Year: 1875

uJ PA0CeA "UAoiAF7 SNAS WY; S~ o-A1
on the day OF my departure asked
and received permission to go I'M
watched and alone. Used to my
freaks, mamma asked no questions
but gave me some advice-''to wea,
a thick veil in the cars, not to take
my gloves off, and not to wink al
any one" As though I ever know
ingly did wink!


My own sisters would not have
known the little brown mouse Of q
! girl that sat so demurelyin the car on
its way to Rockbridge. I had or,
dered a wig made of bright red
hair, and it WAS q very marvel in
its way. Short, crisp, fiery curls
covered my head closely, we'll down
on the neck, and twining lovingly
around my ears. A dress of water
proof of the most ungraceful cut
and make, green glasses, shoes and
gloves two sizes too big, and with
the exception of mouth and com
plexion, I was hideous. Auntie
would not believe that it was my
self, until I had shown her my eyes,
and spoken to her several times.


There was not q soul on the
place that had ever seen me, except
aunt and uncle; and as they called
me ''Lorlei," the servants never sus-
pected that T was the Frank llorri-
son they had heard so much Of from
the young masters. There were few
neighbors, and I rather avoided
them. For the first time in my
, life I was ugly, and consequently
happy. I rode the horses, sat on the
barnyard fence during the milking,
fed the chickens, ate apples and
new butter, took long walks in the
woods, and my big feet and scarlet
hair never invited o second glance
from any one I passed. What
happy, jolly days they we're to me,
only those who are blessed with
too much beauty and long to flee
from the consequences can imagine.


One morning I took book, and
going through the orchard, follow
ed the stream to q favorite nook,
lay down, and laughed the pretty,
musical laugh that was at once o
pleasure and a bane. I laughed to
think of myself in this rig in an
opera-box; and looking at the
water, I said, "Why not be a real
Lorlei' for a while?" No sooner
thought than done. Off came the
clumsy shoes and knitted stockings,
and holding my dress up I went
splashing in the shallow waters. I
stepped on big stone; it rolled
with me, and I sat down costly in
the middle of the brook, wet to my
waist, and my dismay finished by
the heartiest laugh you can imagine.
Looking at part of the bank that
I had not before noticed, I saw q
gentleman, in sporting dress, hold,
ing a fshing-rod in one hand and
waving the other at me in the most
genial and pleasant manner. 1t
might hare been that my eyes did
not match my hair; at any rate, I
flncied that he stopped laughing
rather suddenly, and coming close
down to the water stood cycling
me inquiringly. I had been angry at
first; but my usual sense of humor
came to my aid, and sitting there,
with the tapping water full about me,
I held my sides, and laughed with
him until I was tired, and my cheeks
| glowed like two roses.


"Well,' he finally said, stopping
to laugh at every word or two, ''you
have succeeded in your loudly e1'
pressed wish, and made veritable
:Lorlei' Of yourself" "


"Did you hear me?" I Iasked, feel.
ing for the first time o little shy,
and rising slowly to my feet. He
saw that I could not come out OF
the water in my bare feet, and
laughing still, he answered:


"Yes. But I fear you will con
tinue a water-nymph until I am
gone, 50 goodbye" And as sudden
ly as he had come, he disappeared.


I put on my shoes, and made the
best of my way back to the house.
Aunt Hetty laughed at me when ]
told her of my adventure, but stared
when I described the man.


"Bless me, child" she said, 1T is
Walter Gray, who lives on the next
farm, or rather owns it, and lives in
New York. T did not know he was
at home.


The days few byon golden wings
every one seemed more happy than
the last. I took an apronful Of
peaches and book, and lay down
in the hammock under the elm fol
a lazy time one morning. I was
scarcely settled when I heard auntie
calling me, and then steps coming
near to me. I raised myself, and
who should be with her but thai