Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1880-12-17
A MOUNTAIN RIDE.

| Oub Oh us.
She was such shy little thing and
blushed il you spoke TO her, and acted
afraid of her own voice. and wore print
dresses all the time, and never was invit
ed 10 our parties.
She lived in a tumble. down old house
which had been very grand mansion
once
The Tinkhams had been great people
in my grandmother's day. Nothing was
lett of their grandeur now, however Tor
there had been wine in one generation
and whiskey in the next, and delirium
tremens in the third
Rays father was the third. She had a
wretchod time keeping house for him
Her mother was dead
I'VE" were the girls OF Mrs. BANDS
private school.
a dozen OF us were out upon the east
veranda one morning. We were all
talking at once. Some one, it seemed
had said the high school girls were bet
ter scholars than we were.
every well. So they arc"
This was Kate Avery, and she was
standing up by the lattice where the
morning. glory vines grew, and where a
hundred clusters of little bells swung
out-blue and purple and rose.pink. If
Kate was anything, she was honest,
though she was handsome too.
1--WE have music and French converse.
ton, and Lou has a phmton, and have
two donkeys, and Queeny has been TO
Europe; but" lowering her voice, ITS
an awful secret though it's the truth
The high school girls are miles beyond
us in Lat n and mathematics"
Indeed they are, said l. Pm what
mademoisele calls A. "idgit" in arith.
mctic. really suppose that two and
two make four; but if one Of those girls
were to tell me that they made five, |
shouldn't dare dispute her"
'"The fact is" said Kate, "little Tink.
ham is the only che of us who is sure of
her multiplication table. But then she
doesn't really belong to us She would
not be here If it wasn't for sweeping and
busting 10 pay her tuition There she is
this minute"
A small, tired looking figure in q
coarse dress came in sight round the cor
ner. II was Rachel with her load Of
books in her arms.
"She has worn that dress every day
for three months said Lou Stedman
II verify believe she goes 10 bed when il
is done up"
My dear, She can't She has TO wash
ana iron it herself Oh, there is Queeny!
cried Kate. II was such gentle, grace
ful girl who cane walking fast TO over.
take Ray, caught step rs she overlook
her, md began talking pleasantly"
Doesn't she look nice in that seal brown
suit: And isn't it just like her to carry
Rays books for her."
Quceny's real name was Alice. You
would have known why we called her
Qneeny if YOU had seen her walk beside
Tinkham that morning, open the gate
and stand still, erect, with that grand
way a hers, for the girl 10 pass through
| believe We all rather worshippcd
Quccny
Kate met them with her forehead all
tied up into hard knots, and asked Ray
Didn't she want II be an angel, and
help her with those dreadful fractions"
So they two sat down on the doorstep,
and The rest went into the schoo.room
Then Lon called out to Ray to come and
dus her desk She said "it wasn't half
busted
Qnccny said:
"Ray Il busy will do it, and She
silent and looking prouder than ever,
busted Louis desk herself.
1t was this morning, Friday, that Mrs.
Bland told us hat TO morrow would be
Mountain day"
All The schools in our town drive to
the mountains once year. Our day.
always comes in September.
This time Mrs Bland couldn't go, 50
! she sent along her cousin to matronizc
us She was tidgity person, afraid Of
spiders, and no good any way.
1--WE are To start at nine o'clock"
Quceny said cray, can you be ready SO
early :"
Queeny was new scholar. She didn't
know that Ray never went with us to
such places Now she flushed and re-
piled
u don't thing can 60 to The noun,
tain"
Certainly, you are going" Alice said
in her quecnliest way. III you can't 90
to morrow we will put Off going"
Saturday is my day to clean the
schoolroom," Ray answered.
1--WE will clean it. Let's begin this
minute" and of came Queeny's cuffs
and Rates, all the cuffs, in fact We
went to work and had such fun sweeping
and scrubbing. Just imagine Kate and
Quecny washing the floor. They did j
we'll, too.
Now, remember Queeny said, the
last thing, everybody is to wear her
oldest dress And, Ray, would you be
kind enough TO bring hard.boiled eggs
for your luneheon9 One apiece for Us all
round 2"
Ray looked bright all over, and said
yes.
Now think il was just beautiful Of
/ Quccay TO think OF that, She knew lit
Tie Tinkhan couldn't bring frosted cake
and French rolls as the rest of us did.
So she spoke of the eggs. We all re.
memberod that Ray had wonderful
chickens am sure the word about old