The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1872-07-19

thing. Ellen didn't speak from morn I
ing till night when she lay there. But
then, she hadn't been very much OF a
talker for a good many years. always
rather discourage long stories. They
hinder work. SO does a great sight oi
reading. Now, Prissy is most too fond
of books, that's one trouble; but Ellen
was so at the first. Prissy would get 10
taking an interest in saving. She.d
come into traces same as the others did'
/ calk'laten
CHATTER II.
"Icalklate,m - said Ezekiel, "that things
are working pretty smooth"
This calculation of EZekieIs s was made
about week after the date OF our nrst
chapter.
"f never saw a girl take hold of things
so. She's making over her own dresses
/ for Mag, and cutting over my old clothes
| for Sam. She fixed up their rooms
with pictures; that's nonsense, to be
sure, but then it goes to show which
way the wind blows, and she's as pleas
ant as basket of chips TO mother /
don't care about so much talk myself,
{ but then she'd get over that, 1 expect. l
never see her settle down and take to
work more cOntented. She knows there
is no place like the old farm. It's a
good deal better for her than teaching.
| She gets on too high a train, sometimes,
amusing the children, but / keep a
steady hand. She'll prize her fortune
all the more if il don't come too easy.
Ii spOils women to let 'em know you
set great store by 'em. Makes them
too eXacting. Besides, 'tisn't as though
Priscilla brought property with her.
Teachers don't lay up a great deal.
Now, when | come to terms, | shall tell
Prissy she shall have half the profits OF
the dairy, reg lar, for her and the chill
dren, and she can have share OF the
pound sweetings every year TO send 10
her mother free of charge. | call that
pretty handsome. l shanit fiatter heT
any. I don't believe in such things.
She's a sensible girl and knows what il
is 10 get such a home as this. She helps
mother considerable with the house
work, but she'd take hold if she had an
interest,"
The early summer days sped on with
their dew, and glow, and shine, and
perfumed ilower-balls and bird songs.
Prissy made constant paradise for the
children. Her sunny content brimmed
over on all about her. Prissy freshened
up the whole house.
II don't think much of these nick
nacks, and of rummaging up old things
for curtains and cushions, though the
parlor does look considerable as Ellen
used to have it before she got poorly
But then 1 put up with the fancy do
ings, for / calklate it shows, you see
what she would do in time if she was
mistress, and had an interest on the
farm. l don't say great deal, l neve
10 1 aftnff n 10 acf ~ fhnHrr6
was so drefful pleased, if she does taxi
pains. ! never did by Ellen"
CHAPTER III.
, Prissy came down stairs one bright
; royal morning. Dew lay on the clover
: The birds were holding grand concert
= Prissy opened doors and windows, an,
. let in floods OF sunshine. Grandma hat
= had bad night, and Prissy had coaxe'
her to take an extra nap while she tool
[ up the duties Of the day.
e II calklate it's about time to max,
: my arrangements sOliloquized Eze
. kiel, as he went towards the stables
< "The weeks they are slipping away
I and she might be as we'll taking an in
teTest in dead earnest"
1 Old Mrs. GOOdenOugh would prObabl,
:. have confirmed Ezekiel's opinion, If sh
{. had been privileged, by remarking tha
. this was literally the kind of "interest'
: Prissy's sister had taken.
"To-night, when the cows ar
: milked,n mentally continued Ezekiel
e cpl ask her TO go over to the grave
. yard, and We'll talk the matter over"
{ When the sun hung low in the west
: and a broOding hush was upon every
: thing, Ezekiel stood leaning, with foldel
: arms, against the fence, and locke,
away over the big meadow and tn
: wheat field.
81 calk'late she's been expecting i
before. But 'twasn't best to be too fast
! It's well enough to have il understood
r that a woman can't tstepintOsuch hOm
, rs this every day." and he walked slow
: ~ toward the house.
"Hilloa! who's that?'
: The ejaculation was forced from EZe
, kiel by the unusual sight of spirite
r bay reined up to the gate, and n gentle
, manly looking person alighted from
! covered buggy.
''Iisn't the minister, and it don't lOol
= like a chap to trade horses. SOmebOd,
2 on some other sort of business, calll'
} late"
= Ezekiel took the shorter route througl
= the south barn, reached the house AM
{ entered by the side door.
e No one met him and told him that
= stranger awaited him. Ezekiel wa
: surprised at this. He made his wa,
through TO the cool parlOr that Priss,
! kept garnished with flowers and period
| icals.
l Prissy's beaming face first attracte,
, his attention. Then tall, handsOm
/. man, with an expression of countenanc
{ at once intellectual and genial, rose, an,
J. was presented rs Prissy's friend, Nh
e Hastings.
o Ezekiers deaf ear was turned toward
: the speaker, and the words "my friend
escaped him.
"He introduced himself TO her Will
/! ne was waiting for me-" soliloquize
{. Ezekiel. Like enough now he's i'm tn
u railroad compauy's interest and the
want some of my land"
\ few general remarks were mad
q and still Prissy remained in the room
; and Joined in the conversation, and th
! stranger did not introduce his GRAND.
II "If you want TO see me on any busi
e ness finally remarked Ezekiel whe
}; a pause occurred, "I suppose we ca
n step into the next rOOm,n glancing a
d he spoke at Prissy.
a ~ am Obliged TO yOu,n replied Nj
@ Hastings, with deliberation, while
. mirthful gleam shot into his eye. "Bu
r am taking a vacation from busines
4 now. | called especially to see Mis-
: FELTON, this evening. We are old aC
I quaintanees, Mr.. Pratt. | am fortunat
i'm finding her at home this evening, a
I ter my long ride over your beautifu
{ hills.n
Ezekiel Dresenfly found himself on