Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1881-11-17
A SPINNING Wheel.

The old house stood in an infre
quented lane; how infrequentea wa
evident from the grass-grown wheel
track ia the middle and the half.efface,
foot path at one side 1t had melan
choly aspect, the old house, as It gazeC
out at the fields with its blinded ant
closely.shut windows. A long, un
trimmed briar-rose tapped with its riot
GUS withes on the front door, the it'll,
Yard was choked with weeds, two o.
three missing panes had been mendeC
by squares of pasted paper; there wa,
Just repair enough to avert a look o
squalor and not sufficient quaintness t.
achieve the picturesque. Still, the vel
low sun and the sweet air of Septembel
bathed the shabbiness and lent a peace
tul air to the spot, and the same blue
sky arched cbove which oyerhanp,
earth's fairer faces. Nature knows nc
iavorites. Her free bounty is shed fol-
all, and her sweetness reaches and com
munlcates itself to unlikeliest hooks.
Forlorn as the old house was. it wore
a delightful look to one pair of eyes
those, namely, of a young woman who
was driving down the lane in light
country wagon, with companion of her
own age and sex beside her. They were
city girls, lodging for few weeks in a
nel8hboring village, and this was one OF
many drives they had taken together.
partly for enjoyment OF each other and
the scenery, and partly with view to
possible bric-a- brac, of which one OF
them was an enthusiastic collector. They
had taken the turn into the lane with the
expectation of finding human habita-
ton beyond, and when the old house
caught the eye of Matte Mason. the
brlc-a-b rac fancier, an exclamation of
rapture broke from her lips. The other
girl did not notice it at first. She was
dreamily regarding the hedge-rows, and
humming to herself
Wild rose, delcately flushing
AL the border of the dale,
Art thou like pale cheek blushings
Or like a red cheek?
Well, Matte, what is it ?" as her alb
stractlon was rebuked by a sharp poke
from the elbow of her companion.
Oh Hester, see Such delicious
old roost 1t looks as if it were built in
the year one. The very house for and
irons and brass candlesticks and spin
ming wheels. Whatll you bet that /
don't fad the spinning OF my
dreams in that very garnet which you
see up there And to think that no one
told US that there was house down
this way -
1T does look spinning wheely," said
Hester, with a smile, as her friend
turned the wagon toward sido door,
where was visible a row of milk pans set
out to air. The sound of wheels, hushed
and yelled as it was by the spreading
grass, evidently caused an excitement
within, for blinds ratified and one or two
heads peeped out of windows. BY the
time the horse had checked himself at
the top Of the grassy rise, the door had
opened, and become, as Matte afterward
expressed it, densely populated" no
less than three women and one old man
crowdlng at once to enjoy the unwonted
spectacle of two young ladies and a
wagon. Two of the women were good
specimens Of that hearty, though tooth
less and wrinkled, old age so often seen
in the New England country regions
the third. spare, shrinking little Great
ure, did not seem Of the same genus.
Matte leaned forward. She was always
the spobeswoman of the two, and her
voice, as she spoke, softened itself into
the pretty, coaxing tone which she was
accustomed TO employ when there was
An end to serve, or a new acquaintance
to be pleased
Good afternoon" said the sweet
voice, "we stopped as we went by to
ask ii by chance you happen to have i'll
your garnet an old fashioned flax wheel
which you no longer use ~
"Well, yes, 1 calkerlats thsreis one, -
replied one of the women.
" Is it pretty-small, you know, and
made of dark wood 2"
g Yes, It's kind of small"
II wonder if I might go up stairs and
see it. (Seductively). / want just such
an old wheel Would you sell yours il
it turns out what | want?"
"You must not ask me about that
he's the man." remarked the other wom-
M. having paid which concession 10
sex, she turned sharply and said to the
nober creature indicated, in peremp-
tory voice; You go along mp and light
candle, SOS she can see when she gets
there "a mandate which "the man .
obcyed with dociity. Then, turning
to Matte You can go up if you've a
MIND TO- but you'll findi kind of dusty,
guess"
Oh, | don't mind dust in the least, "
laughed Matte, who adored old garrets,
and was not often able to win entrance
into one with so little trouble as this.
She and Hester jumped out; the old
woman tied the horse to the fence by his
relns, and the whole party proceeded
indoors and up narrow-walled stair.
case, with sharp, square turns, 10 the
upper entry.
Here was a pause, during which the
old man joined them again, lighted
tallowdip in his hand.
al guess wen have to go through
your room, Miss Ireadgar, ii 1t won
put you out, said one of the elder
women.
"Oh, 60 right in. Ny sister won't
mind, / think, was the reply, in shy,
hesitating voice.
They passed, accordingly. into a large,
low-ceilel room, with windows on three
sides set in "lean-to" roof. 1t was
furnished with some attempt at comfort
A small open-grate stove stood in ihg
chimney, there was hlgh-hacked rock,
g.chair covered with old-tashionsd
patch, bed-quilt of the same, chest
of cherry wood drawers, and, on "A square
of faded carpet IN one OF the windows, {
CLAW legged table Of dark, polished ma
hogany. before which Matte Mason came
TO "point, much as trained dog does
when it detects the presence of hidler
game.
"What a dear little table. she cried
"sucll funny. old-fashioned shape
Do Won use it much Wouldn't yor
like 80 s,ll il !?
ooh please began the spare littit
woman. in a depTecating voice, but, a
if evoked by the words, out from BEHIND
the bed ran another woman, with Oddly
shining eyes. She came swiftly, viii
hands tightly locked together, and viii
q motion as if to embrace the table
cried:
"Oh. no! oh, no Don't take away
my little hght-stand. It's the only on
I've got I've had it always, IcouIdn'
bear to lose my hght-stand. Don't le
them, Hexy, don't let them!
Hush, Harriet: hush, dear," SAID
the spare little woman, evidently tbs
4" Hexyn addressed ssTha Io5x- T,r,,,,,4