The Benton weekly record. [volume] (Benton, Mont.) 1880-1885, 1881-07-21
THE FRU


girl, Melinda. And, indeed Melinda was
more fatfered than sh4 would bare acll-
noWledged, for when tines.atsre hardest
Mrs. Hedley had taken III washing, and
the Knapps were ne,sef anNEIing but
farmers, and a every geoa fstllffI, Of the
neighborhood. 10 be sure. Tie farm was
small. and there R.;ls not much money in
it. and Adam worked hafsI, as did his
mother. Still, TO think nf being mistress
Of such a place, having;t best naIl0r Of the
grandeur Of the knapps' front room, q
spare room for compans aIIl1. no doubt,
black silk for church vas i great dream
for Milly IIedIey, who had carried home
baskets Of linen 70 the hoE9l III her time.
She never owned il, but proud Of
her elevation, beside bein ff Adam.
lie might have beeIIsl 81 1onder OF
dancing and less foatI III Eaaefing, she
thought; but il was s'gelIfheI, too, to
be serious and given to books, and it never
would have occurred to her 10 find fault
with it, but rather to wish tat she herself
had more Of his s:genteeI N#Ys'
They had been engaged good while,
and she knew he would asfz her to set the
day soon, aud had even thought over what
she would wear on her WeaeIin. day.
In fact, she was looking ii some arti-
fetal flowers III the miIIiner.s showcase
when she first saw tllat young travelling
salesman. lie was dressed spIendidIy.
EIc wore kid gloves, and bad what MiIly
thought diamond pin IN his craxat. The
dainty bag he wore over his shoulder was
only an addition to his travelling toilet,
and the gay bonnet pins, of which he car
red samples, Were simply gorgeous to
Milly's eyes. There was y gentleman,
thought MilIy, and she stared II him with
out intending TO do so.
The young man was nothfitsA 10 atlnli-
ring glances.
s.Perhaps the young lady might like TO
see these pins. They're the newest thing
out" said the drummer. No charge for
looking. What we strive for is to please
tie ladies'" And he spread his wares be-
fore her eyes.
The milIner was very polite. She al
ways fulfilled her social obligations, and
1t struck her that it was her duty to intro
duce these two persons before her counter.
s.Oht Miss Hedley," she said, s'this is
Mr.. Fairer. He's brought me samples
from New York for five years. Used to
be we had TO 90 on to purchase. We've
rot things brought to our doors now. I'll
make d list of my orders, Mr.. Tairer. =
She went to herdesk and began to write,
and Mily and young Fairer talked. She
was pretty, and he thought her irritable.
..I'm going 10 stay herefor three. weeks, :
he said '.My mother lives here, and I've
got-well, some other friends on from the
East. Ill see you again. I'd be sorry
not to, for You are good for sore eyes, you
are.n
II was not d delicate compliment, but
MilIy did not know much Of the world.
She understood that he meant she was
pretty.
When Miss Chip came back, and Milly
felt that she must go, young Fairer repeat
that they should be sure 10 see each other
again.
ssshe's going TO be married soon, Dir.
Fairer," said Miss Chip, looking after her,
ito Adam Knapp, up there on the HILL"
.sThat don't make any difference to me,
you know, Miss Chipp," said Fai1er, IF
YOU mean it for Il warning.
.sWell, no, Of course it don't, . said Miss
Chip, sand only meant it for a bit OF
news. -
But for all that, at the end of a fortnight
Mtlly blushed and laughed TO think that
she had met Fairer six times.
ut can't be all chance" said she.
stThe Agricultural Exhibition" as it
was called on the bills--the Fruit Fair, as
the girls and boys dubbed twas to come
! off very soon. Melinda was very busy
with her dress, her pink bonnet, her new
dress made Of what the gentleman at the
store chose to call japanese grena1ine, her
sash, her scarf, her loW-cut shoes and
bright stockings-eacl1 pulled from old
Mrs. HedIey's purse, as if it had been a
double tooth.
s'However, I suppose you had ought to
do the Knapps credit said the old lady,
when the daughter stood before her dressed
"a