Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1876-07-06
feeling of certainty, but l waited for

mOnCnS, pdSSeu away, anu nope was
dead in my heart. They said had
grown much older and care-worn, Mad
a1ne said worked too hard, and the
sharp business woman became quite
motherly in her attentions to me.
But would not take any change, for
work was like balm to me; it blunted
my thoughts; and knowing that was
daily growing pale ahd thin l still
waited.
| knew the girls used to whisper to-
gether about me and think me strange.
but no one knew my secret-not even
madame, who had more than once
sought my confidence; and so twelve
months passed away-four years since
Jack had left me.
It was not to day, but very nearly
to the time when he had parted from
me, and it was almost two years since
had heard from him. I was trying
hard to grow patient and contented
4 with my lot, for Nine. Granger had
gradually taken to me, and trusted me,
making me more and more her right
hand, when one glorious spring morning
when was coming out of the break
fast.room to so upstairs to work, she
called me into her little snug
gerry, where she sat as a rule and at
tended to her customers letters, for
she had an extensive clientele, and
carried on business in u large private
mansion in Welbeck street.
"Grace, my DEAR" she said, takin 6
me in her arms and kissing me, lit
worries me to see you look so ill. Now
what do you say to a fortnight in the
country g -
A fortnight in the country and ut
her busiest time, with the London sea.
son coming on.
thought of that, and then, as l
glanced round at the flowers and in
hailed their scents, the bright fields
near Templemore Grange tloated be-
fore my dimming eyes, feeling of
sutfication came upon me, and the
room seemed to swing round. I be-
lieve that for the first time in my life
l should have tainted, so painful were
the memories evoked by her words,
when a sharp knock and ring at the
door echoed through the house, follow
ing instantly upon the dull fall of a
letter and the sharp click of the letter.
box.
! 1t was like AL electric shock to me,
and without word l darted into the
hall, painting with excitement and my
hand at my throat to tear away the
sitting sensation.
But it was a letter. l could see it
through the glass in the letter box, and
and l seized it with trembling hands,
inspired as it were by some strange
power.
slack dear Jack at last - gasped
as turned it over and saw it was a
strange, blue, official letter, formally
directed to me.
Even that did not surprise me. It
was from Jack, l knew, and tore open
the blue envelope.
Yes, knew it !! The inner envelope
was covered with Australian post
marks, and ignorant as l might be of
it's contents, l was raising it to my
lips to cover it over with passionate
kisses, when saw it was open.
Then mist came over my mental
vision for a moment, but only to clear
away as, half stupefed, l turned the
missive over and over, held it straight
for moment, and then, with a sigh
Of misery and despair, stood mute and
as it turned to stone.
"Grace, my child! In mercy's name
tell me-
1t was Madame, who passed her arm
round me and looked horror-stricken
at my white face and lips. The next
moment I dimly remember she had
caught the letter-his letter-:from my
hand, and read it aloud: ''Mr. John
Braywood, Marlboro, r. county, Mel
bourne" and then, in her excitement,
the great official sentence-like brand
upon it, ''Dead.''
| That was the beginning of my first
and only illness, during which madame
tended me like mother, even to CIV
ing up her business afterward, and re-
firing to live with me here in this
quiet street, where she died, and left
me well-tO-do, as you see. have
grown old since then, but am not I'M
happy, great as was the trial, and it
has led me into what, hope, has been
a:useful life. And, besides, why should
I sorrow, knowing, as l do that which
came to me years and years after-that
Jack died with my name upon his lips
died true to her he loved and l am
but waiting till we shall meet again.
| Picking Cucumbers.
Some of our readers may want to
know how to pickle cucumbers, and
the following from the Grocer, may be
of use to them at this season:
For picking purposes the cucumber
in all stages of it's growth is used, from
the large vegetable which is cut into
slices and sold to the cheap grocery
stores, to the smallest size or gherkin,
which is preserved entire. In buying,
selling and estimating quantities, GU.
cumbers, whether large or small, are
4 counted not measured, The farmers
sort the cucumbers into three sizes,
small, medium and large; the factor.
les have five sizes, viz: very small,
small, medium, large, and very large.
OF these different sizes 5000 of the
very small would fill an ordinary
whisky barrel; 5000 of the small !;
1000 of the medium; l,40O of the
large; and 800 of the very large. The
cucumbers on being picked at their
place of growth, are taken by the far
mers to the salting.houses, whence
they are removed to the pickle fac.
tories. Most of the salting.houses are
within few miles of where the plant
is grown, as the fresh crop will not
bear long transportation. Altogether
some farmers do their own sailing, in
most cases the latter is separate bust:
ness, conducted on a large scale, the
} manufacturers buying of the salters.
The pickles, on being taken from the
J brine, are ''freshened up" that is,
fhov oro mt iufn 1orno Hvn0I1on vo*c
containing fresh water, to extract the
salt. This water is changed three
times during the freshening process,
!: after which the cucumbers are packed
7 in casks or bottles for sale. The best
vinegar in use for picking in this
country is that made from the Western
, high-wines. In vinegar made from
wood the pickles soon become soft. and
even cider vinegar, though the best
} and MOST wholesome for table pur.