The Western advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1872-1874, 1874-07-25

80 she tied on her log gcabin sunbonnc
that had pert calico bow prospectin
from the top, took her crooked-handlc
green gingham umbrella, to act til
double part OF supporter and protector
and set out-not to seek her fortune, bu
seek somebody's misfortune.
The way to DR.. .Scacrest's was acros
the green away from the black cotto
mills down by the river; away from tn
street of stiff white cottages, where tn
mill operators liyed away from th
commonplace, two'story dwellings clus
tcrlng around the church, the store, tn
blacksmith's shop and the postofficc, t.
bit of level slightly removed from
"Ihe Hollow" by sloping hill. Her
was scattered a group of houses whcr,
the doctor, the mill-owncr, the ministe
and two or three prosperous farmers
lived. Lived, so the Hollow people said
"stuck up' and apart from their neigh
bors.
| But the aristocratic isolation was al
the work of the Hollow, for, as Mrs
Woodcock often said
"Folks can choose their own place i1
the world. If they have mind to holt
up their heads and be something they car
DC, or they can be nobody or nothing
Either one"
Accordingly she held up her head and
made herself somebody, equally in the
kitchen of Mary Duffy, the Irish laun
dress in Speck Lane, at the lowest dip OF
the Hollow, and in the parlors of the spa
ciOuS mansion that crowned the top ol
Quality Ill.,.
SO now she went up the wide, flower
bordcred walk leading to DR.. Scacrcst's
stately doorway with the assurance of a
welcome guest, and, tapping confidently
on the open door, stepped in with little
nod and courtesy as much Of respect to
herself as of Difference to Mrs. Scacrcst
and her daughter, Miriam, sitting sewing
and looking us tranquil as though no storm
had ever passed over either vineyard or
spirit.
Dear me! Is it you, Mrs. Woolcock? j?
How you started me! Come in. We
! were speaking of you not half an hour
ago." cried Mrs. Seacrest, who was IL live
~, cordial woman, as round and flushed
as a poppy, and always sitting in the
sunshine, no matter what clouds there
might be in the sky.
Mrs. Woodcock came in. "Quite a
shower we have had" said she, dropping
upon velvet sofa with an air of being
much at home on velvet. "I noticed
as | came along, Mr.. Hurlbcrt's oats are
beaten fiat, and l shouldn't wonder if
a good deal of injury was done by the
hail"
"Vcry likely" replied Mrs Seacrcst,
screncly. "Thc hailstoncs were very
large. But it has come off beautifully
now, and the air seems SO much purcr
after the storm"
Some people might nave felt put aside
at this, but not Mrs. Woodcock. She
perceived that something lay under this
placid surface and, never being troubled
by excess of dclicacy, proceeded ut once
to send out her blood-hounds.
How was it hcrc?" said she, bold
ly. Anything damaged about your
grounds?"
"Thc dahlias, some of them were
broken of-didn't father say?" responded
Mrs. Seacrest, appealing to her daughter
"And think some glass was broken in
the hot-housc. The doctor has Just or
dered different style of sash, so these
are out of the way just in time"
Everything was always fish that came
to Mrs. Seacrest's net
"'Tisn't that" said Mrs. Woodcock to
herself. Something heavier than hail
stones is on her mind"
So she started another trail.
Heard from Earnest latcly?" she
asked.
"Not very long sincc," replied Mrs.
Scacrcst, carelcssly, but with the faint
est shadow of shade slipping across her
sunny face for an instant
"That is it," said the visitor, inwardly
nodding approvingly to herself. For it
Is not everybody who would have had
the skill to touch upon the sore spot so
soon.
But before she had decided on her next
question Mrs. Seacrest spoke again.
"We arc expecting him home soon,
Mrs. Woodcock, with his wife"
Ills wifer cried Mrs Woodcock.
Even with her discerning foresight
she was not prepared for this announce
Ment, Earnest Scacrest being yet jun
ior in the State University.
Miriam looked steadily upon her work,
flushing with Il look of painful annoy
ance, but her mothers tone was as
blithc as ever.
eyes, said she; "Earncst is young,
isn't he? But, after all, he is us old us |
was when / married. Our children take
us by surprise coming to be men and
women so much sooner than we expect"
W lSA wv Jou lOOh 1OI uHu-tlCM!
faltered Mrs. Woodcock, too much be-
wildercd for her usual aptness of ques
tioning
"Almost at any time; shall not be
surprised if they come today" answered
Mrs. Seacrest, not able to conceal some
nervous dread.
Not dread that the married pair
might arrive before Mrs. Woodcock
should go away with her long ears, deep
eyes and broad tongue. Oh, no! Mrs.
WOOdcOck would have scorned herself
with contemptuous scorning if such an
unworthy jealousy had crossed her self
assured mind.
So she sat, and sat, and sat, while Mrs.
Seacrest sewed, and sewed, and sewed
and sewed.
Miriam, evidently unable to bear the
slow torture, soon found an crrand to
her chamber, and found no reason for
returning.
wasn't your sons marriage little
sudden to you?" asked Mrs. Woodcock,
as soon as she had collected her IDEAS
"Somewhat. But it is so much better
for a young man to settle upon some one
than to fall into the habit Of hirting," re-
piled Mrs. Seacrest, with cheerful salts
faction. "And / have always been in
favor Of early marriages. When people
wait till their habits are crystallized it is
much harder adapting themselves"
Mrs. Seacrest's sentence was brought
to an untimely end by the stoppage Of a
carriage at the gate-thc doctors car
riage, too, with the doctor himself to
drive.
$50 it seems she knew all the time
they were coming this very day, though