The Lincoln County herald., 1870-10-27
CAUGHT IN THE RAIN,
OR,
As LUCK WOULD HAVE 1T.

VAUWA 4N LkN Nh1N
As LUCK woTLD HAvElr.
Sprikle | rain I shower right down on
Miliie Warmers tasteful little hat and
graceful little shoulders, unprotected save
By thin shawl, Notwithstanding the be
seeching glance OF the prettiest pair oi
hazel eyes that ever looked up to clouds
10 that way.
When Miflie came to large white
farm house, she very gladly, and rathei
hastily-for just then there was a heavy
peal Of handicapped che gate, and
vent up the flower bordered path to the
house, and - smother peal Of thunder
Was heard, accompanied by . vivid fash
Of lightning, Millie entered without cere.
mony. She took in At glance the con-
tents Of the room, plainly, but neatly fur.
nished-the cane seated chairs, the pretty
chints covered lounge, the book case
filed with books and sheet music the
violin 10 its case 10 the corner, the vase
OF faded flowers, aud the ornaments on the
mantle. There was no one there. but she
heard . childish voice in the next room
and again Knocked. A dark eyed girl OF
ten or twelve years opened the door.
Millie explained Why she was there
With tho ease and good manners of one
much older. tho child bade her welcome
placed . chair near the stove and took
Miles dripping hat and shawl.
II was just beginning to get dinner
that WAS the reason I didu't hoar you
knock. Il will be long time before the
shower is over, and you must stay with
Us to dinuer. 1t will be ready by the
time Ben comes; but that will not be fol
an hour"
"Es diuuie'lI be weddy when Ben
tums;" lisped and laughed little girl Of
three years.
The older child, whose name was
Hetty, resumed:
II can't get . very good dinner;
amt quite old enough, but Ben says l dc
nicely. He puts it on for me, and see
to it. But he does not allow me to take
off kettles. for fesr I will burn or scale
myself; but think l am large enough
to do that. I like to have everything
ready for him when he comes in tired ant
hungry. l cant make biscuits-I wish
could. for Ben likes them ever 80 much
but Martha, who comes 10 to make breaG
for us, says sbe will teach me-"
"Where 10 your mother?" asked Millit
Of little Eva, when Hetty wus out Of the
room.
1--WE is got no mudder but Ben," the
little one lisped.
When netty came back Milly said:
Nov have got nicely warmed, and
my dress will dry just as we'll at work q,
sitting still SO l will help you get din
ner. If you like l will mako some bis
cult, and We will have dinner in a very
short time"
IIetty was delighted. Ben will bt
glad. Might she look on and learn how
Millie was young, and frank, and gay
and she and the children soon became very
we'll acquainted over the biscuit. She said
presently, trying . potato with fork
"The potatoes arc done. l will pou1
the water of so, and then put them ol
sgsin to dry. That will make then
mealy. In few minutes we will Pea
them and then dinner will be ready, ex
cept taking il up"
The dinner seemed very meager to littl
Hetty as she ran over the items in he
municipalities, peas, pork, biscuit
butter, ouo1mbers, milk and water. Sh
had wanted to make tea tor her visitor
hut she declined decidedly. The poo
child said apologetica
"Wheu father and mother we're alive
We used to have . good many things 70
dinner. and Martha, our hired girl, use'
to get them all but when they died, an
Squire Johns said be bought mortgag
on our farm, and that We had got to pa
every cent the day it was due, or los
everything, We had to do without goo
many things, and We are very poor nov
and Ben is afraid'we can't have enoug
to pay for il, and they all say We ma
look for no mercy from Squire john
for he is. very hard on the poor, and b
has. alw.ys wanted our farm. because
Joins some Of his own land where b
J wants to build. I heard all about
when one Of the neigbbors was talkfn
with our Dsu, .hough be did"'' want n
to know about it,"
Millie had listened to this with cur
ous mixture Of feelings, for Squire Joh'
Twas . declared lover Of hers, aud thoue
, she had aot yet accepted him, she ha
been pleased with bis attentions. and b,
certainly gives him encouragement
Moreover, he was to receive his final o.
. swes in three days from that time, 81
|she vas not sure that che answer reserve
and laid away for that time was mo
True. Millie was not in love with hiI
but she had waited 70 long for that q
4 static state Of feeling she had read OIL
heard 90 much about, thought she vi
not capable Of leve, and to like any o
was as much as she could expect. B
she certainly liked Squire Johns as VI
Z if not better than any one, and his 10
= must certainly be disinterestcd, for
L. k.A Nsl