The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1881-05-26
A NARROW ESCAPE.

''If my girls are so bewitched after the
seaside, said he, land the country, I'll
try and give 'em enough Of it."
Elderbush Farm was in the real estate
market at low rate, and Mr.. Poyntz
engaged it, ready furnished, with gard
ener, COW, and the pony phaeton, with
a blind pony thrown in.
Mrs. 'Poyntz and the girls, however,
such is the perversity of human nature
did not seem pleased when they heard
of the bargain which had been driven.
"But, pa" said Miss Imogen, 1--WE
didn't mean one-storied house in
swamp of salt marshes! We meant Cape
May, or Atlantic City, or else that dear,
picturesque Delaware Water Gap!
''There's no society here" sobbed
Alexia, the second daughter, a blooming
girl Just out of boarding-school.
Nothing going on" said Mrs. Poyntz,
a stout matron, who did a great deal of
parish work, and belonged to at least
dozen "leagues," societies" and ICON.
munities," in the city"
"You can make butter and cheese"
said Poyntz, who had just discovered the
remains of an ancient barrel-churn in
the cellar, ''And there is the ocean
view, and the pony, and the new row OF
boarding houses just around the Point
Its all very we'll for papa" said Imo-
gen. HE can go up to town every day.
But we shall be bored to death down in
this wildernessr'
Unfortunately, however, there was
no appeal from the paternal dictum, and
the Misses Poyntz took to drawing in
water-colors, walking and boating in a
venerable skiff which they found at the
back of the barn, while their mother en-
deavored to modernize the house with
Eastlake chintzes, muslin draperies and
homemade lambrequins.
One day, Israel. the hired man, came
Heard the news?' said Israel, who
was one of those free-and-equal sons of
the republic who never dream OF the
wide social gulf that exists between en-
ployer and employee.
mo" said Miss Alexia, who was re-
duced by circumstances to be glad even
of gossip with "hired man." What
news?" l didn't know they ever had any
news in this benighted region"
"Once in awhile" said Israel, with a
chuckle. mis- Parker's got a new
boarder-a poetess, from Philadelfy.
P'raps you've heard of her-Miss Emily
Eglantine?"
Alexia and Imogen clasped their hands
enthusiastically. They were both in
elined to be literary.
Heard of herr" cried they. "Why,
we know all her delicious poems by
heart We've read them in the Trans
cendental Weekly ever since we can re-
member. Miss Byzantine! 1t has been
the dream of our lifetimes to see her"
Israel chewed straw, rehectively.
II read some pretty verses once that
she writ said he. 81 do suppose, now,
it's quite an art to sling rhymes together.
never could do it, know"
''But what is she like?" impatiently
cried Alexia. Tall, slender and will
lowy, with"
Il only seen her trunks" said Israel
two on 'em-marked e E.'-with can
vas covers on; big enough for smoke
houses. / guess Mis- Parker had a Jolly
old time, gettin' 'em up the crooked
staircase. Pete Hawley, the expressman,
he told me about it."
And he went out to harness the old
pony, to bring Mr.. Poyntz from the sta
ton.
Imogen and Alexia looked at each
other.
How shall we contrive to get &C.
quainted with her?" said they.
I've mustn't seem pushing" suggest
cd Alexia
''Of course" said Imogen. where
ever she goes, she is tormented to death
with people, begging introductons.
NO" said Alexia, 'the matter must
be quite spontaneous. An acquaintance
of this sort must be formed accidentally,
or not at ALL
There will be plenty of chances OBJ
served Imogen. ''She must be here for
the benefit of the sea-air, and she'll walk
deal on the beach. You and / will go
boating, Lex, and so it will be the most
natural thing in the world that we should
meet. Dear mel to think that Emily
Byzantine should be as good as our next
door neighbor! How I should delight
TO have her autograph in my album
The next morning, Alexia, who had
been abroad early, to secure fresh eggs
for the omelettes, in which her fathers
matutinal soul delighted, returned. with
the news that Mrs. Parker's new boarder
was out walking on the beach.
"What is she like?" cried eager Imo-
gen.
''Short and stout" Alexia answered,
in accents which denoted slight degree
Of disappointment. And she wears q