Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1880-07-29
A RARE CASE,

orphan girl of a former servant in a
wealthy family, Matte had shared the
lessons and the play of the younger
daughter of the house, until time came
when it was convenient to turn the hum
ble companion adrift to work for herself.
1t may have been a piece of the ill-luck
his neighbors ascribed to Drew, that it
should have been to his farm the girl
came as help to his sister, or it may have
been piece of his good nature that
made him agree to take under his roof
this pretty lass, unframed for service
and educated far above her station.
Drew's widowed sister, Mrs. Bankes,
who lived with him, and whose child it
WIS Matte had come to nurse, amongst
other duties too numerous to mention,
for there was but one servant kept
Drew's sister exclaimed in despair when
the farmer brought home the young,
lady-like, delicate-looking- girl:
"We want q strong, Woodworking
lass! This one does not know her right
hand from her left. She is as good as q
lady, or as bad, and has never MIXED Il
COW in her life What were you think
ing of to bring her here?"
"Ah that's just my luck; well, we
must do the best we can with her. If
the steward had never mentioned her to
me, now-but then he did mention her,
and here she is"
There she was, and there she stayed.
Apt to learn, willing to be taught, CRATE
full for the real kindness she met with.
Matte was soon the best hand at milk
ing for miles around, soon devoted to the
baby. Three years passed quietly, and
then came the romance Of Mattie's life.
She was twenty that summer, and
Adam Armitage, q grave man, was fully
ten years her senior. A great traveller,
member of a world-renowned scientific
society, a student and discoverer-he
was between two scientific expeditions,
refreshing heart and brain by walking
tour through the home counties.
Adams walking tour ended at the
farm Drew had only taken year before,
aud the dwelling house it had been found
more convenient to inhabit than the
smaller building on the land close to the
road. Mr.. Armitage found the pure air
of the Downs good for him. He made
friends with all the family. To Matte
it was delightful to meet once more one
with all the tricks Of speech and manner
of the more refined society, among which
her youth had been passed. Little
Harry followed this new friend where
ever he vert; Harry's mother called him
a right-down pleasant gentleman; the
farmer called him a good man.
They all missed him when he went
away, Matte most of all; but the follow
ing summer saw him there again, well
come old friend this time, and no stranger.
Drew, a keen observer of all that went
on around him was not so much taken
by surprise as his sister was, when one
day toward the end of this second visit
Adam and Matte were both mysterious
ly missing. A strong-armed country
lass made her appearance before night.
She was the bearer of note from Mat
tie, confessing that she and Mr.. Armi-
tage were married, and hoping the SER
want sent him might supply her place,
SO that no one would be inconvenienced.
Drew might shake his head and look
thoughtful, but Mr.. Armitage was his
own master, and it was not the first time
gentleman had married country lass.
Besides, the deed was done and past re.
call. They had gone quietly to one OF
the churches in the town, from whence
the sound of bells hoated up to the farm
and had been married by special license.
Adam had taken lodging for his bride,
and there they passed one brief, bright
week of happiness, then one morning
walked quietly back together, Matte
blushing and smiling, and looking &c
lovely and lady-like in simple dress
that she used to wear before she came tc
the farm that they hardly knew her.
Adam explained that he meant to leave
his wife for two days-no more-in The
care of her old friends; at the end of thai
time he would return to fetch her. There
were arrangements to make with regard
to the scientific expedition about to star
Immediately. It would sail without hin
now, but it behooved him to do his hes
that his place should be as we'll filed as
might be. There was also his mothe
to see, and prepare for receiving Matte
Matte walked little way with he
husband and the farmer, along th'
breezy uplands, and then Adam sent he
back and fastened his own step, in tn,
direction of the little station at the foo
of the Downs. When he came again. h
said, laughing, that it would be from
B 81 station, and that he would driv
in fly through the Stonedene gate an
along the track, the only approach to
carriage road leading to the farm.
Matte went away smiling, as he mean
she should do, and only paused now an
then to look after the two men as long a
they remained in sight. It was nature
that she should feel a little afrail of thi
unknown lady, Adams mother, but thu
fear was the only shadow on. Matte
path. It was an idyf;a poem, be true
love story as the world has seen, ths
had written itself here in this otlt-of-tht
way spot on the lonely Sussex Downs.
On the third day, they might look fc
Adam to return, but that day passed
and many another, until the days wei
neither came nor wrote. Matte remen
bered how when she had turned to loo
back for the last time upon that home
ward walk, she had seen his figure dir
tinct against the, sky for one instant, an
in the.next lost it entirely as he passe
out Of, sight over the. swelling line
hills. just 80 she seemed to have lo'
HMM one instant out of her lne. An
yetshe never lost faith and trust. 81 hi
never ceased TO watch for his comm
again. - #@ ST s.
Drew, aftera time, either goaded |
the step by his sisters loud-voiced arg;
ments, or prompted to it by his ON
sense of what was due to Matte. n
only took pains to ascertain that Il
marriage was real enough, but the fu
Their pains Of searching for and fndin
the address Of Adam Armitage in Lo,
don. It was strange how this girl ar
d" her FORMER master both trusted Adam
the face Of his inexplcable silence:.;
the face OF even q smore omiinous disco disco
cry made by Drew when in town-tl
discovery that he had never mentionrt
Matte's name to bis mother, OF allud,