Year: 1872

laugh.


"It is thirty years." he at length be
gan, "since the incident which | am
about to relate occurred. was just Of
age, and in my third college year. Dur
ing my whole college course it was my
custom to take long walk every day
about sunset. In the summer my RAM
bles we're usually about the suburbs OF
the city, and often extended some dis
tance into the country. Where the
houses were scattering and lawns gar
dens and shade trees intervened, would
wander about for hours, filling my lungs
with the pure, exhilarating air, and
feasting my eyes upon the beauties of
nature.


Away out on one of the smaller tho
roughfares, where gardens began to
broaden into farms, and the din of the
city gave place to the music of feather
ed songsters and lowing herds, one day
stumbled upon retired villa which
! greatly excited my curiosity, as well as
admiration.


The house was small and unpretending
though tastefully designed, the chief
beauty of the place being in the artistic
arrangement of the grounds. Each flow
er bed, pond, summer-house, shade-tree,
shrub and winding-walk, was perfect in
its way, and all blended into one picture
of exquisite loveliness. Nowhere in all
my rambles had l seen flowers in such
variety and perfection.


/ visited the locality several times, but
saw no person about the premises. The
house might, or might not be inhabited,
so far as | could judge from its outward
appearance, but the almost oppressive
quiet and stiffness which surrounded the
place, led me to the conclusion that it
was uutenanted. A high picket fence
enclosed the grounds, all the gates of
which were securely locked.





the latter part of summer, as | stood in
the road admiring the flowers, the rich
perfume of which was waited to me by
a gentle breeze, mad desire to enter
the garden and to Gull a boquet from its
floral treasures, suddenly possessed me-
Being of an impulsive. advepture-loving
temperament, | at once determined to
explore the place and to ascertain if the
dwelling was really unoccupied. With
so reckless youngster as | then was, to
think was to act, and quickly climbing
a large tree which stood near the fence
at one side, easily let myself down by
its branches inside the enclosure.


From their midst the grounds seemed
even more enchanting than when viewed
from the road. The wealth of color
which was displayed at every hand,
was positively bewildering. Wandering
about by the nicely graveled walks, at
every turn, | came upon some new object
of beauty, some unexpected and novel
arrangement, the exquisite effect Of
which kept me in constant state of
surprise and admiration. Everywhere
were presented marks of constant care,
yet could discover no indications that
the house was then occupied. ! soon be-
. al baA IN, ha mo inr of
the rare and curious flowers and shrubs,
and in the study of the plan of the
grounds, that the time flew by unheed-
ed. ! might have spent hours there un,
wearied had | not at length been warn
ed by the appros ching darkness that it
was time for me TO return to the city,
| had gathered an armful Of the loveliest
flowers that could find, and seating my.
self on the grass, hastily commenced
tying them into boquet, specializing
the while as to the probable reason that
so beautiful place was left vacant.


But was not destined to finish my
: bdsh. ouuuSul1 was aiouocu iioth III J
revere by furious barking in the di.
rection of the house, and springing to
my feet, | caught glimpse of rather
ftrmindable looking dog who was max
ing for me alta rate of speed that was not
agreeable TO contemplate. Evidently
there was little time for delay on my part
and dropping my flowers, | proceeded to
make myself scarce with degree of ce-
lerity that astonished even myself.


did not attempt to follow the wind.
ing paths, but struck straight course
for the point of my entrance. was ac-
knowledged to be the best runner in col
lege, but / now discovered powers of To-
comotion that no one had ever suspect
ed me of poss6 ssing.


Away / few, now attempting to leap
flower bed and invariably alighting in
its center, anon tearing through hedge
of rose bushes. vividly conscious of the
truth of the old saw that every rose
conceals thorn At every step my
light summer clothes sustained rents Ion
|, gitudinal, Transverse, sectional and COM