The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1880-10-14
and garments wet through by the
damn and NOT ~ tiro<r cr,0vy

cheerful uttle INTERIOR, winch would
have done no discredit to the pencil of
a Dutch artist-a blaze of pine logs on
the hearth. candle burning in it's
brass sconce a red-and-blue rag carpet
on the f1eor, a round cherry table set
out for supper, and a huge gray cat
purring costly on the hearth-stone.
A tall white haired old man opened
the door to him, and welcomed him
after CHEEKY, unconventional fashion.
the old man. "Well, I declare, you
have got wet, hain't We? Step right up
to the fire. Here's seat! 1 don't
seem to RECOGNISE ye-not just by sight
though I've lived forty-odd years
hereabout. You are
II am Mr.. Payson, of Mallendale
works. said our hero, with sigh of
satifaction, as he expended his chilled
hands to the delicious warmth of the
freight permenting his whole frame
':Do tell?" said the old man, vino had
by this time swung a huge iron tea
kettle to a crane over the fire. 1--WE
got a granddaughter runs machine
there. And you're the new foreman?
Board at Squire Ameses, don't We?
Well, you're good two mile out of
your way, sir. You'd ought to took the
fust right-hana road, by John Middle
brooks stone midi, and then the fust
left hand, runnin' where the Widow
Fitch's tavern is. But you're kindly
welcome to stay here all night, strang-
er; anu my little gal, she'll show you
the way in the morning. She was won
dering what the new foreman was like,
and DOW she'll get a good, long look at
you. Jest set down in the big chair,
stranger, and make yourself comfort
able, while go down in the cellar af-
ter pot of apple-sass. My little gal,
she comes home pretty tired of a night.
and like to save her all the steps 1
can. She's working dreadful hard for
new cashmere gown for Thanksgiv-
ing; and when the taxes is paid, and
the interest Oh the mortgages, and"
At this stage of his remarks, the
voice of Mr.. Payson's host became in
audible, by reason of his slow decent
down the cellar-stairs, with the brass
candlestick still in his hand; aid the
new foreman was alone with the pur-
ring gray cat, and the red shine of the
flames, and the deep shadows at every
angle of the room.
"Well, grandfather, did you think l
was never coming!'
The door had opened suddenly, and
admitted a gust of frozen air cloud
of flying snOW-fakes, and Il girl all
muftled up in hoods and shawls.
II stopped at Mollie Deans for a
pattern" said she, "and of course we
had to talk a little. Oh, grandfather"
with a merry laugh, as she sat down on
the floor to pull off her rubber.shoes,
Give seen the new foreman and he's as
handsome as 4 picture, and as cross as
two sticks. Hateful fellow! Only think
of his refusing to change my machine
for me! But I'll be revenged on him,
grandpa. Nollie and have concocted
a royal plan; Pm going to bewitch him,
and wind him around my finger, and
make him fall desperately in love with
me, and then shall refuse him haught-
lily, and. Why, who is that?"
She sprang to her feet with a little
cry of terror; for while Mr.. Payson had
sat bewildered in the vague shadows
by the fressde, and she had ratified on,
old Moses Kesley had finished his er-
rand in the cellar, and now came slow
ly up the stairway, the candle-light
shining in front of him like beacon.
"There she is now" said he; "my little
Kitty. Well, my gal, supper's most
ready, and here's a good chance for you
to scrape acquaintance with the new
foreman. He's got lost in snow,
and"
But Mr.. Payson rose and laughingly
offered his hands to Kitty Kesley, who
stood as if paralyzed in the middle of
the floor.
"Pray forgive my backsliding, Miss
Kesley," said he. II am very sorry if
l really was as cross as two sticks As
the little children say, Il won't do it
again. And I'm quite ready for you
and your friend to commence the be-
Witching process. Idare say [ shall
! find it very agreeable"
in spite of herself.
"Well, I suppose, it's just as we'll to
make the best of it," said she, "and
we'll proclaim an honorable truce, Mr..
Payson-for the present, at least.''
Kitty was charming all the evening,
full of vivacious spirit and arch chatter;
but MI. Payson did not know that she
cried herself to sleep that night with
the bitterest tears she ever had shed.
"What must he think of me?'' said
the factory belle to herself. How did
ever-ever come to make such dread
full blunder %
While Mr.. Paysen was saying over
and over to himself, as he drifted off
into dreamland:
'She is the most charming girl I ever
met in my ife!"
And, at the years end, Kitty Kelsey
left the Mellendale Works to marry its
foreman, and kept house in a pictur-
esQue little stone cottage on the edge