The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1877-06-01
Orimps VS.. Calico.

Orimps VS.. Calico.
Paul Graham looked wistfully heaven
ward from the windows.
"Its the very weather for the coun-
try" said Mr.. Graham to himself. 81
believe | need a change. A day or two
in the country freshens one up wonder
fully"
And all the while Mr. Graham made
himself believe that he really did need
a change-that he needed the country.
They've often invited me there"
said Paul, looking out his neatest fit
ting shirts and critically selecting his
handsomest neckties. ar don't see why
l have never been there before"
So Paul Graham took the train to get
a change of air, and to see Rosamond
Hillgrove.
The next morning dawned fair and
radiant, and RosamOnd Hillgrove sang
like any linnet as she tripped along the
pathway that made short cut between
her house and that of Adeline Albertis.
Miss Albertis was practicing a sonata
on the piano in a fascinating toilette of
pale green delaine and beryl-tinted rib
bOns.
She turned around in great astonish-
ment as Rosamond Hillgrove crossed
the threshold.
''Dear mew she exclaimed, "What
is the matter? A calico dress, and your
hair not in crimps ?"
"House cleaning" said Rosamond,
suecinctly.
"YOu don't mean to say that you
have anything to do with it ?" cried
Adeline, contemptuously.
"DOn't /, though ?' TetOrted Rosa
mOnd. "What 1 am after to-day is
to borrow paint brush"
"a paint brush! What for ?"
ITO do papa's room with. He'll be
home tomorrow night. The painter
has not come, and l see no signs of him.
Consequently mean to paint the room
myself"
"ROsamond"
"Well ?"
"Are you crazy ?"
mot in the least"
"YOu know nothing of painting" j"
cried Adeline, breathlessly.
"Now, look here, Addy, don't be a
goose" said Rosamond, calmly; al
took lessons in landscape drawing two
quarters, and if l can't make two doors
and scrap of wainscoting look decent,
then my education is failure"
you're the oldest girl / ever heard
of, ROsamOnd," +" said Miss Albertis; "and
you do look so funny without your
crimps."
''Very likely" said Rosamond, walk
ing off.
Miss AIbertis went back to the piano
and sonata.
Half an hour later there came a ring
at the front door bell, and Mr.. Graham
was announced.
"Oh, Mr.. Graham" holding out both
her plump, white hands; 81 am so glad
to see you; but won't you stop anG
rest?D
Thanks, not just at present. I have
a note to Miss HillgrOve, and 1 must
deliver it at once"
"But you will call again ?"
'MOst assuredly l shall do mysel
that pleasure" said Paul, politely.
And she sat down and cried wher
Paul Graham had taken his departure
'But there is one consolation" she
said to herself, suddenly Frightening
up "Rosamond is cleaning house il
calico, and no crimps, and her head tieC
up. in a speckled ocket-handkerchief
He'll be sure to come back"
So Miss Albertis put on an additiona
knot or so of ribbon, re-adjusted her ar
tistic masses of hair, and sat down to {
little picturesque needlewOrk.
"RosamOnd has worked her own mat
rimonial destruction this time" saiC
she.
Mr.. Graham trudged on, his eye
steadily fixed on the white chimney
behind the trees. He knocked at tn,
door. No one heard. He knocked
little louder.
No one answered.
He opened the door and "ahemmed'
very distinctly.
Still no sign of life.
He opened the door and walked in
and there mounted on a stepladder
with a brown apron all around her
stood Miss Rosamond Hillgrove, paint
ing away at the top of window as i
her life depended HpOn it.
"Oh," said Rosamond, without turn
ing around, you've come at last, have
you? Then you can walk off again! I'm
half through the job myself"
"Eh ?" said Mr.. Graham.
ROsamond turned around with LITTLE
shrek and nearly fell from the higt
stepladder.
"Oh, Mr.. Graham, Is it you?
thought il vas the i.1iuter"
"P II help you" said our hero.
81 wish you would" said r 1samond
accepting the situation.
Miss Alhertis waited all day long
looking up the road like Sister Anne Of
Bluebeard's tower, but Mr.. Graham did
not come.
"How provokingu' said Miss Albertis
"But Rosamond always had such a wa,
with the gentlemen! Pm glad that Pm
rot born cOquette.n
Mr.. Paul Graham called the next day
With Rosamond, when she came to re,
turn the paint brush, and the fair Adel
inc was more dissatisfied than ever.
81 suppose now that you've got com
pany," she snapped, "you'Il POSTPONE
house cleaning until Mr. Graham ha
gone"
"Oh, no." returned Rosamond, Sc
renely. ''He says he'll help; so W.
shall go on just the same. Aud he's 81
handy"
Whether it was over white wast