St. Landry democrat., 1893-02-11

seated III Il low CHalfi tnc dtner II 1uSt
then, had her head turned away, was
standing upon the step, and at her feet
a basket of berries evidently just
picked. Both were laughing gayly, and
as the wagon drew near and stopped, the
girl upon the step with s Sudden rush
OF color to her brown cheek, turned slow
ly towafd the two men. 1t was the girl
who looked at Raymond from the wood.
He could not help bet-ay1ng his surprise
and satisfaction, which increased tenfold
as FarmcrC Curtis, noting r evident ad-
miration, took the Young girl by the
hand, and with no little pride in his
voice, Presented, ''my daughter"
The summer days passed very happily
to the little family in the lonely farm
house. 1t was certainly a very strange
coincidence that Mr.. Raymond should
discover In Alice Niles, Mans othet
boarder, a familiar city friend. Yes,
very strange. too Strange indeed to be
believed, and Nan for one did not be-
licve it. No, she was quite sure that the
one object which this artful young man
had in view, when he sought the Curtis
homestead, was the hope Of meeting this
interesting invalid. Nan being of an
imaginative turn of mind, had built up
a fine romance about these two, and
laughed to herself as she thought how
easily she had OWNED their little intrigue.
They were certainly the best of friends,
and the gentleman ever attentive to his
delicate companion; but then he was
almost equally as kind to his little board
ing mistress, and Nan recall / with a
secret blush his many courtcsics. She
liked these two, they were II revelation
her, and she delighted to build lovely
for them to inhabit.
They were all very gay together, and
Nan could not help seeing that they adj
mired her, and pitied her for being con
.emned to a mountain fastness.
The bracing air was having a ;onder-
effect upon the city girl, and she was
o to take many. a long iaunt with
her ever-rcady escort. Nan watched them
sometimes with a little sigh of
envy; he with a t%shing-rod over his
shoulder, she with her book, both so
handsome and happy, and so well suited
10 one another, as Nan told herself.
Oftentimes, however, at Raymond's
request, they made a family party
Of it, and taking IA lunch, had a pleasant
Jay of it in the woods, building a gypsy
ire and making merry generally. There
always something in Raymond's eyes
IN these occasions which reminded Nan
Of the first time she had seen him from
Ter berry-picking in the wood. She
could not define the look, exactly, but it
certainly lattering, at least. and had
t been any one but her friends admirer,
'he would have been somewhat confused.
For some strange reason neither had ever
spoken of their first peculiar meeting,
ETHER to each other Or to any one else.
70 be sure, there was nothing about it
hat would greatly impress a disinterested
person, but Nan found herself more than
'nce dwelling upon the little episode
With a certain romantic satisfaction.
Md then she sighed when she rcmem-
,ered that the gay summer days were all
90 quickly passing, and that ere long
he pleasant companions would return to
he gayeties of their city life, and the
title boarding mistress would be forgot
en-, together with the other pleasant
Kings which had served to amuse them
Turing their holiday. Nan began to
@uestion herself now as to whether her
ummer had been a success or not, since
only served to make the rest of the
ear seem more gloomy by contrast.
I r u.n. ,,,t ,,+I +Io ~,
egan their mournful chirpinoS i'll the
ony grass, the nights to close in chill :
nd damp, and the red leaves to appear
ere and there in the ivy and occasional
laple trees, that the two city friends
lid farewell to their pretty hostess. 1t
as a very sad leavc-taking, on Mans
art at least, and Miss Niles was also
orry to depart, for she had learned to
we this Shy little mountain flower,
so far away from any com
anion. She saw the pain which the
ri felt, and made a sudden resolve.
II shall come again. she SAL de
she sure Of tin the Winter
'metime; | long to see you icebound.
will be such a novclty.'
Raymond, half cXTtE&t a",. .aose ha 't Ivy
ould announce a similar intention. Tor
ie did not like to think that he either
Guild forget her Immediately. But he
ade no such offer. indeed, SO careless
I'd indifferent did he appear that Nan
gan to grow hurt and angry, and it
as a very cold goodbye which she at
st accorded him, although she could
It admit that he seemed very much i'm
esscd by her sudden accession of
gnity.
1t certainly promised to be a very ;
cary Christmas for the Curtis family. ,
snow had fallen at intervals during :
e last few days. The trees were heavy
It'll it yet, and about the mountain top
e heavy gray clouds were still hanging {
tn promise of more. ,
Until the last moment almost. Nan had
pected her city friend, Alice Niles, to Y
end the holidays with her; but the r
accounts of the weather in the t
orth had discouraged that lady, in her i
mantle scheme, and the real old v
Il )ned country Christmas which she
IS so anxious to experience was indeti- o
ely postponed. Nan'sdisappointment t
IS very bitter. Ever since the de- t;
rture of her guests she had felt a loneli- a
S. and sadness unexplainable to her D
f. She said nothing to those about Il
but at times it seemed that the il
of her life was D
'idly bee ming unbearable. This visit r;
med the last connecting link with il
use brief, happy days, and it was very D
ID to have it broken. The city girl re
l Deer very kind in her letter, and T
ong other interesting gossip informed in
n that she intended to startle her be- tt
e long with some delightful news, m
onichinn DC L 1rn lll