St. Landry democrat., 1893-02-11
MANS CHRISTMAS GUEST.

A great event occurred in the Curtis
household when Nan took summer board.
ers. When she first announced this in.
tentlon the amazement of the assembled
family was too great for words. The
two smaller children gazed at her in wide
eyed wonder, and her father, when he at
length found voice, remarked contemptu-
ously:
who'll come up here in the back
woods, I'd like to knowl"
But Nan was not to be discouraged.
"There is the mountain" she said, stout
ly, 'and the fine air, and the pine woods;
why wouldn't someone like Just such a
wild, lonely place-someonc from the
city?'
A newspaper had driited to the Curtis
farm the day before, ard Nan, devouring
it eagerly, CHANGED upon the ADVERTISE
ments for summer boarders Sc forth in its
columns. She noticed that the chief in
ducements held out had been invariably
the aforesaid pine woods and mountain
scenery. These she had to perfection,
for the little gray farmhouse chung to the
mountain side like the moss to thu lifted
rock, and the grand panorama of sunrise
and sunset, of silvery mists rising from
the valley, and of purple clouds gather
ing at evening about the lofty peak, could
be had for the mere exertion of looking
out of the window. She loved these things
herself, why should not someone
else2 She had been a little appalled, at
her W audacity at first, but now she
was resolved tomake the attempt at least,
being mistress of the house.
II shall write out the advertisement,
and you shall take it down to the post
office when you go to town to morrow"
she said decidedly and with a business
like manner that duly impressed the fam
lily; and the indulgent father, accus-
toned to obey this dusky-cyed daugh-
ter, whose learning and shrewdness were
O source OF unbounded awe and admira-
ton to him, finally acquiesccd to the
new and startling scheme. lie did not,
in bis own mind, see why any one should
ness, although to ut tah sdn farm in the wilder
was fine, and the little turbulent Stream
that tumbled over the rocks, clear as
crystal: The thought of the stream in
splred him with q brilliant idea,
'lou had better put something in
about the fishing" he said, as he went
out, feeling that he too, was something
OF a business man after all. And Man,
who was diligently copying the model in
the paper, added this last clause with a
triumphant flourish.
The sun was just going down behind
the mountain as Mr.. John RAYMOND.
seated in Farmer Curtis jolting farm
wagon, rode slowly up the narrow road
towards the Curtis farm. The great
peak stood out in distinct and sombre
outline against the crimson sky. The
evening breeze, coming from the cool
heights, was full of a piny odor, strange
ly lnvigorating, and although he could
not see 1t, the music of swiftly running
water told him that a mountain stream
was not far away, and made him think
lnvoluntarily of the fishing rods in the
back of the wagon. Save this and the
melancholy note of a whippoorwilI, all
was perfectly still. The young ! an.
frcsh from the city haunts, appreciated
the unusual beauty of the scene, and was
just congratulating himself that his host
had at last relapsed into silence that he
might give himself up to the spell which
the lonely place was somehow casting
upon him, when suddenly in a
clump of bushes by the road
side, which they were approaching,
he caught q glimpse of a face peering out
them. He was half startled for a mo-
ment, but it was only a moment. for upon
q second look, he discovered that it was
young girls laughing gypsy face, with ,
great dark eyes and a mass of let black
hair, which evident contact with the
had set falling about in a most .
becoming confusion. The bright lips +
j q parted as the wagon approached, S
md the girl was evidently about to ac- 6
cost the occupants, when meeting the $
tranger's eyes bent upon her, surprised. 7
intent and admiring, she looked shyly at :
linn for a moment, and then in confusion n
urned and disappeared in the wood. Y
John Raymond turned quickly to his s.
ompanlon, an eager question upon his "
lps, but seeing that the farmer had been s.
!tterly oblivious to the little by-play, he @
hanged his mind and remained silent.
| shall certainly see her again." he said h
0 himself, Especially if she is in the ff
a6it of haunting these woods" II
Presently a sharp turn in the road Il
rought them in sight OF the low farm lie
ouse, surrounded by sloping, well titled ii
elds; and from the increased animation n
{ both horse and driver, the visitor n
uessed this to be their destination. #
Have you other boardersW he asked a,
srelessly; it was the first time the in
uestion had occurred to him. h,
YES" answered the farmer briskly. h,
n more, q young lady up here for d,
er health, likes the mountain air." W
AS they drew near, Raymond could
e that there were two young women k,
pom the broad porch. One, fair-haired m
I'd wearing a white dress, was idly CT