The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1890-09-27
A PRETTY GIRLS WHIM.

"A a L '
1t was beautiful garden-a garden in
which one might almost lose ones self
among the heavy sweetness of the bios
soning syringa bushes and the avenues
Of pink wygelia that wound irregularly
here and there.
1t was July day. A girl lay idly in
a wide luxurious hammock, her bright
head on the soft tinted cushions. her
deep brown eyes upraised to the whis-
pering leaves above.
She looked the ideal of happy content
as she lay there in pretty laziness, one
slim hand dropping over the hammock's
edge. A great Newfoundland dog lay
on the grass beside her as she swayed
gently to and fro, toying affcctionately
with the dogs great, noble head.
Sometimes he would open his almost
human eyes and look up at her silently,
with happy content that matched her
own.
1t was very pleasant there. The book
she had been reading had dropped upon
the grass and lay with crumpled leaves
A rosebud marked the place,
Wilma Pierce, whose summers were
spent at her grandmother's quaint old
country home, had come here few days
since, tired out in body and brain as
only young, hard working teacher can
be.
Already the soothing quiet of the love
ly place had done her good, and the
brightness of complexion and the 1.-the
% L. 4
by the years hard work, were returning
to her.
A silvery haired, sweet faced old lady
came out of the wide hall door with a
light wrap in her hand. She approached
the hammock with anxious solicitude in
her kind. old face.
"Child, it is cool for thee here; thee
must be more prudent with thyself"
She wrapped the soft, gray shawl
about the girls shoulders with loving,
motherly hands, Wilma looked up and
smiled protestingly.
ut isn't chilly, grandmamma, dear
but submit"
She took the wrinl1led old hand in
hers and held it gently against her warm
cheek.
The old Quakeress bent her stately
form and left soft, swift kiss upon the
girls forehead
81 must go in, dear heart; thee had
best fall asleep for little if thee can"
The soft, gray gown swept away
across the grass, and the wearer stopped
beside the door to pull sweet, white
rose that stretched temptingly toward
her
She went in, and the girl and her
dumb companion were again alone.
By and by she fell asleep. The roses
at her bare, white throat rose and fell
with gentle regularity as her breath
came and went. 1t was q pretty picture.
Ronald Mitchell, coming quietly across
the garden, thought so as he caught
| sight of it, and paused involuntarily.
The dog raised his great, shaggy head
and looked silent welcome from his
brown eyes. They were old friends
Ronald, the young farmer, and Rebecca
Northfield's dog Don.
The young man stood breathless a mo-
ment looking at the sleeper, then with
softer light in his blue eyes and a
warmer tinge on his smooth shaven
check he went on toward the house. He
entered with the familiarity of well
known and welcome friend, and sat
down easily in big, antiquated rocking
chair
Rebecca Mortified came into the
room, her old face ahght with welcome.
She came and laid her small hand on
his shoulder. Ronald she said, my
grandchild, Wilma Pierce, is come.
Perhaps it is not news to thee? She is a
good child, Wilma is, but fear she
loves the world too well. There is little
of the Quaker about her, Ronald"
He smiled. 81 saw her when came
through the garden just now. She is
unlike you in her dress, but her face has
likeness to yours"
They sat together in the quiet room
and talked little while. All at once a
shadow fell across the bare, white floor,
and they both looked up. Wilma stood
in the wide doorway, her face little
flushed with sleep, her eyes dewy like a
child's after refreshing slumber She
held a yellow rose in her hand.
"Grandmamma, she said, all uncon.
scious of Il strangers presence, as she
looked half sleepily at the foweri grand
mamma, what lovely rosel just see
how
wilma" the calm, sweet voice inter
rupted her, "come here. This is Ronald
Mitchell, the son of my old friend and
schoolmate, Eunice Sand"
Wilma advanced little and held out
her hand frankly, but when she met the
intense gaze of the clear blue eyes above
her a shy look came into her own ano
she withdrew her hand,
Ronald, watching her, wondered i
her grandmother remark about her ha(
implied that she was bit Of a coquette
She leaned over the old ladys higl
+ backed chair and fastened the rich rosl
2 in the silvery white waves of her beauti
{ full hair. And then she went away, will
a murmured word of excuse, leaving be
hind her scent of roses and remem
brance of fair, fresh young face rising
howerlike above her pale blue gown.
That was their FIRST meeting. All sum
mer the young farmer came and went a
, his own win and helped TO make the oil,
4 place pleasant
. They sang together in the garden
There was no musical instrument in thu
primitive Quaker household, but Wilm
had brought her guitar with her The,
read together in the old summer hous
HIGHEST of all in Teayening poWe