The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1894-09-13
A SUMMER GIRL.
The Beginning and End of REQ
tors Alteration.

When I went up to the Catskills
several summers ago 1t was with the
full determination of asking Miss Wag-
ner to be my wife. Age, temperament.
of such marriages; and although am
not conceited man / certainly did not
see failure ahead. My position as
rector of the leading church in East
Lemon is certainly one calculated to
impress young woman, and from the
amount of religious fervor exhibited
by Miss Wagner during the past Len
ten season judged that it would not
be disagreeable to her to be more
permanently and more closely con-
nected with the church.
Why delayed asking her after my
mind was made up cannot say. The
Wagners left East Lemon for the sum-
mer and had not spoken. / missed
Miss Wagner more than could have
supposed. She was good, sensible
girl, active in parish work, with per-
feet genius for strengthening kinks;
all the different organizations which
seemed to 60 so smoothly beneath her
guidance and Of which was now the
real, as we'll as nominal head, seemed
suddenly to become tangled and torn
with dissension. 1t opened my eyes
still more plainly to Miss Wagner's
perfect suitability for clergyman's
wife. Why had not spoken before?
l blamed myself severely. was torn
with conflicting emotions lest some
| one else more sensible than myself
might have stepped in and secured her;
her large fortune would render her
more liable to ardent suitors than .
girl more moderately circumstanced.
blamed myself for letting this treasure
slip through my fingers when every
thing could have been so we'll settled
months before, and daily expected to
be punished for my procrastination by
hearing of Miss Wagner's engagement
to some more hasty swain.
With this explanation, therefore, It
is needless to say that when my vaca-
tion came around there was not the
least doubt of the direction in which
/ pointed my steps-the retired and
beautiful spot in the Catskills where
the Wagners were summering; and I
resolved that before twenty-four hours
were past would ask Miss Wagner to
be my wife.
Nothing could be more romantic
than the spot I had selected for my
wooing. A rich New Yorker some
years before had bought for a mere
song one of the most beautiful hills in
the Catskills, three or four miles from
the railroad station, and as secluded
as the most distant parts of Maine and
the Adirondacks. The handsome lodge
! gates at the foot of the mountain
opened to let one into little paradise.
The houses tucked away like squir-
rels' nest among the forest trees were
built of undressed logs, with much
American spiciness and originality,
and had little latticed windows, Dutch
doors and many sylvan appointments.
Inside one caught sight of exquisite
interiors. In the center of the settle
ment was the clubhouse, where most
of the members, eschewing household
cares, took their meals, and where, if
properly introduced, like myself, a few
sojourners could be accommodated.
My first sight of Miss Wagner was in
the dining room, where l was well
coined heartily and a. place made for
me at her table. The dining-room had
all the elegance of Delmonicos, with
its little tables, handsome china and
excellent service, in contrast to the
huge stone chimney in the center OF
the room, the fireplace filed with
logs and the rafters left designediy
overhead. There was certain stiI
&c sv,rp INV fy.oi
having brought plentiful supply OF
sons, brothers and sweethearts for the
evening hop, as is usual in most places
within days journey of New York.
After our separation Miss Wagner
seemed more than ever just the wife
for me; her strong; buxom figure and
well-developed arms showed to ad
vantage in the simple silk blouse
which she, in common with almos'
every other young woman in the room
wore. Her kind, sensible face haG
gained a pretty brown color from
mountain breezes; she certainly would
make perfect, happy, commonsensibl'
clergyman's wife.
We were getting quite gay in talk
ing over all that had happened in Eas
Lemon since the Wagners' departure
when my attention was suddenly ar
rested by some late comers who wer'
/ Just entering. There were several il
! the party; an old lady, some yount
, men, suppose, for saw them oftel
' enough together afterwards; but on
4 figure stood out SO indelibly that every
? one else in the room suddenly becam
I her background.
lam not good at describing lady
dress or at personal description; bu
now, after this lapse of time, cal
still shut my eyes and see Florenc
Atherton exactly as she looked tina
evening. She had on blouse-so ha
every woman in the room, but not
mischievous thing like hers-with sol
red frilling that fluttered as she moved