugh-
ter. He was and he knew the value of
her promise, Some day her heart would
assert itself, wOmanhOOd would enter
into the obligation, while the fickleness
and gayety of girlhood yielded to the dig
nifty and earnestness of woman. He was
afraid it might come soon, this change,
and he dreaded it.
AS she left Austin she snappishly
plucked off the head of a daisy and
wished he had not the appearance of a
gentleman. If he was tramp he was an
impudent one; but although he wore a
blue flannel shirt he did not look as if he
had slept in a haymow. Finally she
concluded that he was some athlete who
resembled her brother Pemberton and
who had been out on lark. That was
her most charitable conclusion.
When she returned from the fields she
discovered the stranger talking to her
father They were on the front porch
and she diSdained to enter that way.
However, she threw her father a kiss, TO
which he responded with a rousing
smack of his lips on the palm of his
hand.
At breakfast she was surprised with an
introduction to Mr.. Austin Gaudaur.
She gravely inclined her head, resolved
not to be rude to her fathers guest, but
determined to resent the visitors i'm
pertinepce of the early morning.
Tired, daughter" asked the genial
host.
'Iexed. Icould not catch the fly"
Better be careful of that colts heels,
young lady"
''It's singular thing, pap" spoke up
the irreverent Pemberton, that nobody
kicks at Marsh"
She shot her brother wrathfuI
glance. The next moment her face was
hot; she felt it and had nor the courage
to meet the look with which Austin was
calmly surveying her.