Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1872-10-25

and free as the deer's in the glade below
and hold steady oar in our boat on the
river; and swim ashore, if need should
be; and then, when walk or row was
over, who could sit down to lunch Of
cold meat and bread d-and-butter with an
appetite keen as a young Indians after
a days hunt; yes, and who knew how to
be efficient in the kitchen and the rarest
ornament of the parlor. How impatient
/ was to see her, the bewitching maiden
whom prince might have been proud to
marry. And again I said to myself as
went up the Parker House steps: 81 do
hope Tom hasn't made fool of him
self r'
Four o'clock found me at the station
and moment later in walked Tom, car
rying basket filled with Jersey peaches
They don't grow in Greenland" said he,
tucking the paper down over the fruit
"Come this way" I followed him, and
we had Just seated ourselves comfortably
in the car when the train moved off.
''Now for the story, Tom" said l, as
we crossed the bridge and caught the
breeze cool from the sea. But can guess
beforehand the girl you married. 1t was
Clara Maitland"
A shadow passed over Toms face.
"Clara has been dead four years., said he.
She inherited consumption from her
mother. We did everything for her-took
her to Minnesota and Florida but it was
no use. She didn't live to see her eigh-
teenth birthday"
"Poor Clara! She loved you dearly.
Then | suppose you chose some Boston
! girl of your acquaintance"
"Jack, you couldn't tell who Mrs. Tom
Foster was if you should try from now
till morning. I shall have to enlighten
you," and, moving the basket to one side
and settling himself in his seat, he went
on; "You know l have the misfortune to
be an only child. After 1 was twenty-on
father and mother began to talk about my
marrying have plenty of cousins, you
know, and we always had young ladies
going in and out of the house; but while
Clara lived she was company for me, and
after she died l was full of business, and
didn't trouble myself about matrimony.
To tell the truth, Jack, 1 d5drat fancy the
girls. Perhaps was unfortunate in my
acquaintances; but they seemed to me all
curls and fiounces and furbelows, and |
would as soon have thought of marrying
a fashion plate as one of these elaborate
creatures. don't object to style; like
it. But you can see fine gowns and bon
nets any day in the Washington Street
windows; and my ideal of woman was
one whose dress is her least attraction"
''Do you recollect fathers former part
ner, Adam Lane? He's clever old gen.
tleman and millionaire, and father has
the greatest liking and respect for him.
He has two daughters-one married years
ago; and the other, much younger, father
fixed upon as desirable wife for me. I
rather think the two families had talked
it over together; at any rate, Miss Matil-
da came to Greenland for long summer
visit. She is an amiable girl, but so pet
ted and spoiled that she's good for moth
ing-undeveloped in mind and body. She
| looked very gay in the evenings, attired
| in Jordan, Marsh & Co. s latest importa-
tions. But she was always late at break
fast; she didn't dare to ride horseback;
she couldn't take a walk without stopping
to rest on every stone; and once, when I
asked her if she had read the account of
the battle of Sedan, she looked up, in her
childish way, and said: No, Mr.. Foster.
Newspapers are so tiresome.' Bless me!
what should have done with such a
baby?
"a year ago this summer I was very
much confined at the store; and, when
August came, instead of spending the
whole month at home, I thought would
have little change, and SO went down
for fortnight to the Cliff House, On -
Beach. It's quiet, pleasant resort, and
you'll always find from fifty to one hun
dred people there during the season: The
landlord is a good fellow, and a distant
relative of mine. [ thought he looked
flurried when went in, and after few
minutes he took me to one side and said:
"'Tom, you've come at an unlucky
time had very good cook that | got
from Boston, at twenty dollars a week
but she's high-tempered woman. Last
evening she quarreled with her assistants,
this morning the breakfast was all in con
fusion, and now she's packing her trunk.
to leave by the next train. In two or
three days l can probably get another one
down in her place but what we're to do
meanwhile don't know
"But, Norton said |, isn't there
some one near by or in the house who can
take it p
"'I doubt it, he replied. I've half
dozen girls from the vicinity doing up
stairs work-one of them from your town,
the best waiter in the dining-rOom. But
/ suppose all of them would either be
afraid of the responsibility or think it be-
meath them to turn cook though they
would have plenty of help, and earn
twenty dollars where they now get three.
"'Who's here from Greenland? | asked,
forI knew something of almost every one
in the place.
"' Mary Lyford.'
"'Mary Lyford A black eyed, light
footed girl, about twenty years old, with
two brothers in Colorado and her father
farmar ovar toward Stratham -
:" Yes, the very same
Why, she's the prettiest girl in
Greenland-at least, / thought so two
years ago, when I danced with her at the
Thanksgiving party in the village; and [
heard last fall that she took the prize at
the Manchester Fair for the best loaf of
bread. But why is she here?'"
"'Oh, you know farmers haven't much
ready money; and l suppose she wanted
to earn something for herself, and to come
to the Beach, like the rest of US. You say
she took the premium for her bread. I
believe I'll go into the dining-room and
propose to give the cooks place to any
one of the girls who would like it and
who feels competent to take it. must
dc something, and, looking at his watch,
he went out.
ssTen minutes later he came back,
clapping his hands, and exclaimed:
~ Mary Lyford says she'll try it.
Hurrah for Greenland, cried l. Isn't
that plucky9 By Jove! / hope she'll sue
ceed, and believe she will
You mustn't expect much to-day,
said Norton. Things are all topsy-turvy
IN the kitchen, and it'll take some time to
get them Strengthened out
just then new arrival claimed his
attention, and with serener face he turn
ed away
"Dinuer was moor +hat 5ax, n,,o,,or |