The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1880-07-23

member it all rs picture of idyllic
beauty, where II Corydon and Phyllis
might well make love, and WOO, and we'd,
and where Mr.. Crichton would doubt
less soon forget the disappointment of
to-day. If, on the other hand, she did
love him, that scene might rise up and
haunt her some day. Presently Mr..
Crichton appeared, making his way
through the walks, past the flower beds
and croquet ground, to the path across
the lawns. He walked on steadily, not
once looking back at the house he had
left, with head erect, but with slower
step, for all that, than when he had
come that way i'll the morning. Alberta
looked after him. The lawn slopcd; he
would soon be out Of sight; the ha-ha
was reached, and the master of Crichton
Court turned off and vanished from view
as he returned to his solitary home.
And then she was quite sure that she
loved him.
Ii was Just ear later. Alberta, with
her parents, had been staying III this
same county, when she got letter from
Mrs. HinX,nan asking her to spare her
few days, if no more, on her way up to
London.
"There are, of course, few attractions
to tempt you, said the letter; land in
one line, ut least, you tespised what l
once provided; but YOU know how well
come you are to all Of u.s." and so on.
Then: Il am such wretched CORE
spondent, otherwise l should have told
you about our militia ball, which was so
good. Little Jesse Bulfeel came out ut
it, and looked SO pretty. Mr.. Crichton
said she was quite the belle of the room,
and am going to have her to stay with
me next month, in hopes. ] tell you
this, for 1 am sure you liked Mr.. Crich-
ton well enough to he glad he should be
provided with such good little wife rs
have II private idea that Jessie would
make him"
Alberta did not look back with pleasure
Oh the year, that was gone. A London
season. and constant round of visiting
and pleasuring during the winter, had
found and left her bright and happy
many year before. Although her LIES
programme read somewhat frivolous
one, Alberta was no idle butterfly, and,
above MI, she had not led that exhaus-
tive chase after matrimony which leaves
so many shattered and spent before their
time. She valued the solids of life as
we'll rs its sweets. Her lot had been Il
prosperous one; but, III the face of poet
teal justice, il need not follow of neces-
sity that one carries Il cold and selfish
heart even along an o'er-smooth way.
1t hal come, however, now to pass, that
al through this year Alberta had failed
/ IN IF
the old sources. A regret, n contrition,
an Unsuitable yearning for certain idyllic
and ideal country side, haunted her, and
spoiled everything besides. And now
that Emily's letter had come, Alberta
could not resist it.
She must 60. Mr.. Crichton might or
might not be i'll love with Jessie Bufteel's
silly little face. She, Alberta, was 60
ing to stay for these few days with
Emily, not with Mr.. Crichton-to try
and lay the memory OF that Buelah land,
and look that mistake of hers, of which
she was well aware, fairly i'll the face,
and accept its consequence. And 80 she
went.
She had only few days to spare, so
it was fortunate that. after late spring,
warm weather had suddenly set III, and
the familiar scene wore as fair a smile
upon its face as the one Alberta had left
just Il year ago. Mr.. Crichton was Mt
home, and the second day after Alberta 3
coming saw him emerging from the ha-
Ia and coming up To the house on one of
! his usual visits. He had not chosen to
! break through his customary habits,
and so the inevitable meeting took place.
int l,,
tween them as the shook hands and de-
scrIbed the weather to one another, 1t
was scarcely enough to attract attention.
Mr.. Crichton was studiously friendly in
the few remarks he addressed to AL
berta; but how few they were no one
knew better than she, nor why he made
them SO. He had strictly obeyed her
somewhat vehement commands to be
left i'll peace, and no doubt considered il
necessary to carry them out, even in this
minute particular.
"What pity it should,bc mt an end,
said Emily to herself, "when they would
have suited 50 well; but Alberta never
will listen TO any ones advice without
she fancies ii herself. Which was more
true than grammatically phrased-Mrs.
Hinxman having picked up this mode OF
expression from her head nurse.
The next day passed on, and then
came the last avenin2, and n very beau
tiful one it was, making Alberta's heart
ache mt the thought of leaving on the
morrow, although size had inwardIy
known but little peace or satisfaction
throughout the visit. Mr.. Crichton had
come over to dinner, and they were not
allowed TO sit long after ii, for the chill,
dren had promised to go and see "tnC
peat field burning and were gathered
in an impatient little troop on the grave
outside, one or other appearing mt the
door or window now and then, with
"Arcn't you just coming pappy
You've been such n long time at YOU
dinner!"
Toward the left the Hinxman's house
the ground began rising on its way Il
the mountains, and across couple OF
meadows you came to sloping field
shaded on one side by trees, where the
peat was burning. They all went along
merrily; the children, III full zest of con
tentment after their long waiting
wheeled and fluttered round the eldert
like little flock of pigeons. Emily ant
Alberta had red shawls on over thei
evening dresses, and basket with worl
and novels to read, if they preferred sit.
ting down by-and-by. 1t was IN exquis
} lite evening, balmy and fresh, and thu
smell Of of the peat, mingling with tn,
sweet air, was something to call fortl
papegyrics every moment. The laborcr
, III the field, too--mostly women-seemet
80 good tempered and pleased to SEE
them, working at the firing and turnin,
, the peat with none the less vigor TO
being under the masters eye.
, The children were in ecstasies, nov
venturing on during contact with tn
} burning peat, now running screaming
: away i'll pretended fright, and chasing
each other in and out Of the heated clod
of grass and earth. Emily had accepte'
) Mr.. Crinchton's arm to ascend the sid
, of the rugged field, skirting its hedge
Mr.. Hinxman took Alberta round abou
among the peat, now talking TO the worl
peopl nav explaining to her how tn
. weather was too damp to do this burning
sooner, and how the field would now b
in prime connition for the autumn SCI
, ting OF corn. They were general
) pleasant companions to each other, bu
tonight Alberta's heart WAS "throbbin
} with the May" and in secret she CAV
only kind of sick mans attention to hi
, farming plans.
Presently they rejoined the others, an
stood admiring the pretty scene and tn
, beauty of the evening. Now and the
played with the children, now and the
: strolling round the field, for the dew wa
: falling too thickly under the trees fo
the projected seats and novels. Tn
a o,onU nf tho ,,oot lnli.inno Az Ell