The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1889-06-13
HIS OWN PROPERTY.

The "Ohr' was in quite a different
key and did not seem to harmonize
with the rest of the song. Ellie Fair
fax was equally surprised and dis
gusted to ind that she had an unox-
pected auditor-a young man who
stood in the middle of the path with
an amused smile on his face that was
quickly supplanted by a dccorously
grave expression as he saw that he had
attracted her attention.
Il beg your pardon" he said lifting
his hat, 'but l have completely lost
myself in these woods. Can you tell
me if there is any possible way of get
ting out of them?"
He was rather a good-looking young
man, dark and slight, with a spruce,
neat air that exasperated Ellie, who
was instantly conscious of having come
primrosing with the boys in her oldest
| clothes.
Nevertheless she was a person of
dignity and decision, as behooves the
only and older sister of large family
of boys, so she drew herself up and
answered severely:
81 suppose you are aware that these
woods are private property, and that
you are trespassing?"
have trespassed on your property"
said the stranger.
His air of extreme regret somewhat
Modified Ellie, who answered in less
forbidding manner.
| "Oh, it is not ours, but we have
leave to come here while the owner is
abroad"
Herewith she emerged slowly from
the clinging bushes, and arrived on
the path u little disheveled, being more
intent on preserving herprimroses than
| her raiment.
81 am afraid 1 can't direct you, for
you would not only lose your way"
she said. 'tBut we are just geing home,
and can take you as far as the gate, if
! you like"
He accepted the offer with alacrity.
and Ellie, turning from him, made the
| woods ring with shouts of "Boysi Boys!"
that brought her brothers scurrYing
out of the underwood like rabbits in
all directions.
''This gentleman has lost himself in
the woods, and undertook to show
him the way out" she said to the eld-
est boy, Bob, as he came up.
''The owner must be very good
natured to let you plumber his woods
like this" the stranger remarked.
"Mr. Hayes has nothing to do with
it." returned Bob promptly. when
he comes back expect we shall be
turned out, so we are making a new
fernery and getting roots for the gar
den as fast as we cam"
The young mans amused laugh made
Ellie feel little guilty.
81 don't think we do any harm
really" she said. .And this is our
first spring in the country. SO that
we cannot help going mad over the
flowers and accumulating them whole
sale"
The stranger assured her that he was
certain that they we're doing no harm,
and entered warmly into the plans for
the new fernery.
I'VE part here, suppose" she said,
facing round as they entered the
meadow beyond the woods. THAT
path to the left leads to the village.
But 1 should recommend you not to
trespass here again or you may get
hopelessly lost"
Il will take care in the future. l am
much obliged to you," said the young
man gravely.
But he stood watching with a look
half amused, half admiring, as Ellie
moved onward, tall. 1.-the, young
figure amid her bodyguard of boys.
whats jolly chap! 1 wonder if
he lives near herep" said Jim, as he
slipped a grubby paw into his sisters
arm.
"Yes, he does; SO l asked him to
come and help us with the fernery
and he said he would" said Bob.
.'Oh, Bob! You didn't!n cried Ellie.
Eyes, did. / expect he is one of
the Taylors from High Cliff, and Mrs.
Morrison said they meant to call, said
Bob, unabashed.
Ellie was completely overcome.
One of Lady Laura Taylor's sons and
she was absolutely not fit to be seen!
1t was, perhaps, as a readjustment of
the balance that she arrayed herself in
her new covert coat and most becom-
ing hat to go down to the vicarage
that afternoon. AS she walked into
| the drawing-room with her head held
very high Mrs. Morrison thought once
more what very distinguished look
| ing girl Miss Fairfax was.
They were very busy over Sunday
school reports when the maid opened
the door and announced, ''Mr. Hayes"
Ellie looked up. She was curious to
see the absentee owner of Woodleigh
court, particularly as his arrival was
SO unexpected. What was her horror
to see the stranger of the morning
calmly advancing with the seIf-same
amused smile on his face! The memory
of her stern rebuke of trespass dashed
across her, and she wished herself
under the floor.
Bernard, my dear boyY cried Mrs.
Morrison, holding out both hands.
''This is pleasant surprise"
81 came earlier than l was expect
ed, after my usual habit, you see." he
said.
How delightful of you! Let me in
troduce you to Miss Fairfax.
Ellie bowed stifiy. Mr.. Hayes was
equal to the OCCASION ''I think we
met this morning." he said, holding
out his hand affably; but the twinkle
in his eye was an insult to Ellie's feel
ings.
Il am afraid behaved very badly
this morning, but [ was so charmed
by your defense of my interests that
l hadn't the heart to undeceive you."
Il am afraid l behaved very badly;
l am sure l must have been very rude"
she said apologetically. land there
is nothing SO irritating as to detect
oneself in such silly blunder." and
she looked up laughing, though she
could not restrain faint blush at the
memory of her unlucky speech.
''It was all my fault. he said eager
ly. He was really quite handsome
when those dark eyes lit up. at was
quite too foolish of me! l hope you
will continue to wander and steal in
the woods to show that you bear no
malice; and may come and help Bob
with his ferneryP"
"Oh, certainly, if it won't bore you
to death. / am sure my mother will
be very happy to see you," said Ellie,
smiling.
WHO is Miss Fairfax 1t is quite a
new name to me-" he asked of the
vicaress when Ellie had taken her de-
parture.
Mrs. Fairfax is an officers widow
who has taken the Lawn. Ellie is a
nice girl, but her brothers are rather