Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1907-03-28
A Little
Ingenue
BY BELLE MANIATES
Copyright. 1905. by P. G. Eastmer

Back in the midst of q hundred oaks
0tood the rambling old farmhouse. Its
Yawn stretching into gardens, its gar,
dens into orchards, orchards into mead.
Ows and meadows into forest. In this
ideal old country place dwelt Ellhu
Wilkes, stern, puritanical old man,
his tlmid. docile wife and their or
phaned granddaughter, Helene Law
renee, who, despite the fact that her
upcomlng had been strictly and nor
rowly supervised by her grandfather
and that she had been allowed no play
mates, was blooming into a winsome,
affectionate maidenhood.
The last month had been one of de-
light 10 her One day an automobile
had broken down near the house, and
its occupant, beautiful young woman
from the city, had stayed there while
her chauffeur had returned for re-
pairs.
How Ii was accomplished was a mys
VI,
old mans consent to her becoming a
boarder at The Oaks for few weeks,
as she was I'm search of Just such q
place for rest and quiet after gay
season.
The night before her return TO her
home she took beautiful stroll through
the woods with Helene. whose eyes
rested in wistful meditation upon her
companion.
Louise" she said In soft voiced
tones. Il am lonely and sad at the
thought Of your leaving US"
"Ay dear little ingenue. l wish l
could persuade your grandfather to let
you accompany me. 1t is preposterous
TO think you have been shut up in one
place, no matter how lovely II may be,
for the whole OF your life-never to
have been to the city, even, or to have
seen any young men save the farmers
about here"
"Oh, Louise" said the young girl,
with a bright blush, II went to the
little station today. and 1 saw the
grocer. He has recently come there.
Such fine color and such beautiful
eyes! Have you seen himT'
Yes replied Louise, the muscles
of her face rigid In her effort to main
tain composure. IL went to the sta
tion the other day, and 1 saw him."
"He is going to come to the places
about here every day now to take or
ders, he says Don't you think him a
fine manT
Little ingenue, l can see how you
think him handsome, but In my world
IN the city there are far handsomer
men than he"
The young girl shook her head in
credulously.
The next day Louise Marshall left
The Oaks for her home and took Helene
with her to the station, distance of
three miles through a stretch of cool
darl. trees The little ingenue gazed
sadly after the train that was bearing
away one who had made life so diff
ferent and so interesting to her. She
had to leave the horse at the black
smiths to be shod, SO she returned on
foot through the woods. AS she walk
ed slowly beneath the canopy Of the
olive tinted leaves she heard footsteps
coming quickly behind her Ii was the
9rocerl
''I Just drove IN from the next town
and saw you as you were leaving the
depot, and overlook you to see If
nnight not walk with you"
The little ingenue was very tired
and was willing at his bidding tC
walk more slowly. When they came
10 a fallen tree he urged her TO sit
down and rest Knowing well thai
this was an opportunity that would
never come TO her again, she yielded t.
the temptation to sit down beside him
The grocer was quiet man, but she
prattled ingenuously of her life, hel
friend and her home. Once when she
turned to look at him his face was
slightly turned from her. She contem
plated with fascination his well shap
sd head, with Its dark brown hair
Suddenly he turned, his eyes looking
full into hers. She paled, and then the
warm color suffused her face and
brought shining look into her eyes.
II must 60" she murmured con
fusedly, rising.
He rose too.