The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1889-12-14

We exchanged cards. The next day
I called to inquire for made moiselIe,
and was greeted as though were an
old friend In fact. became an inti-
mate of the cottage. and soon learned
the history of the inmates. The old
gentleman was M. Vernet. the sec.
ond husband of the young lady's
mother. Both ladies were country
women. The younger bore the pame
of Lefty Linnet. I should have
thought it some ones rather affected
nom de plume, had not known its
owner. But she. though rather ro.
mantle, very delicate, and not by any
means what / had hitherto believed
to be my feminine ideal. was so pure
and lovely. so mysteriousIy charm
lings that.I admiredaeYen her name.
was attracted to her as I never
yet had been to any girl, and it was
not long before / knew that must
let her know it. Many happy hour
did spend in the little arbor under
the trees. or in the garden rich with
roses, or the parlor, where Lefty sang
to us to the accompaniment of her
Step-father's guitar. before l sum-
mOned courage or found opportunity
to speak to her; but at last the chance
came.
There was a fine old castle in the
neighborhood with which historical
associations were connected. l can
not remember what they were but
it had immense grounds a9Out it,
where the public were permitted to
ramble. One afternoon. having had
| the good fortune to lose the amahle
Monsieur and Madame Vernet in the
course of our walk, / induced Lefty
to seat herself with me uptn bench
beside an old fountain, and there told
her all felt and hoped. She listen
ed to me. leaving her hand in mine {;
but when l had ceased to speak she
seemed to hesitate for a while, and
then spoke, gently:
Before 1 answer you. Mr.. Deer
ing, / ought t. tell you something.
You say that you have never loved
before. | have"
She sighel as she spoke, but when
l took her hand in mine again she
did not forbid me.
"If that love is thing of the past"
l said, "why should it matter? Is
it 2"
She once more hesitated. lifted her
eyes TO mire, cast them down again
and answered:
II cannot say"
"Do you mean that you do not
wish to say?" I asked.
mo-" she replied. "Under the
circumstances I ought to be perfectly
candid with you. 1t depends on
something l shall never be sure
about. IL don't know my duty. or
rather-I think will tell you the
whole truth"
"Do." said.
six years ago. when 1 was seven
teen." said Lefty, Mamma, who
had been widow long while, mar
ried NJ. Vernet. To pass away the
honeymoon they went into the coun-
try, and stopped at a hotel, an old
family mansion. very quaint and
curious, with old furniture in all the
rooms. / think Washington once
stopped there, Mr.. Deering."
"Of course he did," said 1. "That
poor old man was always stopping at
old mansions"
"Well, we were there, at all
events" continued Lefty; land my
step father-dear old gentleman =
was wrapped up in his own happi
ness. and I was left to do pretty
much as chose. I used to take a
book and sit on the bank of the river
under tree. and feel little dull !;
and so when one of the boarders,
who was very fond of fishing. used
to bring his rod very near that bank
I found it company"
mo doubt" said, feeling rather
angry.
"He used to fish and used to read
at first." resumed Lefty, "but after a
while he began to"
"Began to make love to you" ]
said, finishing the sentence she had
begun.
YES" said Lefty; land he was
charming"
"Ah!" I said.
mot young" replied Lefty
"about forty"
felt somewhat relieved.
"A little baId," she added. "but il
was becoming: and he was such ar
agreeable person to talk with. fell
in those days sense of loss in regard
to mamma. She had right to mar
ry, of course, but STILL"
II understand" said 1.
md fnlf ulad IN And a0mn OnE