Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1893-02-18

sss--IE " and the plac
was Mount Vernon, q beautiful roman
tic site in Fairfax county, Va, on tn
right bank of the Potomac, and within
fifteen miles of Washington. d. c.
II was a place of no historic intercs
on this charming afternoon, when
youthful Notwithstanding one hors'
and leading another-cantcred up the
avenue of one of the groves which
were frequent there in those days. The
sump;cr horse carried lady's side
saddle and was high-spiritcd animal
''Steady there, Queen Bess! Whoa
you Jade! Mistress Lydia, is it you'
pleasure TO ride with me? do beseccf
you to honor me with your company
for n gallop this afternoon. Peace,
Bess, or ] will larrup yon, girl. Mis-.
tress Lydia, will you have me for q
gallant to command me at your sweet
will?"
AS there was no other person in sight
except this overgrown youth in the
stately hunting suit of the day, this
monologuc was in the nature of Il per-
sonal confession. Great then were the
surprise and chagrin of the rider, when
merry, hooking laugh smote his ear,
and youth, in knickerboclIers and a
rounda bout, jumped up under the very
heels of the horses.
Marry now, sweet Mistress Lydia,
will you ride with me, or may ride
with you, or will You ride along ut
your own sweet will, ha! ha! no! no."
The rascal lodged blow which
would not have hurt him had it fallen,
and laughed wickedly at the discom-
Eiture OF the youthful equestrian. Then,
shifting from one foot to the other, he
said:
Marry, good sir, if it be my sister,
Lydia Gcrrish, you would ask to ride
with you, she is watching you now
from the turret window yon. If you
promise to tell no tales, will run and
speak her fair, but tell her not made
free with her name, for the wench has
a temper"
Go, boy-gct You gone-and if she
will ride Queen Bess she will be car
ried as fair as though she sat in chaise
with four horses and outriders."
''oh no, my sister Lydia rides the
roam colt that my father dare not
mount for his life. And she has q
habit that came from England in three
ships, and is finer than soldiers coat
on parade day"
speak fair for me, Oscar, and you
shall have one of my deer-hound pups
from the litter of Lady Alice; it has a
royal pedigree"
Laughing and chatting the boy ran off,
and soon after appeared ut the door of
the large manor house beyond the
grove. BY his motions and grimaces
the young rider understood himself to
be welcome.
''You are to come in and sit in the
drawing-room," he said, as the youth
dismounted at the horse block; "Cisco
is to hold your horses, and will my
self bcstride them in turn by your
leave"
The lad vaulted into the saddle just
vacated, as n Whiting maid stood at the
door and with q low courtesy en-
-Quired
Your name, good Slr?
George Washington" stammered
the youth, land have come to see
Mistress Lydia Gerrish if it be she will
grant me audience"
The little maid showed him into the
old colonial parlor. and ran to her
mistress quite out of breath.
''Oh, Mistress Lydia, such a hobble-
de-hoy, yet with noble presence with
al-ard he comes on horse back with a |
second horse saddled for lady-te-he- |
he!"
flush, girl, hold your peace, and |
fasten my bracelet George Washing |
ton? Methinlxs heHis rather too young
to be calling on grown-up ladies.
But he is q fine lad and will see
hin for my mothers sake. She and
my mother were friends from their
youth up"
When she appeared in the parlor she
bowed low with mock humility, but
the youth standing before her shook as
with IN ague attack, while he made
known his errand.
She was very handsome, with saucy
dimples that Just twlnkled with mirth
and mischief, and she did not help her
bashful admirer in his stammering re-
sital, and WIS quite astonished appar-
emily when he informed her that the
horses were at the door.
But she would ride, oh yes, she loved
riding on horseback SO much, and
would he wait until she donned her
which was custom of the times. she
Kissed her dainty finger tips 10 him as
ihe ran lightly from the room.
When she came back she was ravish-
Ingly bewitching in her habit of scar
Get cloth. with its frogs of gold lace, /
and the high hat with its dropping ,
Feil.
When they had mounted they rode