Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1879-09-18

quiet, stupid place-where you will
speedily come to your senses, and learn
to thank me for having saved you from
yourself"
And, twenty.four hours Efie Herman
was en- route for the mountain farm.
house away up in the Jersey 6hawan-
gums, and Mrs. Herman was coldly con-
graduating herself.
"She shall marry himl If there'sany
Fielding-which have once or twice
imagined-1 have eaectually put a
quietus on that My letters to sister
Hepsy contained strict orders that no
living soul, malo or female, was to be
allowed to see Efie, except members of
her own family; and Hepsy was always
afraid to offend me-so there's nodanger
on that score. And two or three weeks
will work wonders. She'll be glad to
come back and finish the season at Long |
Branch and Newport as Mr.. Valentines
bride, and 60 to Europe in the winter"
And then Mrs Herman leaned back
in her chair and INDUCED in little cat.
nap, composed and claimed by the plaudits
of a good conscience:
Such place as the Berrian farm, up
in the ShaWangums! Fife had all her
life imagined it the most dreary, Desc !
late, forsaken place in all the wide
world, and her rapture knew no bounds
when she found that it was the worry
ideal of picturesque, romantic, luxurious
loneliness, and that Aunt Hepsy was
genial, jolly soul, trimming over with
good nature and good sense; that Uncle
Zebedee was worthy to be her husband,
and that the girls-Jessie Dunbar and
Gwen Comfort-were just the very
ideals of cousins, and prepared to make
pet and plaything Of their beautiful,
dainty city cousin, who somehow (they
did not quite understand) was in sort
of disgrace, on account of rich sutton
she would not accept submissively.
To Eaie, the life in the country was
just perfect. To get away from Mr..
Valentine and his attentions was happi-
ness enough; and, still adamantine in
her resolution to never, never" marry
him, under any circumstances, oh0
nave-tAoloes ovutrlved to have very
good time with Jessie and Gwen, uncle
and auntie, and
Jessie and Owens brother, uncle and
auntie's son, Efie's own cousin, whom
astute Mamma Herman had quite for.
gotten in her inventory of things 1T the
farmhouse; OF, if not quite forgotten,
had at least placed an innocent estimat Q
upon.
However, they became ast0nishingly
good friends, Harry Berrian and Efie,
and before a month had passed Fife had
confided all her SORROWS to her hand
some, sympathetic cousin, who assured
her vehemently that it was an outrage
that she should be so deliberately bar
gained for; and that, were he to be he1
counselor. and she followed his advice,
she would stick to her resolution, and
never give her hand where she could moi
give her heart.
And then he looked at her in an eager
sort of q way, and Fife dropped he1
8 eyes, and that was all that there was
D about it.
D It seemed as if fate itself was working
: in Mrs. Herman's behalf, for Mr.. Valen
t tine had not at all taken it amiss wher
D she informed him she had sent Effie
DEAR" up among the mountains for .
, few weeks recreation, so that she might
r be bright and fresh spirited for the wed
!. ding. Indeed, in his own heart he fell
t considerably relieved, and was gayer il
q his own spirits than he had been to]
< many day.
Q Until, very suddenly, a terrible at
tack of rheumatism seized him, and pu
;. him completely at the rather doubtful
= though well.meant mercy of his hiret
+ servant; and in sheer rage and despai
Mr.. Valentine telegraphed to his sister
Q in-law, away up in Vermont, to com,
o and look after him.
;. eff I had been able to nurse you
; dear Mr.. Valentine!" Mrs. Herman
i cooed, sweetly. "But Madam Grundy
Q would be sure to be disagreeable. 1
only you were married now, just imag
D inc how devoted dear Fife and woulc
+ bel As it IL, I do really think the bes
q thing you can do is to send for Mrs
Grey"
And Mrs. Grey came-a plump, CHEEKY
: comedy little lady, with soft, shining
+ brown hair, all in waves and ripples, ant
merry, intelligent eyes, brown and big
and sweet, vibrant voice, the very
8 sound of which held q comfort AM
J., strengthfulness in it, soothing tones.
q She was q born nurse, and a bor1
housekeerer, and even in his sick.roon
:, Mr.. Valentine was conscious of tn
: noiseless running of the domestic ma
chinery, while, in the many pleasant
b confidential talks they had, her goo
+, common sense was always apparent.
Q "lt's no wonder Jack wOrshiped he
g poor fellow" he thought.
;, "And you are actually going to b
Il married, Slinyerland? was quite SUI
z prised when heard of it; and a charm
e ing young girl heard che isl"
y "Well, yes, / believe I am thinkin
y about it, Amy. Yes, Miss Herman is
very sweet, pretty little grill"
70 "I'm sure you thought seriously owe
q it before you decided it's an importan
u thing to do, Slingerland, and special
e important when q man comes to you
,e you'll be satisfied"
n Nh. Valentine puckered up his fort
It head, doubtfully.
ID "Oh, dear me! yes, l hope 80. 1
y mans bound to make q fool of himse]
y once in his life, and it's happened to m
later than to most. Oh, yer, dare So
Efie and I'll get on very we'll"
Of A curious little smile crept to Mr.,
y Grey's red lips-such ripe-red lips, lik
t, luscious damask roses.
rs "You don't talk like the enthusiast
es lover I expected to find," she sale
y brightly, biting the pretty lip to kee
I from laughing. for shreWd Mrs. Gre
was quite we'll convinced that he
10 brother-in.law was repenting his word.
"And dom feel enthusiastic, either,
r. he blurted out, his face reddening undo
u her surprised, innocent blue eye
b "The fact is, l went bewitched over
It. pretty face, and somebody ought to hay
as kicked me from here to Jericho before
r. made such deuced-ass-yes-of m,
We self"
Jacks widow drew down the wifi