Sullivan republican. [volume] (Laporte, Pa.) 1883-1896, 1889-10-18
IN THE OAK WALK.
BY EMMA A. OPPER.

How pretty Miss Perry looked!
Neither Miss Lane nor Phil Thompson
had ever seen quite such sight.
She was in black silk, though it was
only for morning stroll to the Oak
Walk-black silk enveloped, as to the
skirt, in shimmering lace.
Her little black bonnet set off her fair
face and yellow hair; her long Suede
gloves were as yellow as her hair, her
parasol white and lacey.
'sYour cousin is very handsome" said
Mary Lane to Mr. Olney.
In her heart there was shocked dis
approval of Miss Perry, but her cousin
was not the one to confide 1t to.
"Oh, yes, Mag's pretty!" Mr.. Olney
reioined, turning languidly to glance at
her Che did everything lazily). "But
she's not my cousin, you know. Mags
step-father's cousin is my aunt"
'sOh?" said Mary.
She raised her old fashioned brown
parasol.
"Allow mel" said Mr.. Olney, and
took it.
Mary Lane smiled.
1t amused her that she, staid little
country schoolma am, should be the
recipient of the gallantries of silk
hated, eye-glassed young man from the
city.
But it did not so much amuse her that
Miss Perry should be the recipient of
Phil Thompson's gallantries.
She was indignant with everybody.
With the Waltons, who boarded her
self and Phil Thompson Philfs parents
being away on visit. Why had they
taken any more boarders3 Miss Perry
and her mother might have summered
elsewhere very well.
With Phil himself. In spite of the
innocence of his wide blue eyes, Mary
had thought Phil rather level-headed.
Now what was she to think?
But most of all with Miss Perry.
What right had she to do ito put
forth her finished charms for the undoing
Of defenseless country youth? to tritie
with his honest heart like cat with a
mouse2
Mary Lane was wrathful.
"No, Mag's not closely related, you
see," Mr.. Olney was saying, in his not
unpleasant drawl. "But I consider it
my duty to look after her, rather. That's
why I'm here. ] thought I'd run down
for day or two and see what Mag was
up to-"
1t was evident what Mag was up to-
She and Phil were far behind now, under
her white parasol.
Mr.. Olney laughed lazily.
II rather think it's good thing |
came, you know" he remarked. 81 may
be in time to rescue Mr.. Thompson. You
see, Mags terror, Miss Lane. She
doesn't mean it, but on my word she
can't help it!'
"What?" said Mary, coldly.
'"Flirting, you know" said Mr.. Olney,
yawning. 81 don't know how it is, you
know, but she cawn't see Il fresh fellow
"a new one, | mean, p" he substituted po-
litely-''withou trying to get his scalp
On my word"
No reply from the schoolma'am. She
was burningly silent.
He was making fun of Phil, of course
that was plain. But that was not the
worst 1t was so then; she was amusing
herself with Phil. Mr.. Olney had seen
it. Poor Phil! and her poor self, not to
be able to say one word, to place one
straw against the current!
LAS many good shots as Mag's made,
though" Mr.. Olney added, rehectively,
'sshe hasn't suited herself yet. She
knocks down fellows fast enough. but she
don't pick em up when she's got EN-
down"
"You see the turn just ahead2" said
Mary-she did not propose to listen to g
rehearsal of Miss Perry's triumphs
"That brings us to the Walk. 1t is al
avenue of oaks, which gives it its name
Come up here and you can see the river,
said Mary, mechanically.
IA charming view," said Mr.. Olney
adjusting his eye-glass. 'Ah, Mag an'
Mr.. Thompson are upon us"