The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1874-03-27

sisted jack.
''Some of them are dead, and some
"Lost? How? When ?p cried three
eager voices in breath.
Lost in great land, where there's no
finding or following a person, !" responded
Nora, bitterly. "But never mind that,
dears. Well not talk any more about
people. And, May aud Jonquil, you
shall each have a bit of clover calico,
since you like it so much, and the boys
shall have the purple and the pink.
Wen go back 10 the nursery and get a
pair of scissors"
But the children demurred. They
wanted to see all the things in the box
first. So Nora patiently gratified them.
The crooked sixpence was displayed, a
shell pin cushion, some bits of mineral,
a small box of dark wood neatly turned
and polished, q silhouette of somebody.
The show lasted half an hour; then the
audience adjourned en- D7GSSe; and in the
excitement of sewing eggs up in cotton
rags the conversation and the box
seemed alike forgotten.
The eggs "came out beautiful" ac-
cording to the cook. Purple, crimson,
streaked, and pied, they were arranged
in their nests of green moss, and formed
the principal event of the festival TO the
children. Pre-eminent among the rest
shone the "clover Calico" which had
"run" to admiration, each distinct leaf
being printed on the snowy shell as if
painted by an artist.
While this was going on within the
house a young man, stranger, was
hard at work without in distant part
of the grounds. He was a new hand
sent over by the village carpenter to
make some alteration in the stables.
All day Saturday, and Monday, he ham
mered and planed busily and alone. 1t
was not till Tuesday that the children
found him out-the discOverer being
Jonquil, who was born explorer, with
4 strong taste for new acquaintances.
In half an hour she made friends, and
possessed herself of the main facts i'm the
history. His name was
James. He was English. He was GO
ing to stay a good while in Barnet. He
didn't know if he shouldn't stay always.
He liked little girls. Would he lend
her one Of his little gimblets, then, and
let her bore Yes, he would. This
blissful indulgence opened her heart.
She became generous in her turn. Did
he like eggs ?-eggs with calico on the
)ntside?
James wasn't sure. He never saw
my.
"Didn't you? Why, how funnyl
lidn't you ever go to church ?" Church
md eggs were now inseparably con-
lected in Jonquil's mind. 'I'll run in
Ind get mine to show you-mine and
Nays too. And" generously, "pH
give you one. Any one you like-ex-
cept my green. That's the prettiest Of
all, you see. So must keep it.''
Off she ran. In few minutes great
noise became audible, drawing nearer
Jonquil had impaired her discovery,
and the quartet, in full cry, were ali
bearing down upon the stable. Each
of the little girls carried q basket, in
which reposed the nest full of precious
eggs.
He was a nice young fellow, this
James; there was no doubt about it.
How he managed to rescue his plane
from Reggy and to prevent Jack from
hammering his fingers as we'll as his
nails, was a mystery; hut he did it, and
without any loss Of his popularity, or
the use Of sharp ward. Baby May was
a case of love at first sight. In five min
utes she had her arms clasped round
one OF his legs. "ZoO shall have two OF
my eggs" she said. Nothing would
serve but that he should stop work at
once and choose. JOnquil kepta couple
covered carefully in her hand.
''The pink is a nice one, "she remarked,
suggestively.
OF course the pink was chosen, and a
sedate lilac specimen from May's bas-
ket, after which happy settlement jon
gull revealed her hidden treasures.
q You see was afraid you would want
them," she exclaimed, $50 1 kept them
bid. Amt they pretty ?"
James didn't answer for a minute.
He was looking strangely hard at the
eggs.
"They made me think he began;
Ihen recovering himself-"Yes, they are
pretty, Miss. / never saw exactly that
pattern but once before, and that was far
rom here.n
"Its Englishpi vouchsafed Jack.
Mora had it once for a gown; but all
he people she used to know got lost, so
now she don't wear it any more"
"Noraw The tone was startling.
"iShe our nursey," lisped May. ",She's
rom England, you know. We love
her lots, and Jonquil do; but she says
,he can't be happy cause all her folks is
lost"
The yonng carpenter sat down sud
ienly. He was very pale.
WHATS the matter ?" said JOnquil
Are you tired of hammering? I'd
never get tired, I know. Oh, Reggy,
le's going to sleep. How queer he
Run for Noraw screamed Reggy.
She'll give him something. Tell her
o hurry"
of flew Jack. In five minutes be was
back, painting and out of breath, with
Nora at his heels.
"What is il, dears ?r she cried. zone
II you sick? Oh, my GOdr
James had risen to his feet. The dull
'aleness Of his cheeks changed TO deep
,urning flush. His eyes blazed.
'NoraW he said, in a deep, rapturous
one.
Next moment they were clasped in
'ach others arms.
Poor Mrs. Allenl Her utter bewilder-
nent, ten minutes later, when the spec
ators of this wonderful tableaux rushed
n pell-mell with the news, was indie
me ran," and "she ran, - and
they both jumped" ''and Nora said a
wear word, mammal and "he kissedp'
she kissedr' ''they kissedr' Good
-raciousl What did it all mean? How
vas her staid, perfectly conducted Nora
involved in this distracted narrative
bout carpenters and kissing?
"Who kissed ?' cried Mrs. Allen.
"Who, Moral"
Explanation followed a little later. |
wen Mrs. Allen, in the midst of her |
error at the idea of losing Nora, could |
OF resist giving true womanly sympa- |
by TO the simple little story. The two
,vers had missed each other in the |
.range new world which engulfed /
hem on landing from the emigrant |
Zip. James came first to find work and |
u l. hnr..n nr,l mn ,,lnrirnnr n.lf IL.