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

OF any hln0i anu the hichco was come
pletei the sense Of Loneliness, intense.
What wonder, then, that Maud
seemed almost iairy-hke 10 eyes long
unaecustomod 10 such beauty.
AZ we came out upon Raquotto lake
We ioltIaa II We we're approaching civil
izationi sloarings, with back shanties
or more protentious cottages occupied
many Of tho points, and bark what
sound is that2 No heron's screams,
or wild ducks screech, but q veritablo
steam whistle; and, in tho distance wo
can just distinguish a little tug stand-
ing At tho dock. Presently, coming
nearer, We had a view Of tho pas
sengerA among whom, with tho Sep
TENDER sun gliding her brown hair.
We frst saw Maud
1 say i've" for Toms subdued
whistle told mo that his heart had
been smitten by this nut-brown maid
as we'll as mine. She was chattering
merrily with her brother aud father
who stood close by. We could hear
their voices, and distinguish the
names, Maud and Jack, by which the
brother and sister addressed each
other, but nothing more. Apparently,
however, they we're talking Of us f;
for, the little tug having started just
as We got alongside, our plucky little
guide determined on a race. The
wind was against him, but he held his
own and, though the steamer passed
ahead Of US into the narrow Marion
river, the cheer Of the passengers
showed that they considered him VIC
torious, while Maud beamed upon him
in way that made US both wish that
We held the oars.
She stood in the bow Of the little
steamer with the venerable woods be.
hind her; but their green branches
and shadowy spaces were for me only
background to intensity the picture
of her youth and beauty. With the
sight Of her felt that ! had had
enough of loneliness, and a longing
came over me, such as / had some
times felt in college when the soft
tone of a woman's voice reminded me
of home.
As-we sped along the ily-pads, rich
with the same autumn colors which
the naples wore, we had the good
luck to find several belated blossoms.
The tug was making its way slowly,
for the channel was narrow and wind
ing; and as we we're quite near, 1 fan
cied that Maud looked enviously at
my treasures. Lifting my hat, I
tossed them at her feet
She did not blush, she did not
scorniully cast them into the water,
nor ask her brother to throw them
back to me; she simply nodded her
thanks with evident delight, and, with
the utmost grace she fastened the
lovely lotus flowers in her belt.
Does this strike any one as q bit OF
Irritation? What man could keep a
flower with lady near on whom he
might bestow it? The lilies sought
their rightful owner, and I simply
helped them on their rightful way,
while Tom looked at the three he had
gathered as if unwilling to initiate me,
and equally unwilling to keep them.
''It was shame to pick Them" he
sal d, and laid them back upon the
water
The steamer now shot ahead, and
our guide told us that it's passengers
would ''carry" across to Eagle lake,
where another steamer would receive
them, while our carry was shorter
one further up.
Tom and / both received the news
unwillingly, for we could not bear t.
have this bright vision vanish SO soon
Should we never again see Maud
We looked at each other, but sale
nothing.
When at length we shot out int
Eagle lake, after the last of our carrier
there was no sign of any steamer; and
as we rowed on, the sun set and tn,
moon rose, but we were still alone.
On Blue Mountain Lake We hearc
the steamers whistle once more, ant
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