Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1870-12-24
How Fred Found a Wife.

mon Parlapce, "catch." Wealthy, high
toned, rising lawyer, every body court.
ed him. He had passed his twen, y-eighth
year in the vain hope OF finding some
paragon who would enchant his senses,
and prove to he bis ideal, In the search
after this yet undisco, cred perfection, he
had become weary. AT last one early
summer day he found himself at Maple
wood, . beautiful village among the
hills. He was delighted with its sur
roundings, and resolved TO remain day
Or two at the little inn.
To his amaZement, he found fruit for
breakfast, though it was still June, .Jt
is like living in Paris" be said TO him
self, slipping his coffee. "These straw
berries are the best ever ate" he re-
marked to Il q landlady. "Do they grow
in your garden?"
"Oh, no! these are some that Miss
SlaineIy raised. We've young lady
here who has fine garden, and we buy
of her because we always get the best,h
said the hostess. Her father died las:
year; he was clergyman, aud left
nothing but his house and garden, Miss
Stainly supports her mother and her
self"
"Miss Stainely must be quite genius"
said Fred, taking up his paper,
Indeed, she Is her garden is sight
TO be seen. They send for miles around
for her fruit and flowers"
"An old maid, | presume" muttered
Fred.
"No indeed as fresh and blooming
young lady, aud well,manuered as you
could wish to see. Everybody loves Miss
Stainely."
Fred smiled to himself, aud soon for
get Miss Stainely. But some hours al:
ter, when out fer walk, he saw little
brown cottage that arrested his atten.
tion by his plcturessueness, There was
yine:coyered porch. with the Wisteria
climbing up all the corners, and there
were great double roses, full OF sweet
odors, blushing beside the pretty ell
trance.
just then little boy came out of the
gate with bas kct ot straw berries
"Pray, my lad" said Fred, "who lives
here ?"
Miss Stainely, sir" was the reply.
Fred glanced az the straw Defrits,--
They looked doubly beautiful now that
he knew a young lady, and one said to
be pretty, had blcked them. lie won
dered if her fingers were fair. Then lie
laughed at himseltat the folly ofsuch ali
idea.
Suddenly voice sounded SO near that
1t startled him.
"Please bring me my purning-shears,
Il ntt IL
said.
"Heavens! is she strong enough to
WELD them?" thought Fred, with sort
OF horror.
''Ah! the poor little things! how l
hate to cut them! But they must CO."
eaid the voice. Aud Fred noticed how
caressing and tender, how soft, low and
womanly the voice was. Sand here's
my darling little concord," she went on,
putting ont s9ch tiny, moist buds
gave it up week ago, and came near
cutting it down; how glad am spared
it."
BY this time Fred was in agony to see
the lips from WHICH proceeAed sHch
sweet sounds. At that moment a gen
tle-taced, elderly woman appeared at the
back door and said
Rose, dear, the sun is getting too
hot"
"Yes, mother" was the reply; and a
slight, girlish figure, the face completely
shaded by a garAen.hat, came blithely
forward, sprang up the steps, and van
ished.
"ltose what pretty name, Unused
Fred, mare interested than he had ever
found himself before. "And such little |
creature. ] had fancied her large and |
masculine in face and figure. Pshaw
what fool am! What il the girl to
me ?''
True, what was she to him? 1t was
very strange that her voice haunted him
so. A little counlry-girl who sold vege
tables; he would not think Of her again. !
But the next day, almost before he
knew it, he found himself sauntering to-
ward the brown cottage. As he came
near, there was o sound ai music a pi-
ano-forte, well played the wedding
March, i" his favorite! He stopped, thun,
d, rStrack. What did il mean? Could
the hands that dug and weeded elicit
such harmonious chords ?
iieeeHlIv TIE ihts'c tShseu.
''She must 20 OUT aud pull radishes,"
laughed Fred, neYopsly y 10 himself I
Then bright thought struck him.
She sold berries, seedlings, slips. Why |
not sell some to him? He would, at |
least ask her.
Yop see, Fred was q bold fellow, and |
no faint hearted coward. In moment
he was ushered into a room, which at
fivst glance, hs took for haoitation
Of ibe fairies, HaHging-baskets rustic
frames, vines trained over every window;
a little grotto of moss and shell-work in
one corner bookcases, tastefHlly srna,
mented the piano, with one of the mos:
beautiful covers he had ever seen in his
lite the carpet Ike . bed Of fergs; the
chairs and tables quaint in their fashion
ing.
Miss Rose Stsinloy came in, She had
large, grey eyes, under straight
lashes; and lips just large enough and
sweet enough to match the voice Fred