Nevada County picayune., 1890-02-19
INEXPLICABLE AVERSION.

Paul Dravton was staying for sev' eral weeks in the pretty village o1 Radnor. It was terminus to on, 1 of the railroads, and from it the mails were earned by stages to sucI adjoining towns as were not on the line of the road.
 The contracts for carrying the malls had been awarded, and Pau Drayton, who was United States mail agent, had stopped at Radnor to see whether the securities offered by the successful bidders were of the character demanded. MT. Warne, a rich farmer near the village, had been offered as one of the bondsmen. Everybody declared him to be worth the bond score of times over, yet Paul Drayton concluded to interview him.
 He found him an intelligent, sub stantial gentleman. shrewd and cir cumspcct, yet open-hearted, His house was a large and elegant one, and the grounds were handsome, eX- tensive and most excellently kept.
 In leaving the house after the visit, he turned into the wide carriage drive where he bcheld, besides a fountain, the prettiest creature he had ever laid eyes on, which is saying q good deal, for he had travelled all over the continent.
 Knowing that he was unobserved, he stopped near her and watched her. Her complexion was exceed ingIy fair: her hair was dark brown, with a glint of gold in it, abundant, and charming in it's negligence. Her cheeks were dimpled, her lips a vivid red. and the hands which she held up to catch the spray from the foun- tain would have excited the envy of sculptor. She was leaning against the stone coping, her attitude grace ful, her airy attire setting off her lit tie figure, and harmonizing wonder fully with her complexion.
 Paul Drayton feasted his eyes upon her. and with him it was very much case of love at first sight. Sud denly she looked up and saw him, and as suddenly she stood erect, her hands tightly clasped, her face pal lid, a wild stare in her eyes.
 He felt that he had been grossly impolite in staring at her, and was alarmed at her repressed excitement. He advanced to within five feet Of her to apologize and to offer his aid, if needed.
 He removed his hat and was about to speak when her alarm gave vent to low scream. A look of intense aversion came to her eyes; she pushed toward him with her hands, and then turned and sped rapidly toward the house. Paul Drayton was considerably dazed. As he was handsome, honest, pleasing, we'll dressed young fellow, the aversion was incxplicabe. He stared at the ground for a minute, but found no solution to the mystery.
 "She is probably dementcd,' v was his mental comment, as he strode on his way,
 He tried to dismiss her strange conduct and her exquisite face from his mind, but could not.
 On inquiry of the landlord o1 the hotel at which he was stopping he learned that the little beauty was Mildred Warne, the rich farmers niece, with large fortune in her own name. She was demented she was not even eccentric. She was yivacious, impulsive, hopeful, ten der hearted girl, as sensible as she was pretty, and beloved by all tha' knew her.
 The virdict was so emphatic tha Paul DraytOn was more puzzled thai ever. He hardly knew which feeling predominated, his love for her or hl curiosity to know why she had re garded him with such positive aver sion,
 The more his mind dwelt upon thu subject the more determined he be came to fathom the mystery. H. sought a regular introduction; h' visited her at the house; he pro longed his stay for weeks. He be came thoroughly in love with her, bu