Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1866-05-19

| powdered ice into the creamF
| "Aint'tha right, squire J" demanded the
puzzled Jehoram, with wide open eyes.
fright? Whateveris, is right, lsuppose,"
said Maurice ironically bitter. 'Do me the
! favor to empty that stuff out in the road,
while | try to get a little Of the sand Oil
these strawberries" ...... g.....I- I-...
To describe the thoughts that eddied
through his mind as he washed and hulled
the luscious red strawberries, would be a
futile attempt. ~ ra l0 ....l...F T..
"Half-past three and Aunt Becky not
GOMEZ he calculated aloud. "What can
the reason be?' "
"Wal !" said Jehoram, who was just pre-
pairing to depart, II think its extremely
likely the reason is cause she broke her
wrist last nightw
More evil luck I" thought Montroy; as
lie watched the old cOuntryman drive
away. .... .. s.. q. ....... ..... n
"Well there's one good thing I've got a
broom and pail, and there's plenty of good
spring water"
And Maurice Montroy wentdiligently TO
work to deluge the pine board floor with
water, and splash it in various directions
with his broom
"There!" said Maurice, triumphantly,
''the floor is clean; but -" ...E
He stood silent and aghast as he viewed
the bespattered wall and woodwork dark
ened with mud.
~ must whiten 'em up q little" he
thought. "It's only five O'Clock, and there's
plenty of time. | wouldn't have the girls
think | kept house in this style for any
amount of money! I'll just 90 out for
little lime and whitewash brush"
Maurice Montroy was not born Yankee,
but he had all the enterprise and resolu-
ton commonly supposed to belong to the
Inhabitants of the New England States. He
covered his black curls with an antique hat
bristling with rebeliiOus straws, and brim-
less on one side; pinned an old sheet Sc
curely around him, and went to work
mounted on pile of books placed upon a
chair, and the chair elevated upon table.
Rather shaky," thought Maurice, dipping
his brush into the whitewash pail and Civ
ing it a business-like flirt AT the same
instant the books slipped-the chair turned
overland Maurice MOntroy found himself
on the floor, with his head violently jam
med into the basket of strawberries, a
bruised elbow, and sprained ancle
And alone-all alone! ...
The little law Office was quite q half mile
distant from the village; help seemed al
most inaccessible; and as the purple twi-
light softly descended over the June land
/
that had never before visited his brave
young heart!
He dragged himself with painful slow
ness to the window, but even the slight eX-
ertion made him feel faint and sick. One
figure only was visible in the soft half-light
"a slender figure, hurrying past with a
fOOtstep he well knew.
"Adela! Mrs. Waynem .
The young widow paused, in listening
attitude-apparently she had confused the
voice with the tone of birds and insects
and far off bells. Maurice raised his ac-
cents: ~. .. ..
"Adela! For Heavens sake help mel"
/ "Maurice! What has hapT ened?"
The next moment she aud little Ruth
were in the room and at his side.
Don't look so pale and frightened, Ade-
Ia" he said, half laughing. Its nothing
serious, only bad Spain. Why, Adela, one
would think was dying"
The color came back once more, in a
crimson tide to her deathly-white cheek
Adela was her busy, hopeful self once
again. Little Ruth ran for the doctor,
while Adela bathed the cold dew from
MOntrOy's forehead with cologne, and help
ed him to the big leather-covered easy
chair and proceeded to ''straighten up"
theroom, after swift, tidy process known
only to woman-kind, while Maurice
watched her with soft strangely interested
eyes. ........
"Adelan
us the ankle worse again? Let me wet
| the bandages in cod water once more"
No, it isn't that. | was only thinking
l."
"Of what?"
"rll tell you by and by. 1 wish the par
| ty was in ,JpricOI"
'"Why,' Maurice? We shall do very
we'll. tell you have sentfOr fresh straw
berries, and Mrs. Grant will send you plen-
ty of delicious cream, and I'll prepare the
lemonade presently, and some of the cake
is very nice. Shall light the lampsg'
"Yes, if you will. But don't you see,
Adela, how much nicer my party would be
if had only one guest" ....
"What nonsense, Maurice"
"Come here Adela Closer; don't be so
shy, my little bird. The old doctoris plod-
ding up the hill, and shan't have another
opportunity to ask you question that |
have wanted to ask this long time" '.
About the ice-cream Maurice?"
"No--not exactly. Adela, il seems very
sweet and strange to hear your footStepsin
this lonely room; want to have you here
always-I want you to promise to be my
wife. Quick, puss--the doctor is at the gate.
Will you promiseW .n-e..l .n flr
"Maurice, you are too sudden"
| ,"AmI? Well suppose it's my nature
Il never did anything like other people
yet But do love you, Adela. Promise
me-" i. . ..e-r a.fr / rf .fu. i. . ...., .,..,
~ PROMISE" ........... .......-.. -,
| And Adela's sweet face was in a flush of
roses all over, as the pompOus old village
doctor entered, leading little Ruth by the
| hand.
| "Ah, d sprained ancle, ehl' Very uh-
fortunate, Mr.. Montroy--very untortu-
nate,n said the doctor soiemnly. E.agl,
7 But Maurice's face looked like anything
bin the world but an echo of the doctors
condoling words.
| The party gradually assembled, kindly
taking no notice of the piebald condition Of
the walls. The Strawberries and cream
were delicious, the lemonade unexception-
able; and Maurice Montroy, in his big,
leather-cushioped easy chair, the gayest and
most cordial of hosts. The bellies of the
village were radiant in muslins, grapes and
tarlatans. Emily Millerton looked partic-
| ularly WELL But they were all rather dis
posed to sneer at Adela Wayne in her plain
black barege. .,h
| '"What on earth possessed you to invite
! her ?"' said Helen Graham. 7rgT2
"Fll tell you.a secret Nell, said Maurice
in an arch half whisper. I'm going to
have another party pretty soon." ErS :,
| "Another party y al. gat ..n.lg -.os,
! "Yes--a party given to celebrate my
marriage. I'm going to be married,
Neil - No,, I.' LNoG .vi9H.