LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN. 51 



eye-ring, — like a ruby-crowned kinglet, for 

 which, at the first glance, I mistook her. 

 If my notes made mention of any dark 

 streaks or spots underneath, I would pluck 

 up courage and hazard a glorious guess, to 

 be taken for what it might be worth. As it 

 is, I leave guessing to men better qualified, 

 for whose possible edification or amusement 

 I have set down these particulars. 



While I was pursuing the stranger, but 

 not till I had seen her again and again, and 

 secured as many " points " as a longer ogling 

 seemed likely to afford me, it began thun- 

 dering ominously out of ugly clouds, and I 

 edged toward some woodland cottages not 

 far distant. Then the big drops fell, and I 

 took to my heels, reaching a piazza just in 

 time to escape a torrent against which pine- 

 trees and umbrella combined would have 

 been as nothing. The lady of the house and 

 her three dogs received me most hospitably, 

 and as the rain lasted for some time we had 

 a pleasant conversation (I can speak for one, 

 at least) about dogs in general and particu- 

 lar (a common interest is the soul of talk) ; 

 in illustration and furtherance of which the 

 spaniel of the party, somewhat against his 



