Ellsworth American., 1876-06-01
Lets 60" said !. with growing zeal.

"
Lets go,' echoed Oracle, Aud so ov
erwhelmiug were the arguments W,
brought TO bear on Arabella that by tn,
time the discussion ended she had yedel
her consent; aud before month went by
we found ourselves actually at housekeep
Ing in picturesque cottage not far from
Dexter station. As Tor the locality of Dex
ter station. As for the locality of Dexter
ii Will not be indicated on the maps ye
awhile, there being not more than six
houses in the place. all told; but we liked
ii none the less. OF course there were in
conytniences, especially for the first few
days. when owing to the non-arrival of our
kitchen-ware and china, we were some.
what puzzled to know how to furnish forth
our board, but they only served to add
zest To the enterprise.
Jolly. isn't it:' said |, presiding a,
gracefully as possible at a battered peach
can instead oi a teapot.
1t Is just fun" said Grace, usiRg her
fingers Tor fork, as she helped herself to
>ardlne>.
Il wish you could find some more lady
like word, my dear" remarked Arabelis,
I calmly >lpping her tea nom terra Gotta
vase, and managlu. to maintain her native
dignity in spite OF lhe fact, OF being seated
on an inverted washtub.
dc'Sh hAAA 'AtltS, ~ oAiu
Z Frank. taking lingering looks at the land
>cape as she butterc,i her bread with peu
| Anilc. 1t is blcsSeduess ITSELF" and when
I things were iairly put to rights" even
/ ArabcIlI va, forced TO agree with her.
Oue day Il MAS found necessary for some
of us to 90 Ia town 10 order household
/ supplies. aud As Grace had a headache aud
Frank was sim too much in love with the
I country To care for sight OF the city, Ar
4 aDcHa aud | decided to take the morning
4 express and make the needed purchases.
4 We had tally expected 10 be at home be-
/ fore evening. but in one way aud another
Ne were detained TIL there was barely
lime To catch the >IX o'clock train. 1t was
oulN an hour. T.de, however and with a
delicious sense OF rest We shook oil the
aust ui the city aul gave our>clvc, up 80
thoroughly tu the pleasant anticipation of
-suu bclu.s home. that We scarcely heard
the stations called
.'Nr must be- near ID Ntef," ,aiI Ara
h,.I- at il>'. rou>ins from state ot semi
uu'ou-ciou>nc>s and picking up her hand
bas.
.H-. pardon. ma'am" said voice behind
s>. but wr have just len Dexter"
-lt can't boz p.-,,a.e,' cried |, rushing
T fAu,irp.iy 10 ihr rear OF the car and ment-
/ uof taken the opposite side where we
mighi have seen The name even II we had
l fsliicu - hear il called: bat Trgrct> were
uu4VaiuuL. Tor surely enough there was
prNtrr r,y,diut IA the dun distance like a
/ dream ai the past
why. ~ shau't get HON. to-uigh, We
mu>t stop the train We must do some
thing" cjIculA,ed, turning 10 Arabella,
who after properly thanking our informant,
had followed me at her usual digniiied
4 pace; but her uudi>turbcd air exasperated
ne. and Without waiting tor an answer, |
hurried u the other end OF the car ia
search 81 the conductor.
There's no help for il, miss" said that
polite official. I'm put you of AZ the near
est station, that's only three miles on, and
yon can easily get some ono 10 bring you
back"
small consolation II vas. but a the Last
up-trau had already passed Us there was
NJ alternative; .Hd presently We were
4 standing tor.oru and desolatc on the plat
form ui the Bedford station. three miles
from home aud the shades ui night
gathering about "a with unwclcome RAPID
i-y. Two uukcnpt boys, with their hand,
in ti-r pockets. stAIl4s siupidly AZ as
Dun know, num-" s4id one Of them, in
answer 10 our anxious Inquiries, there
ain, nobody round here a. Keeps hosscs
'crpt farmer Hill; and having pointed out
the farmers house, staggered away aud
len %, To- our own devices. A iiresome
tramp across the plowed iield brought Us
at la~t 10 The farmers door, aud here II
vas we were told 10 walk IN aud make
ourselves 20 hum fil Ralph" could
/ come to our rescue. Five minutes later
the Old man reappeared, tanning himself
I vigorously with hts broad brimmed hat.
Heres Ralph Strong; he'll take You
over" And this was our Introduction, tor,
A. he spoke, a >priug-wagon drew up at
the gate. and the brouzc-laced driver, with
a gallant bow informed rs that he was NJ
our service Evidently farmer Hill's neph-
ew whatever might be the state of his
..uaryc>." was a lnan of Intelligence aud
. rciiuemcnr-we made that discovery before
We were mile ou the way-and 30 enter
tanning did he prove that. tired aud hun
very a. We were. we were half sorry
/ Wh-n the ride came 10 an end. Frank aud
Grace. alarmed AZ OUT long absence. were
/ watching for u at the gate. and Arabells,
with gracious cordially, introduced the
stranger. explaining IN an aside who he
wa> OF course, We invited him in, aud
/ though ia consideration OF the lateness oi
the hour he politely declined he promised
/ To do himself the pleasure OF calling IN d
few days
'.Hei> very gcntiemanly and agreeable.
/ said Arabciia, with emphasis. a. -eatcL at
[ the table We narrated the event- OF the
/ dav; and il must be confessed that We
/ were all rather elated at the prospect OF
/ having our solitude invaded now and then
BY tins same gentlemanly and agreeable
per.on.
Beyond the simple fact that he was farm
nnllpue -
nothing whatever about him, but his face
and voice were of themselves sufficient 10
inspire confidence, and before many weeks
T went by we had come 10 regard him as our
/ right hand man. Arabelia consulted him on
I all mstters of business, and Grace and |
were constantly asking his advice about
gardening. while Frank. who had set her
heart on raising a brood of chickens, held
animated conferences with him As TO the
best ways of promoting the health aho
happiness ui her feathered pets; at leas'
when the two sat for half An hour at
time on the back porch in the twilight
watching the little creatures nesting unuel
the mothers wings, it was naturally TO bt
supposed that they formed the chief suoJec
OF discussion.
alt is hardly polite 20 trouble Mr.. Stron9
so much about those chickens. Frances.
Arabella would say. "A college man Ike
him is not supposed to be very famiiia
with the raising of poultry"
Then it is high time he turned his at
tentiun to it." said Frank, with mischie
lurking in her eyes.
Another cause of annoyance to our eide
sister was the simplicity of Franks toilets
Il do wish, my dear Frances. you woul'
make yourself look "a little more stylish
These young colleaians are not accustom
ed to see young ladies dressed like kitche
girls"
But Frank declared that halt the pleas
ure of living in the country was the privi
, ege of dispensing with style and persiste
in wearing calico dresses and white aproni
, | don't think Arabelia had the least in
, tenti0n to try match making, or anythin
of the sort: she was simply anxious
, have her three girls make a good impress
: ion; but her anxiety was oppressive. an
|. as well as Frank, occasionally rebellet
Mr.. Strong. | was sure, was too sensibl
to like US any better in silk dresses an