Oakes weekly Republican., 1894-05-25
A PASTORAL SYMPHONY.
but n M give me stu friend in n my retreat.

had sense. If he was Frenchman!
That remark voices my sentiments
exactly"
The speaker tossed the paper-bound
novel she had been perusing across |
the verantla, and sat up in the ham,
mock with very disconnected express
si,.n on her pretty, blonde face.
Here Pve been for three long weeks
hearing nothing discussed but tho
crops and tine gencalogy of the Vim
cent family. The girls of the neigh
borhoo-l are guys and there isn't
irritable man in the country. Marion
must get married soon, for l won't en-
durc another summer like this. I'll
run away iirst!"
Suzettc, Vinccnt-the family Bible
recorded the name as Susan, but three
years at fashionable boarding-school
will introduce variations into the best
OF names-was very pretty maid of
II, but she possessed all the little af-
fectations of the average boarding
school girl and had an exaggerated
opinion of her own Importance. She
considered herself fitted to shine in So
ciety and was just now bored IT, the
verge of desperation by the humdrum
routine of her life on farm.
"Dear mel" she exclaimed as. glanc-
ing over the garden fence, she saw her
uncle drive into the barnyard with an
unmistakably young man at his side
"Who can that be? A man of some
sort, evidently. What Il boon!"
She proceeded to arrange the frills
and ribbons of her dainty challic frock
and fell into pose which for careless
ness was really study. Her eyes
were cast down, the long lashes rested
on her rounded check, the slim white
hands were claspcd above the curly
head, and an expression of profound
thought pervaded her face even after
Mr.. Viassnt and his companion had
stepped on the porch.
A loud voice saying: Here's your
letters, Susy!" brought her back to this
mundane sphere, and she acknowl-
edged the informal introduction of
Mr.. Henry Williams with sweet gra-
ciousness calculated to make that is-
dividual her abject slave.
He was decidedly handsome, though
he carried himself awkwardly. and his
fine brown eyes and tawny mustache
excited SuZette's admiration.
Mr.. Vincents hired man had incon-
siderately rolled off tho barn roof and
broken his leg the day previous. SO the
farmer had driven over to the Will
Jams farm and secured Henry's serv-
ices for the remainder of the season.
Suzette, on the principle of "What-
soever thy hand lindelh to do, do it
with thy might" cultivated young
Williams acquaintance in an cner-
rrof;o y,oruor ,ctoo;cb;,,. |, ,,,,
aunt, who knew little of city ways.
The young man responded in the most
tlattering manner to her many attcn-
tions, teaching her to row and fish, and
listening with gratifying attention
when she played OIL the guitar and
sang in the evenings. 1t is true he
had very little to say and that little
was not said in the best English.
Suzette furnished enough converse
ton for two, so trihc like that really
did not matter.
Uncle George at first secretly OBJ
Jected to her monopolizing SO much of
his "hand's" time, butas she no longer
complained of homesickness, he con-
cludcd that perhaps twas we'll enough,
after all, to have some one to umu>c
Susy.
About this time Suzetlc wrote let
ter to her dearest friend:
"Do not think by my long silence
that l have forgotten you, my hearts
own. You will forgive your SuZette
when she explains. An oasis has ap-
peared in this desert-yes, he is unde-
niably verdant, but then You should
see his eyes!
"It is your wont to chide your Suzctte
for her too fatal fascinations; many
were the tears you shed over the hap
less confectioners clerk who choked
with emotion when bought from him
my last pound of candicd fruit, and
whose sad, reproachful eyes rs he
fastened the pink string into true
lovers knot | can never forget But
in this case am not TO blame. Henry
Williams fell madly il love with me
as | sat deep in revery under the trees,
unconscious of his presence, and ever
since he has been my shadow try
to discourage him, but he persists in
his attentions. | shrink from causing
any one unhappiness, but fear the
painful duty of refusing him is inevi-
table; | cannot avoid declaration OF
his love much longer. Oh. why will
men be so impetuous9"
The summer days glided on very
pleasantly, but somehow that inevita-
Bile declaration hung lire. The even
ing before SuZette's return to the city
she came out on the porch, resplend-
ent in Marion's picturesque last sea-
sons opera wrap. and after Il rhapsody
over the harvest moon proposed to
Henry that they should so for row
on the river.
cit is for the last time" she mur-
INJURED, looking pensiyely into his
handsome, slolid face.
Henry. always on the alert to do her
bidding, good-humoredly assented and
they slrolled to the boat, Suzette pre-
serving her sad expression. and sigh.
ing pathetically as they drifteu slowly
down the moonlight stream.
$50 you're a-goin' back home to.
morrer, Miss Suzettc?" Henry pres.
emily asked.
"Alas, yes!" Susy responded in he1
best sentimental manner. "Stern duty
recalls ME. must return to the art
ticial life loathe and take up the bur
den of society, trying to forget in the
giddy. y.whirl what might have been!"
With sigh surprising all its prede.
cessors she averted her head and idly
trailed her hand through the water
In the moonlight it looked very white
and shapely, She proudly thought.
so, now!" said Henry. "Tm sorry
you feel SO about it. Mebbe voul
folks'd let you stay if Mr.. Vincent
asked 'em to-"
Suzette with difficulty suppressed S
shudder at this practical suggestion.