The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1876-05-04
DlLL'S LOVE AFFAIR.

y - -.-s1.--
DILL'S LOVE AFFAIR.
And what'll you have, motherkin? A
wing? or slice from the breast?"
g won't lake any meat to-day, Joe; no
any potato either, thank you"
Joe dropped the carving fork and looked
at me across the dining table.
You're sick, Polly. Upon my word
you're pale as a stalk of celery. leave
it to you, Dill, if she isn't" ga
Della Clement was the school.teach6n
who had boarded with us ever since the
winter before, when Teddy had the Group.
"Polly's4 up, sir chasing about,~atler
Perpetual Motion.h ~ ~ x - q Il
Joe glanced at our hearts delight, bal
ancing wish bone on the arm of his
high chair, and then back at me anx.
iCusly. = 81 i y
We can't this, Polly. Can tsyou
hire another grip Whereupoa DiHahd
both laughed, for that is a stercotyped
remark of Joe's, repeated whenever he sees
me particularly wilted. As if one girl
We're notSmoreathanI could managt Be
sides, there was the expense. EsD ss1
Polly needs change said Dill, help
ing herself to pickles. so do you, tor
the mountains next week. III take care
OF eldy."
No, no; you and Polly co. said Joe,
who hates travelling as he hates changing
his coat-and that's speaking strongly. )
1t ended in our all going, and leaving
Teddy at his grandmother's on the way
| wouldn't stir without Joe, and / was
bent on having Dill with us, to give us an
air of gentillly, told her. She has been
about the world Il good deal, and always
knows Just how to behave, which is more
than can say for Joe or myself-es-
pecially Joe. dear big fellow. He's the
best soul living, but he isn't polished, and
he wouldn't be for any thing, that the
worst of it.
1t was tearfully hot when we reached
Bemis, which was the railroad terminus
two years ago. Two six horse coaches
stood blisteringi in sand bank, waiting to
transport passengers to the Crawford
House, nine miles on, AID these were filed
in a twinkling. - - ~TN,-t. r. ~
oh Joe, Joe, do hurry! we ysha n t
get seats cried I, clutching him by the
arm.
But might as we'll have tried to hurry
the Great Eastern.
Don't want to-" returned he, .coouy.
Don't You see, Polly, they'll have to put
ON an extra? Well ride more comtorta-
bly, in that"
While the horses were being harnessed,
we were grateful for the shelter of the rude
restaurant and sat down to a rough table,
covered with unbleached sheeting, to
drink a cup of tea. -, 49,
Its strong as an early attachment,
Polly" observed the divider of my sor-
rows, in an explosive whisper.
And bitter as remorse," chimed in
Dill. But it is consolation to know i,
was stepped in tea kettle"
Yea, verify" said Joe, with an elo-
quent glance at the rusty stove in the cor
ner, on which coffee was steaming in a
wash-boiler.
His lace was purplish, like Scotch
thistle, but Dill looked as cool and waxen
as a Lent lily. Her complexion is wealth
cr-proof, and, with those soft, black eyes
of hers, she can never be anything less
than beauty; while well, | am one OF
the blue and gold editions of humanity,
pretty enough at first, but sure to fade.
When the extra wagon came, Joe put
me on the back seat, between himself and
Dill, and We jolted theoretically on over
the mighty hills; past Kiarsage Mount
ain, capped bya ST acious hotel that in the
distance looks not much larger than a
matchbox on mantel; past the SORROW
full Wiley House, and 50 on into the heart
of the Crawford Notch. No room for car
rlages to pass excepting at long intervals,
where places were purposely provided 10y
scooping level spaces in the side of
mountain. The driver refined in at one
of these and waited. We could hear the
rattle of a coach in the distance, and in
dignant echoes from the surrounding
heights, as ii they resented such intrusion
upon their solitude. Presently, round
bend in the road, lurchcd the stage in all
lis yellow magnifcenee, its front fitting
up trightfully by reason of the weight Of
baggage behind.
Whats to hinder it turning a somer-
sault backward :" asked Dill, whimsical
ly. "Certainly not those meek little
horses. AT each lunge half expect to
see them jerked from their feet and de-
scribing curve through the air."
But the coach seems we'll ballasted in
front. Why, look, Dill! there's sonle-
body bowling to YOU"
The two stages were now side by side,
and as Dill recognized the gentleman,
saw her start and turn suddenly white
The next moment she had acknowledged
the bow in cool, dgnitied way, and we
were bowling down the hill at a break
neck speed
Who was that, Dill?" queried Joe, as
lnnocently as he would have asked the
day Of the month.
"John keene, an old acquaintance of
mine"
Looks like fellow of brains, F." com,
mented Joe, snatching handful of, leaves
from an overhanging maple.
Dill said neither yes nor no, but sat res.
Olutely contemplating the dust of the
earth, her face scallet now AS frosted
woodbine. l had the gtace to hold my
peace, tor l knew more about that love
affair than she had the least suspicion of.
Kate Edgarton had told me the whole
story-ali anybody knew, that is, butt
parties themselves. SDillhad become en-.
gagged to Mr.. Keene at twenty, rand for
months the two had seemed as happy as
need be. Then she made visit at NeWpert.
and while there the engagements was
broken. No matter why, she said; her
friends would know some time; NEAL
while she begged they wonldn't talk about
it. Soon after Mr.. Keene went to New
Orleans to engage in ship. brokerage, and
the nextsmonth Dhry faptkI died, and
Dill Came "a our village 10 teach. In sau
the months she had lived with us she had
never mentioned the mans name to me.
suppose those people are coming
home from the mountains" pursued nv
unconscious Joe. THAT coach must con-
meet at Bemis with the Portland train. Is
this keene a Portlander? Seems as if l
had seen him there"
q" Yes, oh yes, hysap means" respond
ed Dill, so abstractedlyf hst SJos asksd
her, anxiously, if she had forgotten any
thing.
Upon that she reused herself. and was,
very gay for the rest, of the ride tnrough
the Notch, pointing out wonders Of
scenery with one land, while she chung
to the scat for dear life with the other. At
last, climbing the widest ascent of all,
past the, baby and the 'Old man Of
the Mountain" we came out unexpected
ly upon the smiling green plain fronting
the Crawford House. 1t put him in mind
of Rasselas and the Happy Valley, Joe
said and i'm mad II al W. leak al isSorti a ,d 4