The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1875-11-05
For the New Northwest.l
A SHORT STORY FOR GIRLS.
BY ErNA.

It is a bright day in early june. Mat
tie Lee and Eva Warren, cousins, whose
parents reside on adjoining farms a
mile from the viIlage-are spending the
day in town with Mrs. Halstead.
Mrs. H. is the young wife of the most
enterprising merchant in town; there
fore it is most desirable thing to be a
privileged visitor at her house. But it
is not this that makes Matte and Eva
enjoy these visits to her so much, but
because she, although matron, does
not consider it necessary to be old and
staid and poky, but enjoys their com
pany equally as much as they do hers.
Added to this, her home surroundings
are so pleasant that no one could fail to
enjoy them.
Descriptions are proverbially tedious,
yet trust my readers will tolerate one
of the pleasant sitting-rOom in which
we find the cousins above named.
Imagine little square room in the
rear wing Of the building, with door
opening out on cool and shaded porch.
The opposite side of the room, which is
nearest the street, is lighted by two
long, low windows. A Madeira vine Of
vivid green grows in hanging basket,
its plant tendrils partly trained over
the snowy curtains that are looped
gracefully back from one window, dis
closing box thickly studded with pink
and white daisies. The other window
is completely shaded by a 'rWandering
Jew" and still its wandering does not
cease, for it has trailed its delicate
branches and dark green leaves along the
white wall from picture to picture, and
over the clock on the mantel, until it
has made the circuit of the room. Be
meath it, on the window-sill,, stands a
box of dark purple, vdvet-leaved
heart's-ease. At the end of the room,
farthest from the main building, is a
Fireplace. This, however, is now closed
by a lovely screen, and the hearth is
covered by a brightly-tinted rug, its
brilliant colors contrasting pleasantly
with the pale straw color of the mating
on the floor. Each end of the mantel is
graeed by vase filed with lilacs and
snow-balls. At the end of the room op-
posite the Fireplace stands table, COW
cred with a crimson cloth delicately
embroidered. A vase of June roses oc-
cupies the center of the table, their fra
grant breath softly permeating all the
air with summer odors. A basket of
myrtle swinging from the ceiling di-
rectly overhead touches the roses on the
table with a gentle, caressing move
ment, as the June breezes steal in for a
sly Irritation, Several elegantly-bound
books by the very best authors, to-
gether with late copies of several lead
ing magazines and periodicals, lie upon
the table. In a gilded cage hanging on
the porch just outside the open door a
canary is triIling forth song after song
of sweet music, seemingly trying to
drown the voices of several feathered
choristers that are hidden in the foliage
of the young oaks in the door-yard.
Well indeed does Mrs. Halstead fulfill
her mission as "home-maker," and moi
only as far as externals are concerned
either.
But it is quite time we began to make
the acquaintance of the two girls that
at present, form such conspicuous
part Of this rooms furniture.
Matte Lee is tall, black-eyed, rosy.
checked, generous-hearted, fun-lovinL
girl. She is an only daughter, and con,
sequently does just as she pleases.
Eva Warren is rather below medium
hight, with light gray eyes, and hair of /
kind of mouse color, that is not at al
popular She is a very sensible girl, o
well-regulated mind, just as warm
hearted and generous as heFieousin, bu
having been carefully brought up ii
the midst of a large family, she ha
learned to better control her impulse
than has Matte. Thsreis nothing, es
pecially attFaetiee about her, persona
appearance, bnt being aiwsy tasteful!
dressed, she is much admired. 1a,l
These cousins are nearly the sam
age, neither having reached her eigh
teenth birthday. At present they ar
both busily plying their crochet needles
while their tongues keep up continus
chatter, as if to keep time with thei
fingers ~ 80 =.
Suddenly Matte breaks off in th
middle of sentence, jumps up, drop
her work, and exclaims: sas =
so, Eva there goes your handsom
beau, Charlie Marshall. Don't he Loo
sweet, though, with his stylish hat Sc
in such careless fashion on top Of hi
curly hair? Just look at him swingin
his cane and putting his cigar as b
struts along. just want to kiss him,
"DO hush, Mattie," replied Evs
Suppose he should hear of that re
mark. You would be mortified It
DEATH n I11l 1af .taA ,leii.. q
mo danger Of that Who's going t
tell? Lmight as well say 1t as to thin
1t, and know your mouth shapes itsel
for kiss just every time you see him, ,
retorted Matte. -. .i,.s. -
20, Matte, what madcap you are
II be is nice looking and we DO enioy hi
society, we needn't 90 quite wild ahoo