The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1861-05-22

you dislike Richard Mayfie:d, lie is so
handsome and so talented!
4 don't fancy these merely ornamental
people, said Amy demurely. My hus.
band must be Of some use to the world
How do you know but that Mr.. May
isr
Cant be possible said Amy, archly
shaking her curls. His hands are too
small for anything but lemon color kid
gloves. I'll wager new bonnet, Alice,
that he never did anything more laborious
than to carry tox Of cigars, in his life P
Miss Brownlcigh laughed, and Amy pass
ed out of the vine-wreathed porch, won-
dering within herself whether Mr.. Richard
May field had been much vcxed because
she had refused to dance with him the even-
ing before.
Mrs. John Mayfcld's house was at no
very great distance and as Amy was quite
intimate with that lady, and understood the
domestic saturnalia that was ut present
trsnspiring within her domains, she did not
think it necessary to knock, but opened the
door and walked in without ceremony.
There stood Dick, the apex of pyrami-
dal scaffolding Of boards, his fine broad
cloath raiment obscured by a lime. .splashed
sheet which was girdled around his waist
by q ponderous knot Of rope, and his blacl;
curls over. .shadowcd by coarse old straw
hat, working away as il for dear life. His
back was toward the door and supposing
the step to be that of his sister-in-la law, he
said gaily. without turning his head
What! is the carpet ready 50 soon, Bell!
I'm just through here, and I'll come and
tack it down in one minute
Not receiving any answer, he threw down
| his brush and turned round:
| Miss Brownleigh!
He never had looked 50 handsome in his
life and that was the first thought that
rushed through Amy's mind, in the mids,
Of all her embarrassment; for Dick had the
advantage Of the young lady in this respect
she was embarrassed, and he was not.
He sprang laughingly, to the ground, and
threw off his ghostly drapcry. t
You must think have a curious taste
in costume said he archlv, but the truth
is, Isancl has been disappointed in her hir
| I'd help, and nv mother is away from
home. so am helping her clean house!'
4 did not know thought you had nc
taste stammcred Amy, unconsciously
speaking out her thoughts.
you supposed that was nothing more
than an ornamental piece Of furniture! Ask
Isabel abou. that said Dick, half piqucd
half smiling. But canI be of any use te
You now p
Il had note from my cousin, for Mrs
Mayfi,ld.' said Amy, still speaking scarcely
above her breath. r
She has gone down to the farther or.
chard,' said Dick. 1T is some distance
and not very straight path. II you will
wait until remove little of this lime,
shall be happy to escort yoa down there.
Half an hour age. Amy would have
haughtily informed him it was quite unne
cessary for her to trouble him-now sh'
stood and waited.
| 1t was long walk, under the over
spreading shadow Of noble apple trees
bending with their weight Of crimson ant
russet fruit, and through meadows ankle
deep in purple and bloom, and noddins
was quite surprised when Mrs. ayfiel,
rose checked peaches from pet tree be
yond.
We believe it is one Of woman's specia
and incontrovertible privileges to chang
her mind-thcrcfore nobody was much as
tonished when three months subsequent,
there was rumor Of the engagement q
Mr.. May field and Miss Brownleigh! Still
however, Dick always declared that it wa
an insoluble mystery to him that when sc
renadcs and schottisches, poetry and per
fumes had all failed to win an entrance t,
the maiden's heart, a whitewash brusl
should have been the unromantic weapon
which ut last brought down the barricadcs