Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1873-08-21
From the Commonwealth.
EDlTu--A STORY OF NEW ENGLAND
LIFE.

The doctor opened the trim gate
which gave exit from his little
pleasaunce, and We passed out into the
main street of the village, bright and
clean, and quiet in the June morning;
Spreading branches of horse. chestnut
trees made pleasant screen above ou1
heads, while Pickering mosaic of sun
light and shadow paved the sidewalk
Across the road we noted q not un
picturesque grOup-twO or three
mntrons in morning dishabille chatter
ing with tho white. .robed attendant of 9
butchers cart. In the open doorway
of a neighboring drugstore, listlest
young man summed himself with an ail
Of utter apathy. A belated schoolgirl,
swinging her strapped.up books, pass
ed US with hurting steps.
"The place." said the doctor, els
ridiculously healthy. Ii I depended
altogether on my professional income'
lie paused abruptly, anu saw a
faint flush color his sallow cheek as he
greeted a lady who issued from the
door and descended the steps OF the
house we were passing. A tall and
graceful lady, gray-robed, daintily
gloved, earnest and thoughtful in face,
swift and purposeful in movement and
gesture.
"Miss Edith Winthrop" said my
companion, in answer to my unspoken
inquiry; "blue. blooded, according to
the New England standard of Puritan
stock"
I watched keenly the countenance OF
my friend, for reticent as he was, both
by nature and professional habit, it
was seldom that the trained immobility
of that face displayed even such a
passing show of emotion as that I had
witnessed.
Neither of us spoke again, however,
as we turned into a side street, which,
as we followed it up, degenerated into
we had left behind us with the grevelled
road the cottage gardens with their
white trelisses covered with honey
suckles and prairie-r roses were replaced
by pasture ground frightened by the
bloom of butter cups, while scattered
savin bushes indicated our nearness to
the woods"
SAT last" said tho doctor, "we have
reached Pine Hill. This has always
been favorite resort for picnic parties.
It is charming spot"
He mused moment, and then said
abruptly. "Come, see your mind is
made up for a story, and I may az
we'll tell you the ono I have in my
mind"
"Kindest of friends I have not
forgotten your old talent as racon.
teur. and 1 await your narrative with
the keener interest because see that
your old self will be one of tho person
ages concerned in it,"
Not 80 Immediately concerned as
you think. This is love story, OF
rather mere hint or suggestion of q
love story, and not altogether devoid
of the tragic element; and what can q
prosaic country doctor have to do will,
love or tragedy save to fill specttor's
part2"
So my friend told me the tale he had
promised one which haunted me for
many day, until at last was fain to
try aud reproduce it in written words
You saw her to-day-Edith Winthrop
but You would never recognize in her
the bright beauty who was the queen
Of the festival held here thirteen years
ago, to-day. Our young people agreed
that year to choose a May queen, and
celebrate the coming of summer in old
English style. Lyceum lectures, read
ing club and singing.scnool might
stand over till another winter. Warm
weather was here, and since there were
no evenings, our young men must for
one day give up their various avocations
and trample under foot the universal
Yankee that no time which is available
for work must be wasted in play. So.
in solemn council, decrced the girls.
10 be sure, it was June, not Nav {:
but how was it possible to have an out.
of.door party when you had to have a
fire to keep warm within doors2 No:
June vas early enough; but. Nav OF
June, we must have our queen and
our Maypole, and revive for once be-
meath distant sky all the gay obsery-
ances our fathers delighted in. So
said fair Edith, leader of last years
graduating class at the seminary, we'll
read in English classics, and proud OF
her authenticated English ancestry.
sour fathers, indeed !" objected
Laura Burnham: "did they emigrate
from their native island, and remain
to endure the alterations OF this de.
testable climate because they abomin-
ated May--day and Christmas and
'sicb?' Didn't Governor Endicott'' -
Hush, you spoil sport!" SNOW
Laura !" and "You be still /" were the
protests that met the statement OF
these untowartl facts and IN the calm
which succeeded the tempest of expos
t"Iation, Edith replied: my dear,
sonchody says that yesterdays Puri.
tan is to- days Radical. We're Governor
Endlcott here among us I believe he
would smile benignly on our proceed.
ings."
Perhaps" retorted the ,,nabashed
Laura, "the old dign;tary would 40.
licit you to be his partner for the Ger
man, or take you to tho thcator to see
East Lynne.
Edith reddened half the pleasure oi
recent trip to Boston had been spoil.
ed by forced submission to the pro
hibitions of Deacon, Winthrop, he,
guardian and grandfather. Recovering
herself, she said with her own 1mitablf
frankncss:
"WclI, Laura, I'll dismount from my
high horse; he isn't just the animal tc
parade Oh this occasion. All We want
Is to have a good time after ALL"
Matters arranged themselves salts.
factorily; the details of the merry
making we're settled, and Edith, spit,
OF her reluctance, WIS declared to bt
tho onl y person capable Of s,,ccessfnll,
maintaining regal state.