The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1893-07-21

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times as many homely looking noun
tain youths. Mr.. Hester introduced us
to Miss Mary Jane Spivvens, a robust
and muscular young woman, and then
left us to take his stand by the side of
the fair Miss johnson. At first Miss
Spivvens seemed to be suffering under
constraint, but under the influence of
Toms easy manner and speech her
tongue limbered up, and she told us
many things of interest about the
mountain country. From her general
conversation we learned that some peo-
pie, not Miss Spivvens, however, be-
lieved Miss Susie Ricketts, to be the
belle So them parts" Her remarks
about Miss Susie aroused Toms inter-
est and she led him across the room to
present him to the alleged belle.
I! Susie was a shy little creature, but
the one of all the others that would at
tract attention. She was simply and
befittingly clad in plain white frock,
that, although loosely made, revealed
the grace of her figure. Her gold
brown hair was caught at the back and
fastened by ribbon and then allowed
to fall in wavy mass upon her shoul-
ders. Her face was whittier than the
faces Of the others, and two bright
crimson patches burned on either cheek.
Her words, her manner, her general
appearance were those of the noun
tain, but there was q subtle charm
about her for all that.
All this noticed from my post across
the room from her, and noticed, too,
that Tom had grown quite animated
and was telling her story Just as he
would have done if she had been Of his
own circle. Tom danced with her, not
once, but many times. He missed two
dances, the two danced with her. He
called me over and presented me in a
very formal manner. She and Tom
were already on good terms, and she
laughed immoderately at everything he
looked up into his jolly face with an
expression of confidence and trust.
Hank Hester came over to me with a
puzzled look.
"He's a-makin' love to Susie fit to
KILL" said he, 'and she seems to like it.
1t 'ud be awful tough if he was to cut
Sim Ridgely outen her. They're en-.
gagged, you know"
He pointed out very miserable and
disconsolate-looking young man who
was narrowly watching Susie and Tom
with the remark that "Sim pears to be
a-takip' it purity hard already"
When the dance was over, I heard
Tom whisper to Susie and ask if he
might walk home with her. A look OF
pleasure swept over her earnest face.
II came with Sim-I mean Sim Ridge.
ly," she said, half apologetically, sand
he'd be mad II / left him. Next time
you may 60, and won't you come
round? We live about half way tween
promised that he would be around, and
as we walked home that night he was
in jubilant spirits and told me that he
would have q picnic now, that he had
found his mountain maiden.
The next day we saw Susie at church.
looking even more charming than OF
the night before; and Tom walked home
with her, much to the evident discom.
fort of Sam Ridgely.
the days seemed to pass easier for Tom.
He was with her nearly every day,
managing in his ingenious way to find
an opportunity to call or meet her some
where. Tom has the happy faculty Of
making himself the friend of nearly
everybody with whom he Is thrown
and he was soon friend Of the Rick
etts family and welcome and priv
ileged visitor at their home. Every
| night Tom would tell me of the prog
ress he was making in his suit for
susie's favor,
~ haven't got TO the point Of propos
ing yet" he told me. But you just
| give me time and I'll do 1t. I'll Just
make Mr.. Simeon Ridgely sorry he evel
was born, and then we'll go quietly
away, and soon after we are gone shell
forget me and marry Simeon and liv,
happy ever afterward. It's some diyeE
sion, anyway"
The picnic at Haunt's Bend was the
event of our summers stay in that sec
tion. People gossiped great dea,
when Tom disappeared with Susie and
I heard many such remarks as ':that
dudish town feller hev laid Sim Ridgely
In the shade with Susie" Tom didn't
give the wretched Ridgely single mo.
ment at Susie's side during the entire
day, and the poor fellow could not con.
ceal his jealousy and disappointment.
That night he called on Susie and be-
gan to chide her for her fickleness. She
flushed up and mads a sharp reply,
Simeon, SerF much hurt and quite
heartbrokep, saidi
"All right, Susie, go an marry the
feller from town. You're tired of me,
an kin see it. Don't let me stand in
the way, Susie. You amt mine, an
haint been since you seed him, but I'll
be always your friend" 90 =
And so they parted: Susie was toe
happy to shed a single tear, but poor
Simeon wept copiously on his pillow
that night, and. after dropping into q
fitfpl sleep. dreamed that It was not Sc
at all, and that Susie was the same to
him as Ishe had been before she saw
Tom Sanderson. Susie told Tem, and
the night after that he same In SatH--
late, Laughing: ---~'
.ne grand act, old boy" he
said, beaming at me as happily as fel
low might who had made love con
tract which he intended to keep. ''I'v,
proposed to Susie, and she wilted righ
away and fell into my arms. She told
me afterwards that she knew loveC
her the first time saw her. It's funny
amt 1t, how little it takes to fool {
woman" We had many a hearty laupl