The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1877-02-15

Down in the sitting room was Lucy, as
faultless as ever in all her appointments,
and Weston drew his hand across his eyes
with vague impression that he had been
dreaming unpleasantly. The hours of the
afternoon and evening flew rapidly and
pleasantly by; with books, and music and
social chat, and if visions of that untidy
room ever thrust themselves upon Weston's
mind, he put them resolutcly away, and
went heartily into the amusemeuts of the
hour. Alone in his own room, he made a
dozen plausible theories TO account for the
condition of things-perhaps it was not
Lucy's room at all Fred was such blum
dering fellow; at all events he could not
think Of casting away his idol for one un-
lucky discovery; so, with thoughts roam
ing in happy future, Weston fell asleep.
Il am very sorry" said Squire Taylor,
at the breakfast table next morning, =" that
find myself obliged to send Fred away
on business to-day; but l dare say that
Lucy will do what she can to entertain
you till he comes back.
"Delightful" thought Weston to him.
self; a whole day without dragging up
and down those everlasting trout brooks,
or tramping through the brush after i'm.
aginary partridgss and rabbits, that never
were there and never will be.''
So, with many assurances that there
was not the least danger of his having a
dull time, he watched Fred ride away
gaily on his black pony, snapped his fin
gers as he closed the gate and went back
tic little lake they had told him so much
about Lucy was good enough to say she
should be delighted to 60, but sundry
household matters would detain her half
an hour or so. In the meantime her
cavalier brought the carriage to the door,
looked with habitual caution after every
strap and buckle of the harness, and then
went up to his room, with masculine
idea that woman's half hour was very
indefinite period indeed.
Now the room directly under his was
occupied by an ancient spinster, distant
relative of the family, cal'eds by way of
courtesy, Cousin Barbara. This Cousin
Barbara having one of those shivery
natures that never seem to get cOmfOrta-
bly, warm, insisted upon keeping up her
stove all the year round, and, as the pipe
passed up through the floor of Weston's
room on its way to the chimney, it FORM
ed, as you can easily imagine, an excel.
lent conductor of sound-a regular speak
ing trumpet. Weston knew he shouts be
sure to hear Lucy when she left her room,
so he made himself perfectly easy, and
had nearly finished writing a letter when
he heard her little feet go pattering down
stairs. He was Just following her when
her voice caught his ear from the room
below.
"Oh, Cousin Barbara, your needle is
always threaded; just put q stitch into
my CATER here l can't find my thimble
and mustn't keep Mr.. Weston waiting"
II should like to see the time" said
Cousin Barbara, tartly, "when you
could 60 anywhere without stopping to
mend something or other"
"Oh, WE'LL" said Lucy, pleasantly,
"your occupation would be gone if you
hadn't me to mend and scold."
The only answer was sort of
growl, and in a moment there was
kind Of "spud" as if an article to be
mended, had been tossed upon the floor.
This was followed almost instantly by
an excited exclamation,
"For mercy sake. Lucy Taylor! you
aren't going riding with those ragged
stockings on: -
"They won't show through my Shoes"
was the quiet answer, land I haven't
any better ones"
"S'pose you should get turned over
and sprain your ankle?" said Cousin
Barbara, stalking around the room.
Anyway, you'll know they're ragged
yourself, and before I'D wear a hole in:
side of my shoes, I'd have them full of
"Coals of fire." suggested Lucy with
an aggravating little laugh.
"No, gravel stones" concluded Cousin
Barbara, as Lucy fitted out of the room.
Poor Weston, who heard every word
of this colloquy, felt so much ashamed
of himself that he could hardly look Lucy
sweet as q morning. glory with the dew
still wet upon it.
II am safe for the present." thought
Weston, rs he handed her into the car
riage; mo danger of committing myself
today"
And yet it is fact that, several times
before evening, he was only saved from
venturing his fate upon one bold move by
a timely recollection of grim Cousin Bar
bara and the unlucky stockings.
enchanting rs he had promised himself;
and he was not very sorry to be once more
at home, and meet Fred's jovial face at
the cheerful tea-table.
Then came the old routine of hunting
and fishing for few days more, till at last
the good people of Ardley concluded to
get up . grand picnic at Long Pond.
Everybody was to be there, old and young;
and the Taylors entered heartily into
preparations for the occasion by provid-
Ing an untold amount of eatabfes, both
dainties and substantials. The eventful
day arrived, and, after spending . weari.
some morning in helping Fred to build
tables in the grove where the supper was
| to be spread, Weston sought his room for
bath and q nap, before the family
should be ready to set out.
| Hall. DOING on the lounge, he became
suddenly conscious of Lucy's voice COM
ing up again from Cousin Barbara room.
He started up in nervous dread, with the
mental exclamation:
"Why ON earth can't she keep away
| from here on this day." But there was
nothing at all terrifying in Lucy's gentle
tones.
"Cousin Barbara, please put pin in
INV collar for me-do; and another in my
sash behind" ....
Weston subsided; but unmerciful
Cousin Barbara-there seemed to Deno
evading her argus eyes. :.
"Of all things, Lucy Taylor, haven't
you finished that dress yet!-and worn it
so many times: Here's the skirt only
pinned and basted on; and as true as /
live, no cording on the neck" iN
"Well," said Lucy, mot one bit dis
turbed, "who will be the wiser for what
is under my collar! And you shah see how
nicely my sash covers the skirt. There,
now-don't l look as neat IS pinr'
Cousin Barbara muttered something
about ..sckited sepxlckers" that Weston did
not stop to hear, for he seized his hat and
rushed franticallv into Fred's room, g.
tonishing that worthy into an impolite ex-
clamation.
"I It's 90 hot in my room, !" said Weston,
apol0getically.
"I1l warrant Cousin Barbara has got up