St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1893-10-07

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<6~~As&E- looked solitar,
u enough, set BY
itself on the great level prairie. Some
how, its isolation struck the rider ap
preaching it with a new sense of the
loneliness Of these western wilds He
was q young man, with . sunbrowned
face, light brown beard, and long
wavy hair Of the same color, tangled
BY the rising breeze intoa wavy. pic
turesque confusion under the shade Of
his broad-brimmcd. gray felt hat. The
rest Of his costume-a gray belted
jacket and breeches, with the revolver
1t his belt-gavc him sort Of guerrilla
aspect far from unbecominR. But his
features were unmistakably English,
and the clear brown eyes looked hon.
est and kindly Notwithstanding their
somewhat Respondent expression. and
some traces Of ''hard life"
Ned Carew. in short, was . type Of
many a young Englishman driven into
hA inf - ~
life. partly through his own fault,
partly through that Of others. Just
then he was undergoing one of those
occasional ''spclls" of bomesickness,
generally associated with ssch days Of
encrvating heat, when the great plain
seemed to pant, almost breathlcss,
under the suns untcmpcred glare.
As he drew near the ranch for which
he was bound. his eye was caught by .
sight unseen for ycars-that of grace
full figure in IN English riding habit
. sight associated with some Of the
pleasantcst and most painful memories
of his life. The lady sat her horse
well, rs he could see 1T = gl1nce. Who
could she be? On the former occasion
when he had visited the ranch, on bust
ness with its inmates, these were two
young men, living in 4 rough bachelor
way He had not heard Of the mar
riage of either. and he had not dreamed
Of meeting . lady now. As he watched
her ride up to the door his glance
strayed critically over his dusty attire
He even thought Of turning away to
seek the nearest village. But curiosity
prevailed over this newborn shyness.
As he fastened his horse near the
house, his quick eve noticed that .
handsome elderly lady, who sat 1t IN
open window knitting, turned to call
to some one within. At the open door
he was met by tall girl, whom he
recognized ut once - lady. despite the
linen apron which completely enveloped
her dress. and the partially rolled-up
sleeves which betokened some house
hold occupation. She had . di9nified
bearing, = inely-proportioned figure
in which he thought he recognized that
Of the fair rider, nobly nodded
features, with the combination Of dark
hair and soft blue eyes which suggest
ed IN Irish type Of beauty. With .
clear complexion. slightly flushed with
exercise. Ned Carew thought she looked |
like princess in disguise.
Notwithstanding his present rough
life and associations, Ned Carew had
not lost the instructive bearing Of IN |
English gentleman; and this the young
lady seemed in her turn to recognize rs |
she explained that her brother, Mr.. |
Percival, was out on the prairie. but |
would soon return, while his former /
comrade had left the ranch some time /
before. As she spoke, she courteously |
showed the way into = little sitting
room, which with its simple extempor-
ixed furniture, had so homelike and re-
fined IN air that Carew's Heimwch was
intensified; and he surveyed the little
feminine adornments, the water-color
sketches, the books, and (last but not
leasp the elderly lady who gave him 50
kind = greeting, with the relish Of Z
man whose domestic instincts had gone
through . long course of starvation.
Miss Percival, leaving her mother TO
talk to the stranger, quietly went on
with her Preparations for the evening
meal. in the course Of which she fitted
ia and out setting the tea-table in .
dainty way In which he had not seen .
table set for years And though the
crochery was of the plainest, the fine
white table-cloth and the gracefully ar.
ranged wild flowers would have set on
less appetizing meal than that pre-
pared BY Miss Percival's deft fingers. l.
Very soon young Percival appeared.
with . hearty welcome-for, in these
solitudes, . new acquaintance speedily
becomes . friend Carew gladly &C
cepted his hosts invitation to 70 to his
room. and explained his business while ,
getting rid Of the dust Of his ride.
When he returned he looked more like ,
his own self than he had done for ,
his forehead-the shaggy locks ,
brushed out Of the way-leavinr its
English fairness to contrast with the ,
embrowned shade below, and his whole |
lppearance more in keeping with his ,
mellow English voice and gentlemanly ,
bearing.
Miss Percival had laid aside her apron I
Ind appeared in . plain but very BE-
>oming dark blue dress Of some thin
material set OF with dainty little col. I
sr that might have come fresh from 1
Regent street Seated At the hospitable q
ea-table. Carew soon found his unusual
'hYpess disappearing under the inAu- |
nee Of the ladies' gentle courtesy, till !.
{ seemed . II some haleful spell had Z
,eea suddenly broken, and he could Z
hink and talk more like his old self Of Z
happier days r