Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1876-08-24
MISS GRIMFORD.

MISS GRIMFORD.
Mrs. Grimford sat in her own room
assiduously employed in fastenin,
dried butterflies on sheet of paste
board, with An ''encyclopedia" lyin!
on the table beside her. and magni
flying glass affixed in some mysterious
manner to her nose.
She was one of those unfortunat,
abnormal developments with which
this century is afflicted, familiarl,
known as ''strong-minded women"
Il sparse, prin, hard-featured ma
tron, one who believed in "women'
rights" and considered woman F.:
much.abused parsonage, deposed from
her proper sphere and trampled on by
the tyrant man!
Mrs. Grimford had come very neal
being q MAN herself-what with 3
deep voice, a bearded chin, and fig
ure quite innocent of all superAuous
curves and graces. Really, if one had
changed her skirt and body to trousers
and coat she would have passed fol-
one of the condemned sex without diff.
6culty.
But Mrs. Grimford's daughter was
quite different. AS Carrie Grimford
stood beside her mother, SO dainty and
fair, with cheeks round and ripe as a
peach, deep, dark blue eyes. and
golden, wavy hair, you wondered as
you gazed that they could both be
women and yet so unlike.
'sNonscnse. child" Mrs. Grimford
was saying, while she critically ex.
amined pale yellow butterfly.
but, indeed, mammal pleaded
Carrie, sit isn't nonsense. He really
wants me to marry him.
marriage, Caroline, is all 4 mis-.
take,'' said Mrs. Grimford, laying
down the magnifying glass. 81 don t
intend you to marry at ALL
''Mamma ~
"a woman who marries," contin.
ued the strong-minded matron; lis a
woman enslaved. I should never have
married had l known as much about life
when was l3.:ls l do now. From the
standpoint of a grand mistake commit.
ted in my own life I can rectify yours,
Caroline"
"But, man ma, cried poor Caroline,
"what shall do
''Do, child-do!' calculated Mrs.
Grimford. .:That is pretty question
for my daughter to ask! Why, read,
study, improve your mind. Devote all
the energies of your nature to solving
the great social problems that sur.
round you.'
II don't care a pin for the social
problems, mamma said Carrie: II
love Sydney Wilmer, and I'm going to
marry him.
"Never with my consent
ooh. mamma. surely you would
not
"Caroline,' interrupted her mother
in a tone of judicial calmness, ''don't
you see what confusion you are ere.
ating among these insects, which
have so carefully classified! I beg YOU
will interrupt my studies no longer. 60
read the report of the Convention for
the Amelioration of Womankind.
Why, what are you crying for! "A we'll
regulated woman never cries.
II wish wasn't woman" sobbed
Carrie; II wish l wasn't something
that had to be elevated and improved.
0. mamma, dear, you weren't in ear.
nest when you said you would not con.
sent to my marrying Sydney? We
shall be so happy and he says he will
be so miserable without me, and
Caroline, am astonished at you!
OF course I'm in earnest. l have
neither gold nor gems to lay on the
shrine of the cause; but I have a
daughter. and l intend to show the
world what woman unshackled and
unfettered can accomplish You, Car.
oline, should glory in thus becoming
an Offering"
But Carrie apparently unappreciatiye
of the great lot in store for her, cried
moro pitiously than ever.
clears will not move me- said
Mrs. Grimf0rd, returning to her hut.
terhies. II can only regret that am
the parent of so degenerate dargh.
ter"
mamma" ventured poor little Car.
RE, after a few moments of silent
grieving, II promised Sydney to ride
with him this afternoon.
"You must give him up. On such a
subject can accept no compromise
''But. mamma, promised"
Mrs. Griinford gravely rubbed the
end of her nose. "a promise is a
promise, Caroline, nor shall 1 require
youto break this Carrie visibly bright.
ened); but 1 shall accompany you.
(The pretty face clouded again. Where
are you going?"
ITO the woods beyond the glen. sgd.
ney is going to get me some wood.sor.
rel for my herbarium.'O
"Nor will the expedition be unprofit.
able to me-" said Mrs. Grimford grave.
ly. "There are many choice varieties
of adiantum and asplenium to be found
in those woods, and my collection of
native ferns is as yet incomplete.
Carrie retired in great CONSERVATION,
not to read rerorts or study paleon.
tology, but to slip out to the garden,
where Sidney Wilmer was sitting by
a great rose tree that carpeted the
velvet grass with showers of soft pink
petals at every passing breeze.
20, Sydney! Sydney! l am so mis-.
Brable!'
"Carrie, what is the matter :" he
cried, hastily going toward her aud
Carrie told him to the best of her abil.
ty, what the matter was.
us that all :" he asked, wher the
recital was finished.
Isn't that enough p she replied
"When we were going to
have such a nice ride. and
''Never mind, petite. It will be all
right. So she won't consent to our
Ell? What shall we do,
quietly p
20. Sidney. you know I would never
marry without her consent"
''And are two lives to be made mis-
erablo because she thinks matrimony q
mistaken" he asked, gravely.
II suppose so,'' and Carries pretty
head dropped like rose in the rain.
Sydney watched her quivering lip and
tear.stained eyelids, and said no more.
In the afternoon, when Mr.. Wilmer