The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1876-06-14

lily.
'sshall it be tomorrow
"Yes.''
''All right;
And Mr.. Benedict sat down to spend
the evening and enjoy himself.
''Well, sir!" said Hugh, when his
uncle was taking leave, and paused on
the front door steps to light cigar.
swell, sir 60 said Uncle Benedict.
calmly.
III ow do you like her p asked
Hugh.
':How can I tell p demanded the
old gentleman, irritably. ''She's pref
ty to look at; SO is a china doll or a
white kitten! It isn't always the
prettiest calicoes that wash the best.
Good EVENING" y
And Hugh Benedict, albeit he was
fond of his uncle, did not know
whether to be vexed or not.
Early the next morning, however.
Uncle Ben made his appearance be-
fore the young couple, breathless and
eager.
''Trunks packed, eh e.
''All but the last one, uncle and
Rachel lifted her pretty head out of
the tray, as you may have seen a red
clover blossom rise up from beneath a
child's footstep.
'I'm going to take you down to
Bloomdale myself, my DEAR said
Uncle Ben. "11ugh, want you to go
off to Canterbury with these letters.
They're of Importance. I'd go my
! self if were ten years younger bu-
sudden journeys don't agre with OF
bones like mine.''
Hugh looked aghast at the proposal.
Rachel turned pale.
'sCannot the business be postponed.
sir o. said Hugh. hesitatingly.
s'No, it can't - replied Uncle Ben,
CURLY. IF you don't want to so, say
so. l dare say can find some one
else to oblige me y
''Of course I shall co. said Hugh.
''But about Rachel
81 suppose I'm cid enough to take
care of little girl like that said
Uncle Ben. in an aggrieved tone.
''You'll find us both in the new res
idence, with the table laid for dinner,
when you come back tomorrow.
So there was nothing for it but for
Hugh to kiss his little bride half
score of times, and commission Uncle
Ben to take the best possible care of
her until he should return.
'sFoolish children - said Mr.. Bene-
dict, as he saw Rachel sobbing on
Hugh's shoulder. But there was a
CHEEKY twinkle in his own keen gray
eyes, nevertheless.
Poor little girl! the atmosphere had
lost somewhat of it's sparkle, and the
world looked less bright, as she jour-
neyed in Uncle Ben's barouche to-
wards her new home, with Uncle
Ben s newspaper rafting at her side.
AS the autumn twilight began to fall,
her thoughts became busy, as a
woman will, at times.
''Uncle,' she said, turning suddenly
towards the old gentleman, "what
sort OF house is it? Ours I mean -
':Well,'' said Uncle Ben, refectively,
''it's cottage, I should say
"a modern cottage %
"Well, no; rather of the antique
order than otherwise.''
"Oh,'' cried Rachel, ''I'm glad.
despise these new, stiff, formal places,
that look as if they were merely to be
admired, not lived in and enjoyed.
Uncle what are you laughing at -
eat your curiosity, my DEAR" re-
piled the old gentleman.
':Then won't ask you another ques-
ton, said Rachel, resolutely.
But she fully, atoned for that depri-
walton by sketching on the tablets of
her own fancy an endless variety of
little Gothic structures, with bay win
dows and tfellisess covered with climb.
ing roses and honeysuckles while
| Uncle Benedict watched her from be-
hind the screen of his newspaper,
with the 5queerest Of expressions in
his brown old old face y. s5'z': i
I'm almost sorry commenced the
thing, he said to himself, eff
should be disappointed in her! But,
pooh it's the only way to find out if
she is worth my boys love-
;. Presently the numbering old chariot
came to a stand-still !; but to Rachel's
surprise, in front Of no fairy cot, or
low-eaved edifce surrounded by ver-
andahs and flower parterres. A tum-
ble-down, implanted farmhouse stood
a little back from the road, with It's
ohuCtoIS AdilSlHS IOOSely Dy one hinge,
and one or two scrubby lilac bushes
forlornly tossing their foliage in the
| wind
''How dreary it looks - thought
Rachel, with a little, shudder, as She
wondered whether the coachman had
really meant to stay there. But Uncle
Ben at once seized her carpet-bag and
umbrella.
''Come, my DEAR he said to
Rachel.
SIS this the place!'' she asked.