Bradford County telegraph. (Starke, Fla.) 1888-current, 1895-11-22

DCCh IOASON bhO VI
e.: 6; +: e: e: !; !:
railroad train that stops precisely
forty five seconds among the lonely
hills and then whizzes away like de-
mon, and if you have ever found your
self too late therefor you can perhaps
appreciate the dismay that overspread
the countenances of the little party Of
travellers as they stood on the steps of
the solitary station. If Frank West
port had been alone he would probab-
~ have sworn-as it was, not even the
presence of his sister and wife could
repress the muttered "Confound
it" which contained the essence of a
half dozen naughty words.
'tAnd the next train don't pass I'M
der three hours-how provoking !"
calculated Mrs. Westport. show on
earth are we to while away the timer"
"There's a middIin' good tavern a
piece up the road" said the agent.
"a country innI" exclaimed Kate
Westport, a pretty girl OF seventeen.
ono, indeed, Frank, we've had enough
of that sort of thing. Isn't there any
pretty place within walking distsnce?"
she said, turning to the man. "We
might Just ramble around until the
train is due"
The man scratched his head with q
puzzled air.
There's DR.. Jones's Seminary for
Young Ladies, jest over that hill-and
there's Smart's grist mill---snd there's
q picnic ground"
Frank Westport interrupted him
with:
'Thank you, but fear none Of
these places will prove interesting to
the ladies'"
"Well, there's Ashley Hall just on
the east road-you can see the tops of
the chimneys from here. It's the
prettiest place in the county"
"Can we not go in?" asked West
port.
''No, sir" was the emphatic re.
spouse. "They don't never allow no.
body to go over the grounds; they're
dreadful particular about 1t, now Mr..
Ashley is in Europe"
"Does nobody reside there?"
"Nobody but the housekeeper and
the gardener folks"
Frank" said Kate, mischievously,
'I feel an irresistible desire to pene-
trate those Bluebeard fastnesses-let's
try"
"My dear, not if it is against the
rules"
But Kate tossed her head de6antly
''Let's try, at all events"
How tempting those grounds looked
to the three weary travellers as they
plodded along the dusty road tina
skirted the iron fence inclosing them
The cool glitter of fountain here anC
there, seen dimly through feetherJ
boughs; the white CLEAN of marble
groups of Fauns and Maids; masses o
flowers glowing wildly on velve
slopes of lawn, and the cool winding
of a brook overarched by rustic
bridges-Kate Westport had On eye
for the picturesque and she longed tt
be within the forbidden domains.
Frank had gone on to the porter
lodge, to request permission to wall
over the grounds, but he presently re
turned shaking his head.
"No use, girls. The man seys b.
has positive orders. Even bride wa
in vain"
Glow churlish," exclaimed Mrs
Westport, painting.
"I don't see that it's so very unrea
sonable after al" said Frank. 9Th,
fellow says they would be over
wheImed with sight-seers - why
where's Kate?"
Where, indeedl The little lady ha
discovered q wicket gate, half hidde
among the laurels, with the key TEN
porarily left in the LOOKOUT unfol
tunately it was inside, and no reach
ing or twisting Of Kate's arm throug
the ironwork could get at it.
t'Where's the harm?" said sauc
Kate to herself. at would be sue
fun to climb over that fence. Nv
done It many time when I was
school girl. What hurt can it poss
bly, do the Grand MoGul of Ashle
! Hall for US to look at his grounds
He can't shut as up in prison for It,
She wss one of those impulsive girl
who never stop long to think- an
she slid up the iron bars, squirrel-hkt
balancing herself on top.
'Kste! come down this instant
cried her dismsyed brother.
But Kate only flashed q laughin
glance at him and sprsng lightly frol
/ her elevation.
, Naughty girls never do prosper,
stories or out of them, so it righteou
~ befel that Miss Westport, instea
D CT alightipg, as she had intended
upon q green border which follows
Z the serpentine windings of the era
O eled walk, was abruptly checked !
mid air by the drapery of one slee,
catching In the crest of the ire
fence.