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."