Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1874-06-26
Marian Fordham.

He was walking up and down the pi-
azza foo enjoying the early May sun
shine as it streamed in through new
leaves, and watching the gardener at
work in the flower beds.
"And why not," said his sister, an ap
ple-faced widow, who was planting mig
uonette seeds and counting the number
of buds on her Due Van Thol tulip
roots.
1t is Mt feminine
Do you think il would be any more
feminine for the poor thing to siarve
outright" demanded Mrs. Farley.
Farley was the name of the horicultur-
al widow, be it understood)
Le,ita said the Major, you are
woman. Women can't argue. ID isn't
to be expected of 'em. But when fact
is placed before them as plain as the
nose on their face" (Mrs. Farley in
stinctively felt of her nasal proturban.
ces, tney eau see ".
"Well."
Evidently Mrs. Farley did not quite
understand whittier all this tide of elo-
quence was tending.
/" Here is Marian Fordham, relative
of our own
"Cousin, twice removed" interposed
Mrs. Farley, with a paper of flower
| seeds in her mouth.
"a cousin twice removed, who is left
without copper by her fathers sudden
death. Now, it isn't my fault that Paul
Fordham lost his property. He didn't
ask my advice about those Montana
mining shares if he had, should have
advised him to let them alone. And
don't feel called upon to interfere in the
matter one way or the other"
Well, then, what are you criticising
her for?
/ "Pn not eritieising her" said the
major. II simply say that | regard il
as highly undIgni6ed and unwomanly
for Paul Fordham's daughter to open q
two-pence ha.penny thread and needle
store on Third avenue.
But | don't see what else she eoulC
do" said Mrs. Farley "She wrote tt
you asking you if you could help her tt
position as teacher you wrote bach
that you had no influence with the schoo
trustees She wrote again to inquire j
you knew of any market for water-col
ored pictures such as she could paint
You wrote back that you did not"
We'll, and she asked me no NOR,
questions"
=. al wouldn't if / had been she, sait
! Mrs. Farley, struggling her shoulders
+" A woman does not like to be snubbe
any more than man."
Major Meddlefeld muttered something
| about the female mind being totally IN
fitted for logic. But he said no more
aud Mrs. Farley went on with her worl
in corresponding silence.
"Come, uncle" said Harry NEEDLE
field, " let's go in here. / want to orde
half dozen shirts.
81 don't approve of these small plat
: es, said the major, hesitating in front {
= a neat little show window, where hosier
: and handkerchiefs, pins and powder
vests and walls, ribbons and rose-wate
4 we're arranged in the most attractiy
Is style
h 81 do" said Harry. They don
n charge half as much as they do at
/ Broadway palace, and there's an uncon
., monty pretty girl behind the connte
It here"
How do You know, you rogue? !?
said the major, poking his nephew, wa
D. gishly, under the ribs.
is I've been here before said Harr
N wisely.
,e The little bell Of the shop door gave
a. warning tinkle as the two gentlemen e
g. tered, and tall, fair faced girl rose fro
n her seat behind the counter.
n Harry was right. She scas very pre-
Ut ty, this dimpled, dark-eyed shop gi
s. with her braids of chestnut hair,
,e dress of black and white Scotch gin
ID ham, and the simple jet crosses ii
e. hung in her ears. Major Meddleie
1t had had some idea ere he entered
IN cracking facetious Jokes, such as an I
at derly gentleman might safely indulge
es toward pretty shop girl !; but her pu
al oval face and serious eyes somehow ke
To him at distance. Even Harry, sad d
,e. that he was, addressed her as If she hi
ly been duchess.
ce "Have you ready made shirts =
re- asked.
at Yes, she had and then followed
ICE long discussion as to buttons versus sp
er- ais, broad plaits and narrow ones, lin
or. and muslin, during which Major Me
all dIefield thought the pretty girl pretti
in than ever.