The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1896-08-21


the broad piazza, looking upon tho
moonlightod lake and mountains with
q tingo Of sadness a. vo thought our
outing was 40 nearly over. ond We
unused upon the maiden whose beauty
had charmed MS
Next morning wo drove a mile IN
the early twilight in order to take the
stage. We found only one unengagod
outside scat. and Tom insisted on my
taking that Was he really generous.
or did be have an intuiuong / asked
myself, as suddenly our acquaintanees
Of yesterday came down the steps aud
entered the stage. Maud wore her
lilies and nodded pleasantly as our
eyes met, but she took a seat directly
opposite 10 Tom.
It seemed to me a very unintorest-
ing road. saw little but the black.
ened trees and the burnt wilderness
l was sadly bored by talkative seat
mate, but there was no chance Of re-
lief until wo reached Cedar river,
where the stage was exchanged for
Concord coach.
found that Tom had made great
advances in the acquaintance Of tho
little party to which Maud belonged,
and which ! now Joined. We all
climbed on top Of the coach, and
though the sun was hotter than ever,
aud the dead trees quite as CHASTITY,
no longer objected TO riding outside.
Maud's father proved a good-na-
tured man, whose hay -ieyer had driven
him 10 the woods; aud on the shore
Of Raquette lake. he. with Maud and
Jack, had been camping in u bark
shanty, and without a guide.
They told us OF their experiences in
a frank, jolly way, that made camping
seem the most desirable kind of life
imaginable Maud looked on US with
evident pity when she found that we
had been less than three weeks in the
woods, and our camping experiences
had been only with a guide. But we
retaliated with a glowing account Of
our boat trip, which fascinated her,
and she Immediately implored her
father to take her through the lakes
next summer. She had learned to fish,
row aud swim, though Jack laughed at
the idea of her swimming where the
water wasn't over her head. She got
enthusiastic over her rowing, however /;
and said she could cook fish as we'll as
catch them, and make splendid pam
cakesl and we doubted none OF her
accomplishments
How swiftly our six horses sped
over the rough road Long before
we wished it we ratified into North
Greek, whore the railway station made
us feel that our happy mountain life
was OF an end
As we rumbled along, talking mer-
rily in spite of the noise, a saucy gust
of wind caught Maud's hat and
whirled it out OF the window.
what shall do?" she appealed to
us for Jack was laughing, and her
father evidently puzzled.
That's the only hat 1 had with me,
and / can't go bearheaded."
II might lend you this, said Jack,
Offering his straw, which was very
much the worse for its camping ex,
periences.
II can do better than that" said I,
Jacks suggestion having reminded
me of something; and soon pulled
out skull-cap Of the same general
color as her dress. "Wouldn't this
do +? I huEe some pretty wings il
you want to trim it..
She chose gray one out of my
store, with which her deft fingers
soon transformed the cap; and when
it was on her head she looked prettier
than ever. We four admiring mascu-
lines congratulated her on her suc-
cess, and was in clover. Tom was
disIanced again, for he, too, had cap,
which he would have only been toe
happy to see on that graceful head, il
he had only thought of it. But there
was little time for regrets. Already
we were nearing Saratoga, and mus