The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1916-06-30
the GIRL WITH
BEAUTIFUL HAIR
Story Of a Mans Love and
His DiSiIIusionment.

We were both laying at the same
summer resort in he mountains, she at
the hotel opposite mine. The only young
men In the place were few college
students. and never saw her with any
of them. Apparently they were too ju-
venile for her.
| never tired of looking at her and
wondering about her. She was quaint,
and when | have said that | have said
all | can say by way of description.
Her room fronted mine. Before ap-
pearing dressed for the afternoon and
evening she would stand before her
mirror combing her hair. And such
hair! 1t was ravishing. Its depth and
length were only to be compared to a
high cataract. On one occasion when
she was walking from the window
saw that it swept the floor. Every aft
ernoon at | would take my position
at my window. close the blind so as not
to be observed and watch through the
Stats for her to display her magnificent
tresses.
One evening, returning from walk
in the mountains, l passed the Devils
well. A stream tumbled over a ledge,
and beneath was a basin which small
boys said had no bottom. 1t was the
well. AS | approached woman came
from beside it, and through the dusk l
recognized the girl opposite" She was
alone and long way from the village.
You are out late" | said, "for a
woman. Aren't you afraidT
THE place fascinates me-" she re
piled, with II gasp. II was dreaming
Is 1t very late?'
Eight o'clock, ana the twilight is not
so long as 1t was earlier in the sum
mer."
you are gentleman; l know you
are. There Is freemasonry between
ladies' and gentlemen which circum
stances cannot do away with. I'm sure
can trust you to take me to the hotel
"You may, certainly"
She put ber arm through mine, cling
ing to me as though frightened at the
loneliness of the place We walked
! between towering rocks and along the
margin of the stream, which now boil
ed and dubbed and now resolved itseli
into little lagOons. Coming to a bridge
under which it flowed, she stopped anG
leaned on the rail, but not releasing
her hold on my arm. The full moor
shone through the narrow gorge.
Isn't it beautifulY" she said, turning
her face to mine.
The moonlight softened her complex
ion. 1t lighted her eyes. Her lips were
in close proximity to mine Wha
could ] do? What did do? | kisset
them.
what have you done?" she walled
II have trusted to your honor, and yol
have taken advantage of poor girl II
this lonely spot"
"Forgive me-" | said. THE tempta
ton was too much for me. | will no
offend again"
"Oh, that you should have forgotten
that you are a gentlemanw
But | will remember it hereafte
and that you are lady"
She walked on.~~Not for n momen
did she cease TO cling to me. leanin!
more and more upon me as we pro
ceeded. She seemed tired, for, thougl
! bore great deal of the weight,
could not get her on except at snail'
pace. Every now and again. when w
reached spot where the stream woun
far below us and the face OF the roc
shot up far above us, she would p0us
and, leaning on guard rail. look ou
upon the moonlit scene, apparently fol
getful of the hour or her distance froi
her hotel. And l, too, was forgetful
forgot more than once that l was
gentleman with a lady under my prt
lection, and n kiss was the result c
each failure to remember.
Was 1t the wildness of the place G
the girl that cast spell over me? A
any rate was bewitched, 1t was nea
midnight when we reached her hot'
and stood In dark corner Of tn
piazza, | holding her hand and pou
Ing forth torrent of words, every on
glowing with love. Then after raj
turous kiss she stole into the hous
while | went across the road and u
to my room.
caught sight of my face In the mi
ror. My eyes were as wild as the el
virons of the Devils we'll My hea
was beating like drum. wondere
If the girl was not denlzen of Il
spot so aptly named. Was not her sta
at the hotel opposite n pretense, ht
real home at the bottom of the well?
AS looked at my excited Image ii
spell fell away and cursed myse
for fool, Undressing, got into be,
leaving open the shutter, and the moo
shone through the window. | wa
again In the gorge. We were standin
ON the bridge. was enthralled.
The next morning fed. Before m
of the guests had risen l was on
train steaming for the city. When
reached It l dragged myself into Il