The Portland daily press., 1899-07-28
TIE Red Haired Girl.
An Instance Where a
Man Found 1t Safe to
Go Hack on His Girl.

i was qualified doctor and Nj. A.
spent great part OF that summers vaca-
ton at Ballater, because Lefty and her
mother had gone there for change, and,
as Lefty and l were engaged, naturally
we liked spending most of our time to-
gether.
About the oath of September, however,
we all returned to Aberdeen. and | re-
solved to spend the remaining part Of my
holidays in the Buchan district, where
had few friends So.safter saying good
by to Lefty for what seemed an inter-
minable period--though IL was only for a
fortnight took the train for Mintlaw,
where I was met by friend. who, for
convenience sake, shall call George
White.
Old Deer, which is near Mintlaw, was
an admirable center for cyclst, and, as
the weather goes was good. White and
took long spins together. 1t was toward
the end of harvest, and, although
s'stooks'' were still standing In few
fields, most farmers had already finished
leading, and it was assuredly the time for
''meal and ales."
Now, ! had never been at one of those
functions, so after spending delightful
week at Old Deer | prolonged my visit
for day to 20 to Barnhill's harvest
home George promised there would be
some fun. Barnhill was one of the lar
gest farms in the district, and this year
the ''meal aud ale" was to be big
affair.
The evening came. We drove over
rather late, and when we got there the
dancing had begun. A wooden floor had
been laid in the immense barn, the walls
We're decorated with flags and flowers
and ripe corn. and at one end was rails
ed platform for the fiddlers. At the 9TH
er end of the room huge pole had been
stuck up. on the top of which was the
"clyack sheaf." all dressed with bright
scarlet and blue ribbon
White introduced me to his host, a
short, jovial looking man. and to his two
daughters, Misses Kate and Emmy Smith,
and several others. but directly entered
the barn | became conscious of girl
with flaming red hair dressed in pale blue
muslin. who, although dancing at the
time, kept looking at me with her greet
eyes till ! felt a queer thrill go through
me and feeling as IL somewhere before
had seen that girl.
was standing by Miss Smith. / tried
to givcehor all my attention.
"You know. Mr.. Keith, this is really
the servants night" she was saying, .but
we always invite a few of our own
friends too. Then we dance here till IL
O'Clock. and after IL father makes it a
rule that the rest of us must so into the
house and leave the others to enjoy 1t up
till in the morning and sometimes even
till G."
"Tell me-" l said more hurriedly than
politely, "who is that lady dressed in pale
blue dancing with the tall, dark gentle
manT
Miss Smith laughed slightly.
THE tall gentleman is my brother and
the Girl my dearest school friend, Miss
Nora Stuart. Shall / introduce you?"
Although fascinated in n certain way,
/ thought of Lefty and did not particu-
larry wish an introduction, but now !
could not well refuse, and soon i was
dancing with the redhaired girl.
There was an indescribable something
that made her very attractive and kept
me by her side, and again and again as
she talked she made me think that l had
met and known her somewhere before,
but memory would not help me. And
soon did not think of that, but felt only
happy to live in the present and know
her and talk to her now.
The hours few swiftly by. i had
danced with her nearly the whole even
ing and scarcely left her side. Twelve
O'Clock came. Miss Stuart and were in
the garden. The harvest moon was shin
ing brightly and from the barn came the
distant music of the iddles and concer.
tinas. We walked along the narrow path.
T. The roses are almost over" she said.
< "Oh, no! There is one yet The last
rose of summer 1t is yellow one. Let
me get it for YOU"
I, ''Thank your
I She stuck it in her dress.
: you know" she said laughingly, r.
em so fond of roses, but l can never wea.
them"
!, Artlessly she touched her hair, and /
understood. 1t was not even auburn-it
was decidedly red-but Just then /
thought it the most beautiful had ever
peen.
!, at is great misfortune" she went on.
ION the contrary, it is a blessing" l
fastened to reply. "That is just my IA
yorite color, and think 1t very beautiful,
and l also think blue muslin gown the
prettiest in all the world when certain
person wears it."
Lefty was far away. l had completely
forgotten her existence.
You fiattererw she said, smiling.
Then she tapped her foot impatiently
upon the ground and frowned. But men
are all alike. They have no constancy,
no stability. They are tossed about by
every wind that blows, taken by every
fresh face they see. have no patience
with them-none! Come, let us go into
the house."