Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1880-10-13
IS DID | FLIRT WITH HER?"

L WAS engaged 10 margaret sheppard,
and thought myself the luckiest man
living. Margaret was so handsome that
40 stranger ever saw her without ex-
pressing admiration; and one did not
weary with her face after years of famil-
iarity with it. She was well-bred, ac-
compllshed and a great heiress. l had
reason to believe that she was very fond
of me. No man could be entirely more
content than was us I leaned back in Il
palace car that bore me over the country
to New Nallatlolil, where I was to preach
for few Sundays.
The pulpit was vacant, and l was just
trying my wings. With my pecuniary
prospects l scarcely thought I should
care to accept call to New Valladolid.
hut had no objection to filing it's pull
pit for a few weeks. especially as Mar
garet had gone to Saratoga, and New
York WAS warm and stuffy and stupid.
Casual remembrances Of elegant par
sonages built in the Queen Ann style;
Of Il study, where the footballs were soft
cned with Persian rugs, and the doors
draped with portieres of velvet; chairs
and a desk carved richly as some old
confessional, fitted through my mind.
And [ thought also Of table spread
with silver and rare china, with a lady
at its head who resembles queen. And
| breathed luxurious sigh as I awak-
euel from my day-dream to knowledge
that the words " New Vallatloid' were
being shouted through the car, and that
the train was coming to standstill be-
fore little pine station.
| caught my travcling-bag from the
ratchau overhead, and hurried out of
the car. The porters had just dumped
four or five trunks on the platform.
Two old wagons stood in the road, one
driven by an old woman in slln-bonnet.
the other by red-haired boy. with bare
feet; and a queer, hock-kneed horse, at
tached to a still queerer old buggy, was
tied to a post at little distance.
\ Young man, i'll a very light summer
suit, and city family Dent on rural hap
piness, were my companions on the plat
form. The former put his trunk into
the first wagon, kissed the old woman in
the sun-bonnet, took the reins and drove
away. He was evidently the son Of the
family come home to spend his vacation,
The rest of the trunks and the city fam
lily, mother, father, little boy, nurse
maid and baby, we're put into the wagon
driven by the boy.
Some one cried, 'tAll aboard!'' Con-
ductors leaned out over the platforms and
made mysterious signals to each other
with hands held sideways. The car rat
tied and clashed, the whistle shrieked,
and the train moved away.
was left alone On the platform-alone
but for the baggage-master, who sat upon
log chewing straw.
In a moment more this functionarv.
without looking at me, made remark:
deacon Glover has come down for
the Lev. dominic. He's over to the store.
Comm back in minute"
Thank you," said I.
The baggagcmaster took no notice of
me, but having climbed upon q stool and
made some changes in time register on
the wall of the station, locked the door.
put the key in his pocket and sauntered
away down the sandy road.
took his place upon the log and wait
cd. In a few minutes a prim little old
gentleman in a linen buster appeared up
on the top Of the hill, carrying in one
hand tin can, in the other tin pail
and under either arm brown paper par
eel. l knew at glance that it was Dea-
con Glover.
"That Mr.. Cannot % he inquired
mildly, as he approached. 81 want to
know! hadn't any expectation of being
kept so long, but, you see, it saves the
women folks trouble to fetch things over
when I drive down. Step in, won't YOU ?
I'll get in after. I'll jest hang this can
of kerosene lie on behind. Some dis
likes the smcll-maybe you 10. The
molasses and tea, and coffee can 60 under
the seat as we'll as not. How's your
health, sir, and how do you like New
Valladolid?'
answered that my health was good,
and that I had not, as yet, seen much of
Valladolid the New.
'sNo more, you haven't" said the old
gentleman. "Weu, you'll drive through
it now" And he shook the reins and
the old horse began to stumble along.
And on we drove past certain rows Of
frame houses very much like each other
and with the same flowers in their front
gardens, until, having passed the church,
we came to one happily set about by old
oak trees, before the gate of which he
drew up.
A girl stood at the gate-a fair girl in
blue muslin dress and white apron.
flake the molasses, lilly, before it
gets upset. said the deacon. "This is
Mr.. Gannet, that's to preach for us.
Mr.. Cannot, this is my daughter Tilly.
We bowed, and she vanished with the
parcels.
"What lovely little creature! I said
to myself: Nothing like Margaret, but
SO pretty!" And [ found myself think
ing ct her as l washed my hands and
brushed my hair in the blue-walled bed