Smyrna times., 1893-06-14
THE NUT-BROWN MAID.
By Mary c. Preston, in Saturday Nigh

Never had the world looked so
lovely to IneZ Kent-never had life
seemed so well worth the having, as
when, turning her pretty pOny's head,
she rode hOmeward with Vane Carol,
her distant kinsman, whose mothers
guest she had been for a whole month.
He was so tall and princely; so
graceful, cOurtly, polished; and the
only son of one of the richest women
in the State; and Inez, with all her
beauty and her grace, was not over
burdened, with worldly gear, nor had
so eligible party ever shown such
pleasure in her society: and Inez Kent
was very worldly and practical, despite
of pink-and-white daintiness a deli
cate ethereal sOftness of face and man.
ner, which made her chief charm.
"Of what are you thinking, little
cOusin?' Vane questioned with a
smile, as they cantered side by side.
"Your face is full of sunlight. Is there
some lover who is responsible for those
dimples ?"
NO" she answered, with a blush
and a shy, swift glance into his laugh
ing eyes. Il have no lover, Vane, and
| was thinking only OF how happy l
am here"
He smiled very kindly-almost, she
thought, tenderly-at her.
You have frightened our house"
he said, softly. "Do not think of going
from US yet. We, my mother and my
self, could not"
AT that moment the pony Inez rode
gave sudden shy, and he caught the
rein, as she uttered slight shrek, and
held the animal in.
A young girl with the sweetest.
brightest, sunniest face imaginable-a
veritable Thrown maid"-was step
ping lightly down from a stile, and her
great, black, shaggy dog had leaped
before her, causing the fright of Inez
Kent's pony.
Come, Shock ~ the girl called and
the dog ran forward to her outstretched
hand. II am so sorry" said she, look
ing up at IneZ. I'VE were running a
race, and did not hear you come.
fear my dog has frightened you"
He frightened my horse" Inez said
in cold, curt tones, at which the brown
eyes below her grew distressed and
Vane's fingers dropped from the
pOny's rein.
81 am so sorry" the girl said again.
But Inez made no reply, save to shake
out the rein and canter on.
Vance, as he followed, barred his
head and bowed low to the small dark
faced stranger who made so pleasant a
picture, standing in the sunset with
one little brown hand resting on the
head of her dog, and deep flush on
either olive cheek.
II wonder who she was ?" he said
presently to Inez.
The pOrcelain-tinted beauty merely
shrugged her shoulders and curled her
lip.
"A gypsy, 1 fancy," she said evi-
IDENTIFY.
But Vane Carol knew that the face
he had seen was not that Ofa tentborn
waif-that the voice he had heard had
caught none of its music from wild
bird or streamlet; and somehow the
words he had almost said to Inez re-
mained unspOken, while he and she
rode in at his own gates, and the day
died suddenly. in paling clouds and
sharp wind arrows.
1t rained within an hour, and for
three days and nights there was the
eeaseless beat of rain-drops, heavy and
fierce. upon the world about them.
Then, in the grayness of a wind.
swept, rain-washed morning, word was
brought him that below in the village
there were poor wretches who were
struggling with the risen waters.
For the river had crept beyond its
banks and poured its overflow into the
valley, where hundreds dwelt, and all
night long it had crept higher about
them, they never knowing till the dam
showed them their danger.
Mounting hurriedly, he rode dowr
to the valley, where he was stopped al
last by the flow of sullen, tur6id wa.
ters.
All around him were wan, white
faces, weeping women, wailing chill
dren, and more than one mans ewes
were dim, as he watched little home
reared so slowly and with such toi
away by the food.
MY friends" Vane called out. as he
sat like a young prince on his horse
his face showing pale and grave in the
/ gray light, II am truly sorry for VouI
I
all else can be born. Now, let the
women and children all go to my
mother. She will shelter them gladly
and we men will save what we can"
A few broken voices breathed bless.
ings on him as, dismounting, he went
among them, saying cheering words
here and there and sending all the wet
shivering women with their frightened
little ones to the great house on tn.
hill.
Suddenly he saw that a couple o.
men were about to venture on the
swollen waters in a small boat.
"If all are safe, why risk your
lives?" he asked them.
"All are not safe, SIR" one replied
hurriedly. We never thought OF OLD
Mr.. Glavin and his niece, and thei
house is sorrOunded by water-hal
been so for hours. The old man is ,
paralytic, the niece only a slip of
girl. They're In danger, sir, aud we'r,
going to try to get them"
I'LL go with you" said Vance, step
ping into the boat.
And in a moment they were out II
the rush and swell Of the current, un
able, for all their six strong arms. [,
guide the boat. Several times the,
were caught among floating debris
they were swung round aud round
the boat was dashed forcibly agains
some building which the water sor
rounded.
At last, with infinite trouble, the
secured the boat at an open window /
the second story of a cottage, of whic
only that floor and the roof were yisi
BILE above the surface.
With . ringing cheer one of ther
leaped over the sill, and Vane locke
after them.
In great chair, with shawls wraE
ned ahnnl him and a ahrink in,r anrns