Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1872-12-14

impatient | was to see her, the be-
witching maiden whom q prince
might be proud to marry. And
again l said to myself as | went up
the Parker House steps: 81 do hope
he hasn't made fool Of himself!
Four O'Clock found me at the sta
tiOn, and a moment later in walked
TEN, carrying a basket filed with
Jersey peaches.
''TheY don't grow in Greenland" F"
said he, tucking the paper down
over the fruit. Come this way"
| followed him, and we had Just
seated ourselves comfortably in the
car when the train moved of.
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 MARYLAND" )"
A shadow passed over Toms face.
"ClGra has been q ad four years, 8"
said he. ''She inherited consump-
ton from her mother. We did ev-
cry thing for her-tOOk her 10 Min
EesOta and Florida; but il was of
no use. She didn't live to see her
eighteenth birthday"
/ Poor Clarai she loved YOU dear
J ~. Theu l suppose you chose some
/ Boston girl ef your acquaintance:"
! Jack, you couldn't tell W no Mrs.
/ Tom Foster was if you should try
! from now till morning. / shall ha c
to enlighten you" And moving the
basket to one side and seating him
self in his seat, he went on:
Il have the misfortune OF being an
oniy child. After was tWenty-One,
tsther and mother began TO talk o.
my marrying. Ihave plenty OF con-
sins, YOU know, and we always had
young ladies going in and out Of the
house, but while Clara lived she was
always company for me, and after
she died l was full Of business, and
didn't trouble myself about matri-
moRy. To tell the truth, Jack, l
didn't fancy any of the girls. Per-
haps l was unfortunate in my ac-
quaintances; but they seemed TO me
all curls, flounces, and furbeloWs,
and l would as soon have thought of
marrying a fashion plate as one of
these elaborate creatures. i didn't
object to style; L liked it. But yOn
can see fine gowns and bOnHets any
day in Washington street windows;
and my ideal of q woman was one
whose dress was her least attrac-
ton"
"Do you recollect fathers fOrTner
partner, Adam Lane? He's clever
old gentleman and millionaire, and
father had the greatest respect and
liking for him. He has two daugh-
ters-one married years ago, and
the other, much younger, father
A-va1 n Ioa1ra t,l n nj fn for
me. I rather think the two fami-
any rate Miss Matilda came to
Greenland for long summer visit.
She is an amiable girl, but so petted
and spoiled that she's good for moth
ing-undeveloped in mind and body.
She looked very gay in the evenings,
attired in JOrdOn, Marsh s. Co.'s
latest importations. But she was
always late to breakfast, and she
didn't dare to ride on horseback;
she couldn't take q walk without
stopping to rest on every stone
and once, when l asked her if she
had read an account of the battle of
Sedan, she looked up in her childish
way, and said: 'tNo, Mr.. Foster,
newspapers are so tiresome.p Bless
me what should 1 have done with
such a baby?
"a year ago this summer was
very much confined at the store,
and when August came, instead of
spending the whole month at home,
l thought l would have a little
chance, and so I went down for
fortnight to the Cliff house, on -
Beach. It's quiet pleasant resort,
and you'll always find from fifty to
one hundred people there during
the season. The landlord is a good
fellow, and distant relative of mine.
l thought he looked Aurried W hen l
went in, and after a lew minutes he
took me one side and said
Tom, you have come at an unlucky
time. had a good cook that | got
from Boston, at twenty dollars 4
week; but she's a high-toned wo-
man, Last evening she quarrelled
with my assistants, this morning
breakfast was all in confusion. and
nov, she's packing her trunk to
leave by the next train. In two or
three days can probably getanoth-
er downin her place; but what we're
70 do meanw hile don't know.
"But, Norton" said /, 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 do
ing mp stairs wOrk-one of them
from Your town, the best waiter in
the dining room. But l suppose all
of them would be afraid of the re-
sponsibility 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"
asked, for knew something of al
most every one inIthe place.
MARY Lyford."
"Mary Lyford? A black eyed,
light-toOted girl, about twenty wears
old, with two brothers in Colorado
| and her father a farmer over to-
wards Stratham?'' 10
ayes, the very same.o
"Why, she's the prettiest girl in
Greenland-at least. thought so
| two years ago at the Thanks sgiving
party in the village; and l heard
last fall that she took the prize of
| 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.
1 believe III go into the dining
room and propose to give the cooks
place to any one who would like it
and feels competent to take it. /
must do something" and looking at
his watch, he went out.
"JuEt then new arrival claimed
his attention, and with a serener
face he turned away"
"Dinner was poor that day, sup
per not much better. And, in spite
of Norton's caution. / began to be
afraid that Greenland was going
down. But the next morning what
breakfast we had-juicy steaks,
hot potatoes, delicious rolls and
corn-bread griddle cakes that melt
ed in your mouth, and coffee that
had lest none of its aroma in the
making. Thenceforth every meal
was q triumph. The guests praised
the table, FASTENED to their seats at
the first sound of the bell. Norton
was radiant with satisfaction, and
was as pleased as if l had been land
lord or cook myself. Several times
l sent my compliments and cOngrat-
ulations to Mary; but she was so
constantly occupied that never had
q glimpse Of her till the night be-
lore was to leave. l was dancing
in the parlOr, snd3 had just led a
young lady Of the Matilda Lane
stamp TO her mamma, when / saw
Mary standing with the dininp-ronm