Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1872-12-05

to the mark; and climb the hills with
me, her step light and free MS the deer
in the glade below and hold steady
oar in our boat on the river; and swim
ashore, if need should he; aud then,
when walk or row was over, who could
sit down to lunch of cold meat and
bread and butter with an appetite as
keen as young Indians alter days
hunt; yes and who knew how to be
efficient in the kitchen anil the rarest
ornament of the parlor. How impa-
tient was to SEQ her, the bewitching
maiden whom prince might have been
proud to marry. And again I said to
myself, as went up the Park House
steps: ~ do hope Tom hasn't made a
fool Of himself!"
-Four o'clock found me at the station ;
and n moment later in walked Tom,
carrying basket filed with Jersey
peaches. They didn't grow i'll Green
land, " said he, tucking the paper down
over the fruit. "Come this way" l.
followed him, aud we had Just seated
ourselves comfortably in the car when
the train moved off.
"Now for the story, Tom," said I, a.
we CROSSED the bridge and caught the
breeze cool from the sea. "But I can
guess beforehand the girl you married.
1t was Clara Maitland"
A shadow passed over Toms face.
"Clara has been dead fonr years."
said lie. -" 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
hve;to see her eighteenth birthday"
'SPoor Clara |! She loved you dearly.
Th4n ! suppose you chose some Bos-
ton;8irl of your acquaintance"
Jack, syou couldn't tell who Mrs.
Tom Foster was ifyou should try from
now:tiu morning. j I shall have to en-
tighten YOU" And, moving the basket
toSQne side and settling himself in his
seat, he went on: .>"You know I have
the misfortune to he an only child. At
er was twenty one, father and moth
er began to talk about my marrying. 1
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 af-
ter she died was, fnll of business, and
didn't trouble myself about matrimony.
To tell the truth, Jack, I didn't fancy
the girls. Perhaps I was unfortunate
in my acquaintance; but they seemed
to me all curls aud flounces and furbe.
lows, and I would as soon have thought
marrying a fashion-plate as one of
these elaborate creatures. don't OBJ
ject to style; l like it. But you can see
fine gowns and bonnets any day in
Washington street windows; and my
ideal OF q woman was one whose dress
is her least attraction.
F.! "Do you reeollect fathers former
partner, Adam Lance He's clever old
gentleman, and millionaire, and faith
er 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 desira-
ble wife for me. rather think the two
families had talked it over together;
at any rate, Miss Matilda came to
Greenland for long summer visit.
She is on amiable girl but so petted
and spoiled that she's good for nothing
-undeveloped in mind and body. She
looked very gay in the evenings, attired
in Jordan, Marsh & Co. IS latest impor-
tations, But she was always late at
breakfast; she didn't dare to ride
horseback; she couldn't take walk
without stopping to rest on every stone;
and once when asked her if she had
read the account of the battle of Sc
dan, she looked up, in her childish
way, and said, mo, Mr.. Foster. News
papers are so tiresome.' Bless me
what should I have do with such a
babya"
"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 1
would have a little change, and SO I
went down for fortnight to the Cliff
House, on Beach It's a quiet, pleas
! ant resort, and you'll always find fifty
to one hundred people there during
the season. The landlord is a good
fellow, and distant relative of mine.
thought he looked Hurried when
went in, and after few minutes he
took me one side and said
"Tom, you've come. at an unlucky
time. Il had very good cook, that I
got from Boston, ut twenty dollars o
week, but she's a high-tempered wo-
man. Last evening she quarreled with
her assistants, this morning the break
fast. was all in confusion, and now she's
packing her trunk to leave by the next
train. In two or three days I can
probably get another down in her
place : but what we're to domeanwhile
I don't know"
"But, Norton" said I, "isn't there
some one near by or in the house who
can take it?''
II doubt it, he replied, I've half
a dozen girls from the vicinity doing
up-stair work-one of them from your
town, the best waiter in the dining
room. But I suppose all of them
would either be afraid of the RESPONSE
bllity or think it beneath 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 7
asked; for knew something of almost
every one in the place.
"Mary Lyford."
Mary Lyforda A black-eyed, light
footed girl, about twenty years old.
with two brothers in Colorado aud her
father a farmer over toward Stratham %
eyes, tho very same.'
"Why, she's the prettiest girl lin
Greenland-at least, 1 thought so two
years ago, when I danced with her al
the Thanksgiving party in the village
and heard last fall that she took Che
prize at the Manchester Fair for the
best loaf of bread. But why is she
here2" ......,.,a.,.. !
son you know farmers haven't much
ready money; and I suppose she want
ed to earn something for herself, and t.
come to the Beach, like the rest of us,
You say she took the premium for he,
bread. I believe I1lgo into the dining
room and propose Is give the cooks
place to any one Of the girls who. would
like t,and who feels competent to take
it. I must do something" and, looking
ut his watch, he went out.
"Ten minutes later he came back
clapping his hands, and exclaiming:
"Mary Lyford says she will try it. ,
} "Hurrah for Greenland" cried T.
Isn't that plucky2 By Jovo!
hope she'll SUCCEED, aud believe she
WILL"
you mustn't expect much to-day,
said Norton. "Thlngs are I'LL topsy
tnrvy in the kitchen, and it'll tax,
; some time to get them Strengthened
out
'Just then new arrival claimed hi.
attention, and with a screner face ht
turned away.
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