Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1899-03-16
TN THE CA9SKlLLS. !
BY HELEN FORREST GRAVES.


far blue heights lost in mist of opal
and gold; the precipices that stretched
away below losing their sharp outlines
in the dreamy purple glow; while to
the left of the Swiss cottage, which
seemed to perch itself like bird
poised for flight on level bit of
green sward, foamy torrent hurried
down the fern-fringed rocks, a thread
of surging silver.
Natalie Moore gazed out on the fair
panoramic glory of the scene from a
tiny diamond -paned easement, while
Ellen Kyle leaned over her shoulder
and showed pretty pearls of teeth in
q most unmistakable yawn.
"How gloriousr' cried Natalie,
drawing long breath.
"How stupidv' sighed Ellen.
''Now, Natalie, please don't look SO
Mortified. You know perfectly we'll
make no pretense to high heroics.
never read Paradise Lost. / think
Shakespeare nuisance, and regard
the country-always excepting Long
Branch and Saratoga-as prodigious
bore! 1 can't help my honest convic-
tions, can ?'
She was dimpled, roguish damsel,
with very black eyes, velvety level
brows, and cheeks like the crimson
side of nectarine; while Natalie
Moore was pale and slight, with great,
wondering gray eyes, and red, sensi-
tive mouth.
'If we had only asked Fred Stacey
up here" sighed Ellen, cor the
Vincys, or even Frank Stapleton. But
a week in the Caskills without a mas
culine mortal to gladden. our eyesight,
except Tim, the cowboy. Do you
know, Nata, I walked a mile this
morning to get a look at the stuffed
hats and coats in Farmer Allison's
strawberry patch. They were at least
a reminder of mankindp'
"Oh, Ellien' sighed Natalie, de-
spairingly.
"You see, dear, there was mis-
take all around" went on Ellie Kyle,
mischieyansly. 81 should :have Been
the heiress, You the society girl! You
wouldn't have caught me shutting my
self up here, to enjoy moon-rises and
sunsets, and all that sort of thing, that
have no business to exist except in
picture-galleries.
'Look, Elliep" interrupted Natalie,
pointing her slender finger down into
the gorge. IS me one is coming!'
''Its the mail-carrier, with one
wooden-leg, or else the boy with the
milk and cream" said Ellie, misan-
thropically. "Nobody else ever comes
here!'
"You are wrong" said Natalie, ele-
waiting her pearl amounted opera
glasses. 81 think they are artists
at all events they are gentlemen, and
they must be coming here, for this
path leads nowhere else"
''For which may all the saints be
devoutly thanked!" murmured Miss
Kyle, under her breath perhaps
it's Fred Stacey on forlorn hope?
Anyhow, I'll run up stairs, and just
take a look at my crimps. How lucky
that we haven't dined yet! 1 wonder
if the cook has remembered the recipe
for those cream syllabubs? Two live
men! Why, Natalie, the wilderness
will blossom as the rose!'
And away she scampered, singing
as she went.
ST suppose this is the place?" said
Everard Elton.
"Why, it must be, of course" said
Guy CASTLES; "because there is no
other place within ten miles that can
see."
"But 1 had no idea Thorne would
put up place SO artistically beauti-
full" said Elton, ''Thorne is good
fellow, but he is realist, and this a
poets dream of Switzerland"
''Are there such things as broiled
chickens in poets dreams?" demanded
Cassiles, with some solicitude. "Be-
cause my tramp over the mountains
has given me a capital appetite!''
"And 1 entertain no doubt that you
will find the means of assuaging it
amply" returned his friend. "Thorne
told me he invariably kept good
staff of servants, and I've always
noticed that servants like good eating
as we'll as their masters. Open the
gate, can't you? and knock. My hands
are tired by this heavy easel and paint
casew
Guy Cassiles pushed open the door,
and stalked in free-and-easy fashion
into Miss Moore's little octagon shaped
drawing room.
Natalie rose in surprise. Ellie Kyle's
dimples danced as she retreated be-
hind her friends easy-chair.
"Whew- uttered Mr.. Elton,
setting down his portable easel, and
wiping his streaming forehead. "Well,
girls. you hardly expected company
tonight, eh? hope there's something
fit to eat in the house?"
"And let us have it served as soon
aspossible, please" said Guy Cassiles,
affably. 1--WE have walked far and are
very tired"
Natalie was about to make some in
diguant response, when Ellie Kylc
stepped forward and courtesied low.