The Republican journal., 1881-04-07
DR.. Stones Remedy.


and again to pretty Molly Brown. And
she would blush sometimes, and puzzle
her wise little head with her prospective
housekeeping arrangements like any nest
building bird in the spring. 1t was not
to be pretentious edifice as houses go:
neither is birds nest large, though there
is untold tiuttering over it: but it stood
on pleasant lawn, such as almost keep
themselves in a country village. \ few
tall trees were close by. Molly as soon
as she had dismissed her school. stopped
every day to look after the roses and cur
rent bushes and sage plants and many
things, both useful and ornamental. which
/ grew up as if by magic in the garden and
on every side of her future home. And it
always happened that Harry, who was
the haLdsomest and blithest carpenter in
/ all that region. contrived to see the teach
er whether he was working on this side
of the house or on that, and sliding down
from roof or staging, or leapins from We
randa or window. was sure to meet her
before she had passed the lilac bushes
which stood hard by the gate way,
'Moly, dear, when will that blessed
school of yours be done ,"
Not these ten weeks" said Molly,
laughing. "You know It's scarcely be-
gun
"Well, just a fortnight after you give
up that pedasogue business the last nail
/ will be driven in this magnificent dove
cote: then two months for preparing,
painting and most excellent drying. and
then, Molly dear"
I The teacher bIushed and smiled and
none the less when a quick kiss touched
her round cheek-Dut it was no harm, for
they were already in the house.
.lts, then You'll have those towels and
table-cloths in apple pie order: and that
avalanche of chintz stretched over the
cosiest chairs and sofas you ever rested
/ on"
'.What deal of work it will be" said
/ Molly, quite anXiously.
"And what a deal Of comfort" retorted
Harry; '.and how nice it will look when
it is done: the pink and red flowers for
the parlor, the blue for the sitting-room.
and the green and white for the bedrooms
and the kitchen-well believe we won't
sit down there at all"
And what is this room for ;" inquired
Molly. discovering a wing which had been
thrown out, forming an apartment that
opened from the sitting room and upon
the veranda.
"On purpose for you," said Harry, ''to
be your study, or sewing or sanctum
or what you will, only | beg permission
to pay you visit once in a while just
look at this bay window What Il rare
1 place for YOU and me on summer even
ings"
Molly put her little hand on her lovers
arm. and said her thanks so sweetly that
he was halt-tempted to give his house as
many wings as a windmill, Just to have
the scene repeated.
Nov, Molly, DEAR you'll have to use
another piece of chintZ for that window
seat and the arm-chairs. But the china
closet: come and see if the shelves suit
YOU"
At this instant there was a great rattling
of loose boards upon the floor. and a very
musical voice called "Cousin Harry" with
beWitching impatience.
''Where are you? What in the world
are you doing here? 'Tisn't very hospi
table to let visitors break their necks
/ finding their host. ''Why, what is it.
Cousin Harry, going to set up bachelors
hall without sending me word"
y
| ING, but not quite at his ease, for he stood
somewhat in awe Of his dashing cousin.
II intended to send for YOU when the cot
tage should be finished. tbs not, as you
perceive. convenient place for visitors
as it is
''But it seems you have them, nOtwith-
standing" said Clara, as she espied his
companion, whom she greeted as an old
| acquaintance. "COnceited as you are,
you cannot build house without calling
a woman to hold a consultation with over
hooks and corners. You should have
sent for me who knew all these things in
stinctively. | was born a carpenter, only
fortunately, a woman; but Molly here,
wise teacher as she is, can't do the least
thing with inches and angles, partitions
and stair cases, until they are all demon
strated to her understanding by being
tinl shed past alteration"
$50 much the BETTER" retorted Harry.
II can have it all my own way, and that
| could never get from you"
"And never SHALL" returned Clara,
glancing at the little bird of teacher
who on her part did not look altogether
satisfied. "Come, Cousin Harry, aunty
says you must be at home early, since you
have company, so set your things to rights
and go now with me-"
The girls stood waiting for the young
carpenter.
GLOW veXatious Harry is," said Clara.
ave have planned hours together, ever
since we were the merest children, and
now it is downright provoking that he
should commence building without so
much as acquainting me with his inten-
tions. | heard he was at work here, but
never supposed it was for himself; until
two days ago. and have come up lust to
have hand in the business. Old times
give me pretty fair right to do So any
one might allow.
Clara paused to survey the grounds,
with lofty air of proprietorship, and pat
ted her foot to the humming Of prima
donna waltz. Poor Molly could hardly
keep back her tears or maintain her dig
nifty by an assumed indifference, or still
worse, think of something to say that
should relieve silence which, to one at
least was embarrassing. But finally she
ventured the fortunate relative arrange
ment Of the trees, which, as they were
twenty years old, might safely be ap-
proved without suspicion of conceit or
vanity.
"They are we'll enough to be sure,' re-
piled Clara. 'But what an idea to plant
that thicket of roses and what not besides
so near the house-a regular hole for
toads and brooding hens-to say nothing
of the garden coming so far in front.
Cabbages in sight of the parlor windows"
''No, the flowers will screen them,"
said Molly, trying to laugh.
'Maybe-the cabbages, but nothing
shorter than suntiowers and hollynocks
can hide the bean poles. Plainly, | shall
give Harry lecture on taste, and have
the whole affair swept farther back. We
used to arrange our establishment in a
rather more stylish manner"