Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The west shore. (Portland, Or.) 1875-1891 | View Entire Issue (July 1, 1886)
206 THE WEST SHORE. JOAN'S TRAMP. WHAT aro you Buying, Mitts Heath? Pray give us all tlio benefit of ymr remarks, and we'll pay tlio closest attention." The speakor, a young man of some five-and-twenty summers, was la.ily reclining on tlio gross-carpeted ground, his back resting against a stono, fallen at some distant period from thn ruined tower that furnished the shade in which the whole party was grouped. It was a pio-nio party. The meal being finished the partakers thereof had loft the turfy enclosure which had served as a dining room, to settle down in this shady corner, hero to wait until the heat should diminish, for the sun was shining with almost tropical intensity. " Certainly, Mr. Emerson," said tlio young lady ad dressed, who made an agreeable picture, iu her pink cot ton dross, shown up by the dark background of ivy. " I merely said that I know why Nellie Ileriot is not here. Her nerves havo not recovered since the terrible fright she had day lefore yesterday." "Indeed?" drawled a young Hercules, whoso eyes had Immui glued to the fair Heakor. " How interesting! Pray tell us what it was." " A ghost?" askod the youngest girl present. t " Oraspirit messago through the dining nxm table?" asked Emerson. " Neither," said Phyllis Heath. " Slio met with a tramp when out walking, and ho terrified her into giv ing him everything of any valuo she had alnnit her waUdi, rings, purse and a little locket she woro around her nook. Killy girl! to go for so long a walk alouo. I never do." "I should think not," said young Hercules, other wise Carter Abbott. M Hut I wonder," remarked a quiet girl iu brown, " that she did not scream for help or run away. Phyl lis says she was so frightened that sho handed over ev erything like a hunk" "How dreadful!" said another. " It makes one feel quite nervous." "MUs Heriot must be exceedingly foolish, I think," stillly aaid Prudeneo Heath, elder HtHtr to Phyllis. " What should you havo done in her place, Miss Heath, if I may venture to ask?" And the dark eyes of Kano Emeraon danced misiheviously under the hat he hod pullet! low, to ward off a wandering Buubeam which had squeeiod iu way through a chiuk in the old gray pila "I nevor walk alone," Prudence replied in a curt ' tone. "I ahould hare fainted, I am lure, Kane," aaid Lot ti Eineraon. - Don't doubt it, my dear," he aaid dryly, especially II you taw help ooming." Lottie laughed. " How disagreeable and aarcastio brothers are! You are wjr silent, J,an, what are you thinking of; what would you have done under like circumstance? " She turned as she spoke to a tall, fair, graceful girl, seated upon a projecting corner of stone. Her large hat lay on her knee, that she might more conveniently lay her head against the hard wall. Many eyes followed Lottie's in the pause that fol lowed her question, but the ones that contained the most interest were those of Kane Emerson and Fred Len thall, his friend, a thoughtful looking man of apparently thirty. " I would not havo given up a thing," said Joan, with a half scornful smile, " I Bliould have knocked the fel low down." A burst of laughter followed, but Emerson said under his breath " I5y George, I believe she would." "Thnt comes from going in for gymnastics," said Phyllis Heath, looking pensively at her own little deli cate wrist " I am afraid that if I hit a man I shouldn't hurt him." Joan's red lips took a more disdainful curve, but Car ter Abliott, who had been gradually edging himself nearer to the object of his intense admiration contrived to whisper " Wouldn't you, though ! You've hit me, and it hurts awfully." Phyllis ignored him and continued to Joan " What a pity you're not a man, dear! I'm quite afraid of you, I declare, you aro so perfectly strong and masculine." "Tlio little humbug!" said Emerson, aside, to his friend, and added aloud: "If that is true, Miss Kennot, you will not mind climbing with me to the top of one of the towers. The view is worth the trouble. Are you too much afraid of the heat? " "Oh, no; I am quite willing," Baid Joan, rising, in perfect unconsciousness of the cloud that instantly dark ened the brow of Fred Lenthnll. " Come, Lottie," and sho passed her nrra through thnt of Kane's sister, " I know that you are not more afraid of freckles than I am." Tho cloud passed from the face of Leuthall, to rest for a second on that of Emerson, who, however, was equal to tfie occasion. " Fred," he said instantly, you must come and help Lottie up the difficult steps." The four were soon mounting the dark, worn atone steps. They paused to tnkn hranth of 4i, fi - w m v u wo uiov i ciuaiuo of a landing, and looked out from a deep embrasure at mo uiuo my-coverea moat. " Now, Mr. Lenthall," aaid Lottie, " let us be in front tills time. I know We can 0t nn tnnro nnioVIv tLn they da" He was compelled to follow. Trnn urn a nVtMit wy An the same, when Emerson stopped her. btay a minute, please. Mm - j uuuu nun iuv uo a ioi on this window seat," he said, suiting the action to the i iwiHioa my ankle slightly coming up. It will be all right directly."