The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1892-10-23
A TEAR IN A SKIRT.
A Romance of Sentiment from
Brighton.
Alice Deserted the Figure of Man Coming
Towards HeI-MoOns and
Honpymoons

It may be delightful to choose a starry
night for ramble, providing there are
smooth stone payements on which to ram
BILE, electric lights every half block and o
danger signal on every crossing.
at Brighton the high altitude is the only
excuse given for one rash enough to take a
stroll without either waiting for the addi-
tional light Of the moon or carrying dark
lantern.
Now, Brighton, which is s.640 feet above
sea level, is one of the most sentimental
hooks at any time, but on a
moonlight nighJ.it Is incompatible. To my
knowledge there have been over dozen
marriages performed, which only placed
seals on proposals made in Brighton.
Imagine a cluster OF tiny cottages nestled
In little bowl formed by the mountains.
And stretching out from this little village
g verdant strip OF meadowland Leading TO q
beautiful little lake fringed with pines.
willows and ouaking aspens. A stream
forming the southern boundary OF the
meadow empties into the lake and finds an
outlet 10 another stream which runs par
allel with the first and forms the northern
boundary. Add to this enchanting scene
an eve when the moon shines brightly over
cottage roofs and dimly defined trees
along the pebbly brook and hastens on TO
this tiny lake. When pausing, 1t playfuily
casts q shimmering veil of silver over the
face OF the bashful rustic beauty. This is
life, free from superhcialities, and this Is
Brighton.
And is IL any wonder that old as well as
young catch the sentimental feverl IL 10
impossb BILE to see all this beauty of nature
and not have your heart expand toward all
of him. One thing which tended to make
mankind; ones soul grows larger in spite
me more in love with my fellow-men was
the sight OF an elderly couple entering the
hotel parlor on such night as / have de-
scribed. They had 'just been taking a
stroll for the sake of old memories" the
husband smilingly informed Us. AT any
rate, starlight rambles were all the rage
this summer.
1t was on one OF those delightful nights
when the moon wa3 invisible and the stars
endeavored to make up for the Lost lustre
that Alice and | decided to take stroll as
far as the brook. will mention here that
this ranch possesses a pet lamb which has
become my shadow, and on this particular
night it strolled out with US. We had just
reached the brook where crossing is sup
piled by fallen tree, when it occurred to me
that the night was somewhat c1illy for US
to be without wraps. After telling Alice
to "be sure and keep that lamb from fol-
lowing me-" Istarted back to the hotel for
a couple of shawls, and Alice sat down on
the bank OF the creek to await my return.
She had been there about two minutes
when she deserted the figure of a man
coming toward her. Hardly daring to
breathe, she crouched down, and held the
lamb firmly by the leg. When within
twenty feet from her, the man was joined
by young girl who came running to MIN
and exclaimed breathlessly: sob, well, l
had q terrible time trying to get out; the
boerders were playing 'Razzle Dazzle
and mamma insisted On my taking q
hand; but l got away and Pm
herein Meanwhile Alice was nearly
scared to death, and did not dare
move, as she had accidently become a
listener to conversation not intended for
her ears. and l had crossed the creek and
was about to cross over to Alice. when
heard the voices and stopped in Time to lear
WHIPS reply.
s'Well, l thought you never would come.
1t seems fully two hours since left the
house. But l would walt forever if
might be rewarded by sight OF your sweet
face.'
Then followed a noise similar to the
cracking OF the telephone wires when q
storm is on the line. Just at that unfortu-
nate moment my pet eaw NE and made q
desperate attempt TO get TO me.
Isn't this heavenly placeln asked
William, but whether he meant the land
scape or the world in general 1 shall never
know, for the suspicious smacking tele-
phone racket was repeated.
The lamb made another attempt to get to
me. Alice threw her arms around its neck,
but lamble was determined. BAIL and
with that the lamb leaped toward me.
| Alice made q frantic effort TO hold ii, lost
her balance, and captive and captor fell
headlong into the creek. There was a
| scream from the water: another from the
| young lady on the bank as she Jumped.
caught her foot on twig and sprawled on
the ground. Then there were some blank
ETY. blank unirteliigible words in mascu-
line voice as the young man failed to catch
her and sat down on projecting stump.
| Now, the creek is not deep, but mount
ain stream is always a little cold, and quite
so in September; but take things all round,
we had quite q nice time. l gave Alice my
haad, and somewhat resembling a
drowned rat, she clam bered up the
bank. 1t did not take US very
long to get back to the hotel, and,
while Alice went to her room to put on dry
apparel, sat down behind the stove to
wait. l was not kept long IN suspense, for
| moment later in walked two happy and
apparently unconscious individuals, but as
they crossed TO the other side of the room !
noticed three cornered tear in the skirt
and her sleeve bore the peculiar marks OF
mud, while the young man had a twig
sticking ont of his pocket.
| Outside the stars continued to shine, but
VIII gave decided start. as through the
opeu door was waited the gentle voice OF
my pet-Bahl THE OLD FAMILY Car.