Richland beacon., 1881-05-21
OUT IN THE COUNTRY.
BY HELEN FOREST GRAVES.

"To let ?" said the agent Ready
furnished? For month? Really. Indies,
I'm very much afraid | haven any prop
erty Ill my hands not at present, ut
least that will meet your expectations.
I've plenty Of unfinished houses, and
plenty To rent for Il year. But Tor tins
month? There isn't any such real estate
III the markct-thcre isn't, indeed.
I'VE don want an unfinished house,
said Angela Frost.
And we have no occasion 10 use IA
house for a year, added Josephine. her
tall, blooming younS sister.
The agent hit the end of his quill-pcn.
and looked at them duhiously, from be-
hind the ink-spIashed rail, Of his desk.
I've are school-tcachcrS," Miss An
Gcla explained, "aud we have just
months vacation: and We want To- spend
it in n hcnlthful country resort, where
can botanic, and where my sister can
sketch in watcr-colors from nature
"Ah," said the agent-.'ah! Indeed,
I'm very sorry, ladies', but l don't think
there's any property III the market here
abouts that will meet yOur ideas"
What time does the evening stage
leave the hotel?" Josephine asked rather
dcspondently.
AT five, 1 believe" the agent re-
piled.
And the two ladies' went slowly out of
the stutfy little room with its high desk,
its floor covered with cheap oil-cloth,
and its general atmosphere of stale to-
bacco-smoke.
"Pm SO sorry, Angel" said the
younger "Thc air of these pine-woodcd
glcns is the very thing for your
asthma
"And the little river in the deep gorge
is such an exquisite study for y"ur
paintings. Jo, said Miss Frost fondly.
Conduit We live in barn? 2 sug-
gestcd 10, with comical arch of hcr
eyebrows.
I'm afraid not" sighed Angela
The real estate agent in the meanwhile,
had hardly smoked apipe and read the
local paper before the door burst open.
and IA short, stout lady, i'll pink hat and
feathers came III.
"Mr. MuggeridSc," said she, handing
him key, You may let Ivy Glen, or
you may sell dy-furnishcd, with IL
COW, poultry-house and the oliy-chaiso
thrown III.
Madam." said Mr.. Muggeridgc, he
wildcred
I'm tired of it. said the lady "Su-
sic and Jennie are homcsick to get back
t. the city. and so am l. I've been with
ont II servant since Monday, and now
I'm goinGto take the evening stage to
town. and meet my husband before he
starts for Ivy Glen. dare say he'll he
vcxcd, but l can't help it. And I've left
word at the Dairy farm house for my
brother Duke to follow us.
"You couldn't let it for month ?"
expcrimentally haza~dcd Mr.. Mug
gcridge.
"Td let it for three days" said the
lady.
II could find outenants for month, "
said the agent "And. perhaps, at the
end Of that time, something else might
offer"
Every WELL" said the lady. "Thcre
is the key"
And away she went; and Mr.. Mug
gcridge clapped his hat on the back of
his head and set off, in hot haste, to the
hotel, for an interview with the two
Young ladies who had so recently left
his Office.
And SO it happened that 10 and Angel
Frost took triumphant possession of Ivy
Glen, a romantic cottage, half covered
with the dark green. glossy leaves of II"
vine from which it derived its name, with
a boudoir. piano, and all the pictures
Carlonded with pressed ferns and dried
outump leaves, and library OF novels.
..Nirs Fitch must have been very
literary person, said 30:
"And musical" added Angel
"As for a servant, one would oniy DE !"
nuisance, said 10. n. -,
.I'll Groom the pony myself, SAID
ANGEL Hes no bigger than New
foundland dog-the darling,
And III milk the COW and feeo me
dear little chickens" declared pretty III
tie 10. so;a
ITS really an earthly PARADISE salo
the elder sister.
$50 it is" assented 10: e
The two sisters passed three days ol m
unmitigated happiness IN the deep
rayines and cool, fiower-enameled woooS
that surrounded wv Glen.
Angela made various valuable addi,
t;ons to her herbarium, and 10 sketched
ieafy hooks. bits of falling water and
sunset effects to her hearts content
until finally good, old-fashioned ram;
storm set in, of July afternoon ano
pr;soned them in the cottage parlor.
"How stupid this isl said 10, starting
nm from her book, as the twilight shad
or. brooded darker and darker IN tht
.onm "I,et's 90 down to the barn, anl