The Farmington times. [volume] (Farmington, Mo.) 1874-1902, 1899-06-08
HIS FAIR MAIDEN.

NAts heiflk 3 oofs lnA van ufai} NAN 1NNf tAtA
and mHtey look Al ine with those great dash
eyes You arg 30 longer hssi Of foot, your
eyes have grown DIM and youF srent for
game has left yau Bot, old fellow, we viii
not complain. II the world has lei. ua by
the roadside We have had ~ much happi-
unsa together, AID We will grow old side
hy side. / will smoke my pips aud dncnn
vi the old days, while SOW shau lic there
before the fire and lei ,ncmofy carry you
back 10 the SwanTs.
Rather strange Il was the way | came
toto possession oi PiCtru. had not been Ia
Louisiana three duys before. across the way
10 a ncighhoriug plantation, saw 40 fine
specimen Of bird dog as ever delighted the
csc Of a uimrod. ] Ehistled aud ha came
to me.
Ills medgr o handsome young Italian
named pariiui, was just behind Introducing
ourselves, wc got 10 talking Of the dos. lie
politely declined all Of my offers to pur.
chase him. Finally be ssid, with su air Of
confidence;
"Trll sou what will DO. When you start
home whistle 10 riciFo, and II he follows
yUu be Il yours. but you will discover he
will not leave me"
took the Young fellow Of his word,
vhUtliug 10 tire dog when started. To my
drligh, and the amaEpmrnt and rhagrin q
l'=z:.a!. .a= =:s:;:;=. So. i.v; i,y-,iui-, Uul
followed me home.
uuc morning 10 early spring took down
my guu aud commenced 90 clean Il. prtro
Jay .n ihg corner watching Inc. lie knew
~ well a. ] what my every movement
mcaut
II was a glorious morning The air was
filled with the perfume Of yellow jasmine.
waited down irpu the tops Of the ,all trees.
No matter in wha; direction looked Wild
huwcrs met my eye,
si;tiaE down uu the upturncd root Of az
ancient ctpps trrc. / prepared 90 rest
awhile snd enjoy the scene TO ny hearts
cgutrut-to live IN paradise jus, for once.
don't know how long ] bad been sitting
there when, bearing q rasiliug In the tan.
glcd yines behind me. / turned my head.
The picture that met ms gaze will remain
engraved upon my memory ~ long 40 life
lbsts.
My eycs were ialslcd Ia the girl's indie
rgulablU beauty | turusj them away a.
! would from The sun, then hooked again.
Thou spcmost surprised. young stran.
grr. Verify, do hCthink me thou takcsl
me for d spifit. Thou art tall and strong.
young Hau, surely biz Of o girl has not
frightened thee ont OF thy witsg'
No, fair creature" ! replied, Il SIN MT
overcome from fright 20 much rs by sur
Prise"
Look thee. stronger, Is not this trly
lovely kingdom, aul ls such should Il hot
have o ruler! That being true. why should
not l a.. e..
miles away through the swamp. aud we call
u Jasmine Bower. Ouruiiuivs when time
hangs heavily ! turn NJ footsteps to tins
spot An hour spent here among these
hOAers drives away an care and puts nc
in a Ro1l hur1r with the w0rld--my little
world. What bring thee into my king
dom. Spsakl"
Il mn hut wandering hunter. fair lady.
| aud my dumb friend mere. patiine pieiro
on the head. Give back there across the
bayou al alone We started out this morn.
ing for hunt, Sitting down ou that ur.
turned root, gave myself up to thought,
while pietrD scized The opportunity 10 take
a nap. Hearing ustling IN the vines lie.
hind me. / turned my head and ! bchtld
the most beautiful creature that ere met the
gaze Ui man, Eud-"
Nay. nay." the girl interrupted, with q
fOwn; Gay not those words. | pray thee.
II thou wouldsl not anger me. speak not
again al my poor beauty"
Pardon NY has,y words, Miss"
"Call mc Launne."
II did not Intend TO offend Forgive me
l crave
Thou art forgiven" she smiingly replied,
again showing her perfect teeth. But thou
art ms prisoner. ! claim thee because thou
hast entered uy kingdom wiihuu, royal per.
NIT. AZ home have two brothers who, too.
are mighty hunters There Is not a deer.
bear or turkey IN all Of Tctiaw swamp the
haunt Of which they do not know. The
rsrcst fishing places they can find 90 the
darkest nights. Come with me. my stran.
ser prisoner. and any giant brlthcts shall
give thee lesson 10 woodcrait Come. and
l grant the ! win prove mos, mgrriiul
queen. Follow me-"
She started oil along a path that led to
the right, Pirtro and closely following
Lauruc ushrrld me into a beautiful room
Here aud there soft seated settets we're
tcmptingly arranged aud ysscs iiilcd with
ilowrr. stood on table near a window.
Everything about the room, from The paint.
ings IN thc wall 10 the vel Gllcd book.
CAGE. l'ctoSened refinement and taste
Presently she returned and placed before
me cake and wine and babe me larakc.
just at this Juncinrc ! heard heavy steps
IN an adjoining room. IN moment the
door opened aud IN stepped two az fine
sTrcimens 81 manhood a. ever met ms gukr.
Thee are my hfothyrs," said lAusne.
Us. Il icld this gentleman,
whom ! met in the swamp, that you we're
mighty hunters aud would show him where
70 gun, aud FISH"
AiHay were the hunts wc had together in
the depths Of the dark Wild swamp and
many were the quiet smokes We enjoyed at
night Ia thy little cabin.
Scarcely a day passed that did not 90
TO .hc tower. and GA each succeeding visit
my love lot Iaurinc grew stronger. could
think or dreum Of nothing else ave the beau.
tiful girl At times | Guuld catch myseu
talking Of her. pletro would gaze up IN ms
face with look Of wonder and injnry. The
lieye " my vcry soul be- knew what ms trua.
bic was; and, more, believe he was jealous
One morning. had known the girl three
zohihs--l TOOK particular pains with my
toilet, making myself as prrsentablo IS pos
slblr.
On reaching the hover went direct 20
the ee=y !i;;!g pafloF. =z;--tinE 20 find
I4aurine there. Picking ny a book. had
just begun to read wlqu my attention was
attracted by the rnstling Of skirts in the
hallway outside the door. just as arose
Iaurine entered the RON.
shc waH not alone. Ry her side, with his
arm arnuhd her waist, was . dappcr little
FwnchmaH whom had seen aeveral tines
a New Orleans.
What dOrs this mean, LaurineF'' de-
mknded.
Jas then Pietro give loud bark.
1vnke with = start.
II had all been hvem. -NaahviI~
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