Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1870-06-09
Only a Country Girl.
BY JAMES LESTER.

BY JAMES LESTER.
"You are mistaken I would rather die
than marry mere country girl"
"But, Fred, suppose her intelligent, full
of natural poetry, tender-hearted, grace
full, unspoiled by admiration, guileless,
simple, loving creature ?"
ooh" said Fred, laughing, "choice Sc
lection of virtues and grace. Country beau
ties are always sweet, and so are country
cows. No, tell you if she was as lovely
as an angel, with the best sense in the
world, still if unskilled in literature and
music, with no soul above churns and
knitting needles, I would not marry her
for fortune"
cha, ha ~ laughed Helen Irving. Hid
den by the trunk of tree, she sat read
ing, within few feet of the egotist.
In another moment the young lady
came in sight. Fred's face crimsoned,
and he whispered in visible trepidation,
"Dn you think she heard me?"
"No." rejoiDed the other audiby-"she
shows no resentment; she has not even
looked from her book. You are safe"
Leaning on one white arm, the old oak
around her, she sat quite at ease, appar-
emily unconscious that two handsome
Young gentlemen were near her.
Approaching with a low bow, upon
which his mirror had set the faultless
elegance, Frederic Lane took the liberty
of asking if the young lady would inform
him where Mr.. Irving lived
With an innocent smile the lady looked
up.
Mr. Irving, the only one living in the
village, is my father" said she, rising in a
graceful and charming manner. "The
large house on high ground, half hidden
by trees and thick shrubbery; there i
where we live"
Fred replied with very graceful boy.
"Tell your father" said he, =" / shall 10
myself the honor to call on him to-m,r-
row. He will remember me,-Frederick
Lane. at your SERVICE"
Eyes, sir, will tell him." said Helen,
tucking her sleeves around her pretty
arms, and making rather formal curtesy
Then catching up her books and gathering
the scattering flowers, she hurried home.
Now father, mother, aunt, and sis,
exclaimed the merry girl, bounding into
the room where the family wero at sup.
per, " so sure as you and live, that MIR
Lane you talk so much about is in the vii
i4ge. He will call here to-morrow-the
first specimen of a city beau, las, OF course,
he will be,l all sentiment, refinement
faultless in kid and dickey, important
and self-assured one OF the KIND can
possibly be. Promise me, all OF you, that
you will net lisp one word about music
reading and writing in his presence, be.
cause I have a plan. Father will not,
know and if you, sis, will be quiet and
ask no questions, I will give you that
work box you have coveted so long"
"Why, on that condition Pill be as still
as mouse, but what's the reason ?"
"Oh that's my owa business" said
Helen, dancing out of the room.
Helen sat at the open window, through
which roses thrust their blushing buds,
making both sweet shade and a fragrance
The canary overhead burst forth every
moment in wild snatches of glorious
music. Helen was at work on long blue
stockings, nearly finished, and her fingers
few like snow birds.
"You knit most admirably. Are you
fond of it ?"
Eyes, quite; like it better than any
thing else-that is, | mean | can chura
we'll"
"And do you read much ?" Freds
glance had Travelled from the corner Of
his eyes to every table, shelf and corner
in search of books and papers, but not
page, yellow or red, repaid his search.
HOh, yes," said Helen, with a sanctifisd
air.
"What books permit me to ask"
at .rooI 4hr p;b1a q o,on1 1aal ~ sba aid
gravely.
as that all ?"
"All! of course not-yet what do you
not find in the Bible History, poetry,
eloquence, romsnee-the most thrilling
pathos" blushing and recollectlng her-
self. she added in a manner as childish as
it had before been digniied, "As for other
books, let me see what have got In my
library-there's the Primer, counting on
her fingers,) Second-class Reader. Robin
son Cruise, Nursery Tales two or three
Elements of something, Biography OF
some person or other, Mothers Magazine,
and King William III. There, isn't that
a good assortment 7"
| Fred smiled.
"Perhaps / do not know as much as
those who have been to school more, she
added, as if disappointed at the mute re-
| joinder "but in making bread, chnrning
butter and keeping house, am not 10 De
out-done."
The young man felt more in pity IMAM
in love, but his visits did not always 50
result. He began to feel magnetic az
traction, and he mainly attributed ~ "
Helen's beauty; but the truth H. nee
sweetness and artless character, engaging
manner and disposition, quite won ehe
city-bred arstocrat, Fred Lane Anere
was a freshness about everything she saio
or did. She perplexed as well as de1gns-
ed him.
Often as he was wondering how some
homely expression would be received IN
society, some beautiful sentiment Wouid
suddenly drop like pearl from her ups,
as remarkable for originality as for Drill
liancy. :.
"If should fall into the snare" thought
he, II can educate her; it will be worth
trying"
i It is useless to combat the tender pas
sion SO at last he fell at Helens feet,
fguratively speaking, and confessed his
love for her.
81 care not, Helen, only be mine was
his invariable answer to her declaration
of unworthiness, show you would appear
in society"
They were married, had returDd from
their wedding tour, and yet, at tbeexplr
alton of their honeymoon, Fred W. more
in love than ever. At a grand eueertaln'
ment given by the relatives of tb@ bride
/ groom, Helen looked still more b9utIfui
Her husband did not insist that sbe should
depart from SIMPLIFY, and indeed in the
the absence of all iewelry in her, simple
white robe, she was by far the p4t love
IL creature in tho room. /!