The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1899-09-01
THE RED. HAIRED GIRL.

| Now, / am not 1lrt, j WISH Jnat 10
be clearly understood at the outset,
but there was something wonderfully
fascinating about the red hair and be-
| witching eyes of that girl.
| But ! must begin at the beginning.
It happened two years ago, just before
/ was a qualified doctor and A. M.
spent a great part of that summers
vacation at Ballater, because Lefty
and her mother had gone there for a
change, and, as Lefty and l were en-
aged, naturally we liked spending
! most of our time together.
About the oath of September, how
ever, we all retu ned to Aberdeen. and
resolved to spend the remaining part
of my holidays in the Buchan district,
where had a few friends. So, after
saying good by" to Lefty for what
seemed an interminable period
though 1t was only for fortnight
took the train for Mintlaw. The
Buchan trains are slow but sure and
he scenery not specially interesting,
so was glad enough to arrive at
Maud, where the energetic stationer
5houted out at the top of his voice:
New Maud! Change for Fraserburgh!
Change for rburgh!" We waited
ill the Fraserrurgh and Peterhead
rains arrived and then we started
again.
Soon afterward I arrived at Mint
'aw, where I was met by my friend.
Who, for convenience sake. shall call
George White.
Old Deer, which lies barely two
niles from Mintlaw station, Is one of
he prettiest villages in Buchan. 1t
nestles snugly in a hollow surrounded
and sheltered by many trees and beau
tilted by the neighboring estates of
Pitfour and Alden, and by that we'll
} known stream, the Ugie.
1t was also an admirable center for
a cyclist, and as the weather was good
, White and l took long spins together,
: It was toward the end of harvest, and
: although Stocks" were still standing
: IN a few fields, most farmers had al.
. ready finished leading, and it was as
J suredly the time for "meal-and-ales,"
Now I had never been at one Of
those functions, so, after spending a
delightful week at Old Deer, l pro.
|, !onged my visit by a day to 60 tc
Garnhill's harvest home. George prom
: ised there would be some fun Barn.
e hill was one of the largest farms ir
the district. and this year the meal
E and-ale" was to be big affair.
s The evening came. We drove over
e rather late. and when we got there the
7 dancing had begun. A wooden floor
i had been laid in the immense barn
: the walls were decorated with flags anG
0 flowers, and ripe corn, and at one end
was a raised platform for the fiddlers
r At the other end Of the room a huge
' pole had been stuck up, on the top OF
D which was the "clyack sheaf," al
D dressed with right scarlet and blue
j ,ibbon. .-'. r'~. ..'"..-
4 White introd ced me to his host. a
e short, jovial looking man. and to his
y two daughters, Miss Kate and Emmy
: Smith, and several others; but direct
e l entered the barn l became con-
j -cious of a girl with flaming red hair
I dressed in pale blue muslin, who, al
: ,hough dancing at the time, kept look
.ng at me with her great eyes till
e .elt a queer thrill go through me, and
/ feeling as il. somewhere before,
lad seen that girl.
/ was standing by Miss Smith.
.ried to give her all my attention.
You know, Mr.. Keith, this is really
he servants ht," she was saying,
but we always invite a few of our own
'riends, too. N we dance her till12
o'clock and after 12 father makes it a
: 'ule- that the rest of us must go into
he house, and leave the others to en-
oy it better by themselves; they keep
t up till in the morning, and some
times even till g."
Tell me-" I said more hurriedly
han politely, who is that lady, dress
I'd in pale blue, dancing with the tall,
lark gentleman"
Miss Smith laughed slightly.
THE tall gentleman is my brother,
and the girl my dearest school friend,
Miss Nora Stuart. Shall l introduce
you?"
Although fascinated in a certain
way, thought of Lefty, and did not
particularly wish an Introduction, but
now could not we'll refuse, and soon
was dancing with the red haired
sirl.
There was an indescribable some
hing that made her very attractive
and kept me by her side, and again
md again, as she talked, she made me
think that l had met and known her
somewhere before, but memory would
lot help me. And soon did not think
of that, but felt only happy to live in
he present, and know her and talk to
her now.
The hours flew swiftly by. l had
lanced with her nearly the whole ev-
ming, and scarcely left her side.
Twelve o'clock came. Miss Stuart and
were in the garden. The harvest
noon was shining brightly, and from
he barn came the distant music of