Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1873-06-13

rapidly, but the man seemed to hav'
eyes for his employer as well as hi
work. He was neatly dressed, ant
his hands seemed to Mollie strange
ly white and well kept for work
ing man.
In wonderfully short time th'
job was done.
"Havc you far to go to-day?'
asked Mollie, as the grinder handed
her the last article.
ga good way, ma'am."
"Then," she said kindly, "perhap
you would like glass of milk ant
something to eat. My aunt's ser
want will bring it out to YOU, if yo'
would"
"You are very kind" began tn
grinder, in good English and
| courteous tone. Then he seemed t
struggle with desire to laugh.
"The saints have you in kaiping
MISS" he went on, relapsing rapid
ly into Irish, 'but nivcr mind tn
bit or sup. It's nothing Pm naidins
the morn, but just to thank We 70
your favors, and be aft" He shoul
dcred his wheel and set off at rap
id rate, while Mollie was fumblins
for her purse.
"Stop!" she cried after him; "stol
a minute, please, l haven't pai(
YOU" But the man only lifted hi
hat and passed through the gate. |
was gracefully dono-"like gen
tleman," Mollie thought, and sh'
wondered more and more.
"Such a droll man," she said af
terward, at breakfast; che wouldn't
wait for his money, and took his ha
off to me like young prince.
wish you had seen him, aunty."
"H'm," replied Mrs. Gale, medi
tatively, cit would have been more
to the purpose had he put a goo(
edge on the carver. l don't like tn,
looks of it at all, Mollie."
In effect itprovcd hopelessly dull
as did everything else submitted tt
the gen,lemanly grinder. Of course
Mollie had to endure some teasing
on the subject.
She bore it with good grace, and
as weeks passed by the subject was
forgotten, or, if remembered at all
only by herself.
The spring was advancing. II
proved an early one.- Violets star
red garden beds by the first Of
April; hawthorn hedges blossomed
into smiles to greet incoming May
the early roses crowded on Their
buttoned-up buds, and flushed with
bloom. 1t was impossible to resist
the studded summer-tide ofall things
Nobody prated of rheumatism, OF
preached prudence. Old and young
alike flung caution to the winds
and, as if intoxicated by the fra
grant air, ignored dews, sat on the
fresh grass, and committed all Other
imprudences.
BY the, middle of June a picnic
had been proposed and organized
Such parties were unusual even ii
quiet Woodbury., but the oldest in
habitant could not recollect one sc
early in the season.
OF course Mollie was to 60
What could a picnic in Woodbury.
be without her? Her sweet tenn
per, pretty, merry face, and def
fingers made her universal favor
ite. No one knew the wild, beauti
full forest hooks so well, no one com
pretended so perfectly the due
admlxture of salad and lemonade, OF
had such trick Of decking an i'm
promptu table tastefully with ferns
and flowers. OF course Mollie mus
90. And it was, while in the mids
of some dainty outdoor housewifery
that stranger was brought up fol
introduction, and "Miss Gale" had
to look up from her oak wreaths ant
frost cakes to courtesy to "Mr. Con
rad" Apair of dark eyes met hers
with sudden amused, glad recog
milton, which perplexed and mysti
fed her.
"Where have seen him before?'
she thought again and again, as thu
day wore on with it's lively alterna
tions of luncheon, laughter and
Irritation. But no answer occurred
and the new arrival followed hel
movements with devotion which
caused some teasing from the Other
girls, and not a few jealous pangs
among the young men. "It's case
of see and conquer" whispered hel
friends among themselves, bu
neither with surprise nor envy; fol
Mollic was belle in her little set
and none disputed her pretty su
premacy.
Mr.. Conrad had come to Wood
bury on business, it seemed. He
did not specify its nature, and nc
one could guess it; it evidently
absorbed little Of his time, but
week after week he fingered in the
village, and, as "business" was by
no means the specially Of the place
his errand was subject of great
speculation among the gossips
Young, good-looking, and much Of
a gentleman, he was universally ac-
cepted and liked. Mollie met him
here, there, and everywhere, and
their intimacy grew with great
strides. Before q month was over
she felt that she had know him
always-a fact which puzzled her
not little whenever she took time
to think about it.
Still the resemblance which had
struck her at first pursued and
haunted her. 1t was not his face
only-voice and form were alike
familiar; all suggested somebody,
for her life she could not tell whom.
Twenty times she was on the point
of speaking of it, and twenty times
refrained. cit was so ridiculous,' D
she said to herself. At last ex-
planation came.
1t chanced on a picnic. Wood
bury was famous for it's picnics.
This was held in the same hcauti.