Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1880-03-18
A COUNTRY GIRLS ROMANCE.
BY MARTHA ID. HAkDIE.


A dull, rainy day, darkening INTO
9 duller night. The clouds that had
all day covered the sky were not
broken, but against their cold gray
ness the sunset had struck one long
bar OF dark crimson. 1t had not
rained steadily, only been raw, clou-
dy, disagreeable, with an east wind
coming in from the sea--a cold sigh
ing wind that made people uncom.
! Portable and cross.
The twilight was not pleasant;
there was nothing attractive in the
street, with it's row of houses and
stores cleaning family in the dis
tance. and its occasional passers vet
for half an hour had walked up and
down the little porch, finding in it
something suited to my restless, un.
happy mood. One sentence will tell
you who and what l was. A poor, am.
bilious girl, with q mind only half
developed, sensitive to all the refine.
ments of wealth and culture, " ant
ing Injuries, and, because could
not have them, disconnected and un.
happy.
| was eighteen that day, and all
my life, save year had been spent
in that. village-a very quiet place
down in the valley, watched from
the surrounding hills by some lovely
country places, whose owners made
every summer the town alive With
fashion and gayety. whose winner alb
sence left it very dull. The sum
mer before, l had come home from a
years absence at school, and since
then the town had seemed to me in
tolerably dull still. l did not want
to come back ] wanted to stay and
graduate but my father was poor, |
was needed at home, and my plans
for culture and improvement had TO
be sunk in sweeping and darning. l
rebelled at my fate and made it hard.
er. For the society which the place
afforded my year at school, thought,
united me. So l stayed at home,
and, when my work was done, read
Carlyle and De Quincy, or took long,
lonely walks-a course OF treatment
not likely to cure my disease.
was more than usually tired that
night, my birth day but it was
Monday, and mother had congratu.
lated herself on getting her washing
out end dry, being certain that it
would rain to morrow. Looking in
now at the window, | saw the long,
low kitchen before the fire my faith
er smoking his pipe and talking with
a neighbor, my mother folding down
the clothes, my two brothers disput.
ing over their marbles in the corner
the smell OF the supper around all
| looked at it scornfully; / was tired
of sweeping and busting I wanted
something better. Other girls might
be contented with their work, their
small pleasures, their awkward low
ers-bah
/ went in.
'I'm glad you've come, JAMIE said
my mother. 4 was afraid you would
take cold out there
No DANGER l answered, careless
ly. isn't it time for those boys to
60 to bed ? for the the dispute in
the corner was waxing louder.
They have been waiting for you.
Come, Benny, Johnny, put up your
marbles, now
lit the candle, land as did SO my
mother saw my face palmer.
'What is the n after, jamie p
Nothing, only Pm tired
you worked too haro to day. |
wish we were able to hire a GIRL
signing.
'And / wish Boys are you
ever coming?' And they slowly fol-
lowed me.
heard their child childish prayers
carelessly.put them in bed, and went
down. The dishes were to he wash
ed, potatoes cleaned for breakfast,
and sponge set. Refusing my moth.
ers offer of assistance, finished ev-
erything, taking kind of pleasure
in being long while about it and be-
ing very particular. Then | went to
my room, followed by my mothers
recommendation of herb tea.
was moody and disconnected, and
my books had no charms for me, 80
| sat there imagining things that
might happen that would better my
condition wishing they would.
Suddenly, in,errupting my reverie,
came shout from the street, and
the sound of horses hoofs. l pushed
open my window aud leaned out.
Down the street horse was coming
at full speed, his rider. apparently
hurt and unable to control him, cling
ing helplessly to the saddle. Men
had rushed out, shouting and trying
to stop that mad flight. But just as
he reached our. place some one
rushed IN front to seize the bride
the horse sprang aside, and his rider
was thrown off. He lay there insens-
BILE, while the horse dashed on.
The crowd rushed to the PROSTATE
man, consulted hastily, and then car
ried him into our house. / heard
the shutting feet, land at my mothers
call went down. He was bruised and
mangled, but not seriously hurt. One
leg seemed TO be injured, and from a
cut in the forehead blood was flow
ing dying darkly his curling hair. He
was young, handsome, a gentleman,
that was evident; and as | brought
water to wash away the blood won.
dered vaguely if this was the prince
The doctor came and soon examined
him. His leg was broken there
We're many bruises and cuts.
considering his chances, it's
wonder he wasn't killed. said the
doctor, as be sewed up the long cash.
He was put in bed, conscious now,
and grooming with pain; the neigh
bors left, and the house settled down
into its usual quiet.
Whoever the stranger was, he
was on our hands for the present.
And rs | saw the night lamp placed
10 the room, and my mothsr's tender
face bent over the sufferer, I won.
dered what fate had sent us. We
found oat, the next day, who he was.
George Darlington by name, conf.
II .fo-f- - AZ