Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1913-07-25
A Chance Encounter,
CHAPTER I.

not TO get In my Way!
The tide was at its ebb; the boats
stranded afar, and the lad addressed
had started. with tish-his wage
IN one hand, to walk to shore, when,
passing into the shadow OF the ram
part of the Governors Mount, from
She opposite direction white horse
swung suddenly around a corner OF
the stone masonry and bore directly
tfpon him. He had but time TO step
aside; as it was, the animal grazed
his shoulder, and the boy about to
give utterance to a natural remon-
strance, lifted his eyes to the offend
er. The words were not forthcoming;
surprised, he gazed at tiny girl, OF
about eleven, perched fairy-like on the
broad back of the heavy steed.
Don't you know you ought not to
rlset in my way?" she repeated i'm
.periously.
The boy. tall, dark, unkempt as a
young savage, shifted awkwardly; his
black eyes, restless enough ordinarily,
expressed a sudden shyness in the
presence of this unexpected and
dainty creature.
'T-didn't see you," he half stam-
mered.
We'll, you should have!" And again
the little lady frowned, shook her dis
ordered golden curls disapprovingly
and gazed at him, look OF censure
an her brown eyes. But perhaps you
don't know who | am" she went on
with lift of the patrician doll-like
features. 81 don't think you do, or
you wouldn't stand there like a
t,ooby. without taking off your hat"
More embarrassed. he removed q
worn cap while she continued to re
gard him with the reverse OF ap
Droval. II am the Comtesse Elise,'
she observed; the daughter of the
Governor of the Mount"
"Oh!" said the boy, and his glance
shifted to the most important and in
lsiistent feature of the landscape.
Carrying its clustered burden OF
houses and palaces. a great roch
reared itself from the monotony ol
the bare and binding sands. Now ar
oasis In the desert. ere night was
over he knew the in-rushing waters
would convert 1t into an island; claim
1t for the sea! A strange kingdom
yet a mighty one. it belonged alter
Buately to the land and to the ocean
With the sky. however, 1t enjoyed
y9erpetual affiliation, for the heaven!
were ever wooing It; now winding
pretty ribbons of light about its air
drawn castles; then kissing 1t will
the tender, soft red glow OF celestia
&ervor.
Yes; live right on top among tn,
clouds, In castle, with dungeons un
stierneath, where my father puts tn,
had people who don't like the MOBILES
and King Louis XVI. But where,
,categorIcally. do you live?"
His gaze turned from the points
and turrets and the clouds she spok
of-that seemed to linger about tn
lofty summit-to the mainland, per
haps a mile distant.
"There!" he said, and specificall,
indicated dark fringe. like clou,
on the lowlands.
'In the woods! How odd!" Sh
looked at him with faint interes,
And don't the bears bother you
Once when / wanted to see what tn
woods were like. my nurse told m
they were filled with terrible bear
who would eat up little girls. don
tlave nurse any MORE" irrelevantly
~'oniy governess who came from tn
court of Versailles, and Beppo. d
YOU know Beppo?"
Mo"
II don't like him." she contidec
He is always listening. But why d
you live in the woods?"
"Because!" The reason failed hin
"And didn't you ever live anywher
-aise?"
A shadow crossed the dark youn
face. "Once," he said.
Il suppose the bears know you,
she speculated. "and that is the re,
son they let you alone. Or, perhap
they are like the wolf in the fair,
tale. Did you ever hear of the kin,
hearted wolff"
He shook his head.
my nurse used to tell 1t to m,
Well. once there was boy who wa
IAN orphan and everybody hated hin
So he went to live in the forest an
there he met wolf. Where are yo
going, little boy?' said the wolf. M
where said the boy; I have no home
No home' said the kind-hearte
wolf; then come with me, and yo
shall share my cave Isn't that
nice story?"
He looked at her in a puzzled maj
uer. Il don't know" he began. whe
ahe tossed her head.
"What a stupid boy!" she exclaime
severely. A moment she studied hi
tentatively through her curls, fro
the vantage point OF her elevate
iGeat. That's big fish," she r
marked. after o Dadse.