Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1879-07-25
THE SCISSORS GRINDER.

EteauoV MAY lncfeuQiQQSiN.
The handsomest man YOU ever saw
in your life cried Olive Satterly.
She was sitting on the back doorstep,
Smelling peas, with a great cinnamon
rose bush showering its pink petals
down on her brown braids of hair, and
her hazel eyes sparkled beneath their
long lashes, while Maude, the beauty of
the family, leaned out of the window
her pretty tresses screwed up in crimp-
ing papers, and a gingham wrapper but
toned carelessly at the throat, with no
ornamental accessories in the way of
collars, frills, or ribbon bows; for Maude
had been to party the night before,
and had slept late, scolded her mother
because the coffee was cold, and abso
lutely declined any interference with
the household affairs that morning.
+" Exactly like a corsairw said Maude,
suppressing yawn. Tall and dark,
with such a great diamond on his little
finger, and eyes like cherry wine. And
he was so surprised to think that rec
ognized him through his disguised"
"What costume did he assume ?"
asked Eleanor May, who not having re-
ceived an invitation to the fancy dress
ball at Mrs. Pipington's, was naturally
exceedingly inqulsitive on the subject.
GA pirate" said Maude. "With a
black velvet cap, you know, and scarlet
sash, and cutlass. And he declared
that he would disguise himself so COM
pletely the next time that l couldn't
possibly identify him, and he wagered
a box of kid gloves on the question"
" | suppose he means at Lizzie Hook
er's birthday party?" said Olive.
"Of COURSE" said Maude."
g wish l could go!" said Olive work
ing diligently away at the peas, that
dropped like emerald rain into the shin
ing tin pan.
"Well you can't" replied Maude
shortly. Mamma says she cannot af-
ford two fancy dresses, and I'm the
oldest"
Eyes, l know" said Olive meekly.
"And Mr.. Medlicote danced only
once with you last night" added Maude,
unable TO repress her exultation, "and
he waltzed with me three times, besides
the German"
Little Olive, looking shyly up at her
sister, secretly wished that Providence
had seen fit to make her also a beauty.
81 SUI pose," said Miss May, curious
ty, "that he is very rich"
.'Oh, very" nodded Maude.
And Olives thoughts jumped ut once
to the idea of how beautiful her sister
would look in the regulation orange
blossoms and white tulle.
81 wonderif ever shall be married?'
pondered Olive, Smelling peas faster
than ever.
"Who's that coming around the cor
ner of the house?' cried Maude, with
some asperity, Zone of those everlasting
peddlers again? Oh, it's only scissors
grinder
''And very fortunate, too said Mrs
Satterly, pale, overworked little wo-
man, with light hair and faded COM
plexion; .for my shears are so bad !
can't cut with them. And there's the
embroidery scissors, and pair that be-
longs to the mending basket, and"
GLOW much do you ask paii?" de-
manded Maude, sailing out upon the
garden path with her pretty feet thrust
into slipshod slippers, soiled wrapper
torn down one side, and her hair yet in
the loose, tangled curls, which had
hung like coiled gold down her neck
the night before.
The mana swartbrowed, STOPPING
foreigner-set his wheelu upon II e grass,
bowed low, with smile which dis
closed teeth cleaning whitley through
his thick, bushy beard, and held up six
fingers, in pantominic gesture.
That's too much" said Maud.
''He can't understand you," said
Eleanor, laughing.
Miss Satterly shook her head, stamped
the little untidy foot, held up six pairs
of scissors in various stages of dilapi-
dation, and displayed silver quarter
OF dollar.
The scissors grinder smiled again, and
made an obeisance nearly to the ground
and assented to the bargain with nu-
merous mods and signs.
isn't he funny" said Eleanor.
"Horrid velyateen-eoated fellow"
said Maude "To think he belongs to
the same humanity with my divine AL
gernon!7
"He looks tired and thirsty" said
gentle-hearted Olive. 1--WE a great
mind to offer him cool drink"
"Youll do no such thing said
Maude, imperiously. an have no
sister of mine running to wait on scis-
sors-grinders! Mamma is that chocolate
ready yet?'
"Chocolate?" repeated poor Mrs. Sat
terly, with conscience-stricken air,
81 declare, Maude, l forgot all about ii.
But I'll run directly and set il boiling"
Maude Satterly crimsoned to the very
temples.
Forgot" repeated she. "You're
always forgetting! never saw any one
like you in my lifel No; won't have
it now, If you can't prepare my choco-
late when want it, you shan't prepare
il at all. should think you might have
thought of it, Olive"
81 am very sorry Maude, began Olive
apologetieally; for all that think you
ought not to speak SO Grossly TO NAM
ma"
"Hold your tonguel' said Maude
stamping her foot again. do you sup
pose am going to be tutored by you 2