Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1878-08-14

driver called to me. "Going in the stage,
ma am p | shook my head, and the
! numbering vehicle sped on its way,
! leaving me half smothered in cloud of
dust. .9..# .H s5
So Mr.. Graham had missed the coach
And what was / to do with the valse I?
Return with it? Not I, indeed 1t
was much pleasanter idling away the
forenoon in the fresh air than working
with Jane in hot, dingv kitchen. |
raised the valise and retreated with it
to the shade of a friendly birch. There
was roll of half finished embroidery,
q copy of ''The Lady of the Lake." and
a much worn drawing pencil in the
pocket of my dress.
Having made this inventory Of my
present available property, | selected
the pencil and amused my:elfln sketch
ing the passers-by on the smooth, white
bark of the BIRCH The body of the tree
was quite covered with oddly-contrast-
ed figures when | put up the pencil and
turned to look across the meadow. Mr..
Graham stood near, regarding my
rough draughts with an amused look.
Pardon me, if [ have disturbed
you" he said.
Having worked up my material, [
can afford to be disturbed. You are an
hour too late for the coach, Mr. Ora
| ham,"
Eyes; was misinformed as to the
time of its arrival. | see my valise is
here, but not the person who brought
| it."
brought it over before the stage
came along, and have been keeping
faithful watch and ward over it since"
regret it-nor can [ understand why
the task was imposed upon you. | left
directions for Mr.. Smiths man, Tom,
to come on with my valise."
Mr.. Smiths man, Tom, was other
wise engaged. Therefore, it devolved
on Mrs. Smiths woman, Betsy, to full
fill your commission
That a-young lady should have
done me a meniaPs service"
Need occasion no uneasiness, Mr..
Graham. | belong, literally, to that
class Of individuals who are hewers of
wood and drawers of water Were |
| to sketch myself it would be with a
burden on my shoulders, cumbersome
as that which Christian bore, in the IL
Illustrations that grace the ancient edi-
tons of his pilgrimage. But if you
please, [ would like my shilling, my
porter's hire, sir"
'Thank you, for reminding me-" he
said, laughing, as he held forth bright,
gold eagle.
keep your gold, Mr.. Graham; |
shall not take a penny more than 1
have earned. Haven't you a stray
shilEng?"
eff have I would much rather give
you gold"
"And will have nothing but silver"
Without further parley he bestowed
the compensation [ asked.
"What will you do with it-buy a new
pencil ?" he said = ......-
NO; 1 shall keep it for the sake of
lang syne." "
II do not see the drift Of your enig-
NAUTICAL expression" said Mr.. Graham,
slowly, looking at me attentively the
while.
''Then the riddle must remain a rid
die. | have neither time, inclination
nor intention to enhghten your under
standing, which, pardon me, is quite
i obtuse. Now that my mission is ended
and my wages paid I will go home. I
wish you q good morning, Sir"
[ returned by way of the field. On
gaining the shelter Of the bushes that
grew along the border of the meadow,
I looked back and saw Mr.. Graham yet
standing beneath the old birch, engaged
in studying the delineations on its bark.
For many a day / had not known so
light heart. The interview just past
reminded me so pleasantly and forclbly
of the old times that for the moment /
seemed once more child, delightfully."-
occupied in yexing and perplexing
Weld Graham. However, no sooner
did [ cross the threshold of my guard
ian's door Il was Mr.. Smiths ward)
than these pleasant fancies vanished. I
regained my identity. More than that,
[ privately read Betsy Lake pretty Sc
we're lecture, showing her the utter fol-
ly of thus dragging from oblivion bright
passages in the early girlhood of Lizzie
Lake. The next morning Jane and I
were at work together finishing the
weeks ironing that [ had left the pre-
vious day when sent off to the cross
roads.
" have always supposed till now,
Betsy that you had no property more
than [ have" remarked the housemaid
:" Nor have [, Jane, [ am poor as a
church mouse, which means, [ suspect
/ poor as is possible for one to be-"
"But Mrs. Smith says you have some
property. Just now [ heard Mr.. Ora
ham asking very particularly about you
and she said in a 10th kind of a way,
that your father left you little some
thing, which you would have when you
came of age. She said, too, that you
were very intractible when you came
here, and she and Mr.. Smith thought
you would bemore manageable if made
to think you were dependent On them
for everything
I dropped my work; [ went straight
to my room. The mystery was solved
at last, for could never understand
! how 1t was that nv father had left me