The Northern Pacific farmer., 1881-11-17

tuoy CorGaluly were OlO uldlul60 8uO uuO0.
coming. Her face vas pretty, still 1t lacked
something to make it Interesting, and Grant
Burchard could not butackno wledge to him-
self she was overdre> sed and unrefined in sp-
pearance. He instinctively shank from ao-
looked like the one he had loved. And
though his eyes caught the name Of "A.
Ludwick on her travelling bag. he shrank
from renewing the acquaintance, as he
might have done by q word. He was con-
trasting this uninteresting woman witch the
simple girl in tho sweet brier glen, when an
old man entered and addressed her as
Miss Ludwick."
Ralph Emery now started and looked in
to his friends face.
'Ah !1remember the name, he exclaimed.
"Is that the divinity of your dreams?"
Il fear it is," was the deprecating an
swer.
''Wbcre have you been?" asked the
farmer.
''Been down to the city to do some trad
ing. was the answer.
Her voice was coarse and harsh, and
Ralph Emery smiled. but it was no smiling
matter to Grant Burchard this lethrone-
ment Of the beautiful idol he had carried
all these years.
Getting ready, I s'pose?" queried the
farmer.
Ready for what?" asked Miss Ludwick,
with blush and silly laugh.
You ve concluded not to wait for the
chap that went away q few years ago, I
hear, and that young man coming to your
house every week don't mean anything, l
s'psse," said the old man, with an intelli-
gent smile.
Il don't see it," was the quick reply, as
she tossed her head and simpered.
Grant Burohard groaned.
Success to the young man who comes
every week!" said Ralph Emery, fervently,
"aud you nigh. as we'll say Amen Grant,
for think that last bit of slang has cured
YOU"
Verify Grant Burchard was in an unenvia-
BILE state of mind. He was like one who
has reveled in delicious dream OF beau
ality. He was thinking it all over, as he
lounged with his friend upon the porch Of
the country ho'el, where he stouped for the
night, when his revere was put to flight by
the fragrance of sweet briar, a perfume that
always came OF him laden with sweet men,
cries.
The parlor was in shadow, but they
heard the floating sour OF woman's gar
ments, ard sweet. low voice, chatting in-
telligently with IN elderly gentleman. The
conversation was of sufficient length to
prove that this lady with the starry blos-
SONS of sweet briar twined IN her hair was
a woman Of original thought and rare cult
vation. The old man asked for music. and
tue lady swept the plan. keys with skilful
fingers, and filled the room with a rare,
sweet melody. As the .st notes died away,
and the soft garments foated out, Grant
Burcbard exclaimed:
MY Amy should have had voice like
that"
Ralph Emery thought of the harsh and
discordant tones in the rail-ca-, and with
smile that made his comp ,nion vince.
quoted the slang phrase: Il don't see it. "
friend stood at the gate of the Ludwiok
the garden was q pretty sight, with it's rare
and beautiful flowers arranged with ex-
quisite taste. Grant had thought of this
visit for years, when he should come alone
and claim Amy, but now he was glad to
bring his friend, that no mention might be
made of claims. A lady stood in the gar
den path. She turned, and there was the
dark curls, brown eyes and ungraceful
manner of the travelling companion OF the
previous day. Grant Buichard stepped
forward.
GOOD morning. Miss Ludwick."
1t was sadly cold and sh4nged from the
fervent Amy" he had always called her in
his tn oughts.
"Good morning, sirs," responded the
harsh voice, while scared look came inte
the brown eyes as she regarded the distin-
guishe hed.looklng strangers. A minute more
and she exclaimed enthusiastically:
"Why, Grant Burchard, if it amt you!
How glad anil"
And she gave him hearty hand shake,
and poured forth torrent of questions as
she led him into the house, and went to
call the family.
The gentlemen glanced about the parlor.
Everything was neat and beautiful. and the
careful disposition of books and furniture
betoke1ed cultivated taste. The piano
was open, and two pair of critical eyes noted
with surprise the difficult piece of music
on the rack. The faint perfume of sweet
brier ealing in the open window filed the
room with delightful arena; and Grant
Burchard smiled in spite of himself-this
cnzy place was so like his imaginary home
for his ideal Amy.
A few minutes elapsed, and the smile
was gone. His dream died when the curly
haired maiden entered the room, bringing
old MIR. Lndwick, who graspeu his hand
with a cordial tenderness, and greeted him
in hearty toues of welcome.
"Well. Grant, do you think Amy looks
natural?" inquired Mr.. Ludwick, when
this ceremony was over.
UMs,a 1-sn 6oy,oH%ov
some of her old looks" answered Grant
confasedly. *And yet confess she does
seem changed."
For the better, Grant-eh?" said the old
man, gleefully. "She las changed for the
better. Hasn't she Grant,
Certainly" answered Grant, blushing
fearfully. as he pnt up a mental petition to
be forgiven for lying.
"And she loves the old man jnst as well. I"
continued Mr.. Ludwick, joyfully. How
lucky that you did not come before! She
only reached home this morning, by the
early train. What made her run away so
soon, Glant?"
your daughter is here" answered the
young man. pointing to the blushing face
encircled by the dark curls.
You don't mean to say, Grant, you
thought that was Amy2" And the old man
burst into an uproarsous shout of laughter.
That's Alice Ludwick, Amy's cousin.
Don't you remember how much they looked
alike? Amy has changed more than she. ]
warrant she is in the bower. Let's sur
prise her."
Grant Burchard gave great sigh Of re-
lief, and the whole party went into the gar
den. There was the eglantine bower care
fully kept: and even now fair woman with
q dress Of the purest white was on step
ladder pruning the over-hanging branches,
singing meanwhile in sweetest strains, Ever
Of Thee I'm Fondly Dreaming"
Ralph Emery listened and exclaimed:
ut is the voice we heard last night"
Grant Burchard stepped hastily forward.
All unconscious Amy continued her prun-
ing. only stopping when the gardener
spoke.
Miss Amy, you had better let me dc
th,t"
mo. no. John. she answered laughing
ut f,ightens me to soc you cut away those
beautiful branches. 1t gr1eves me TO sever
single tsig. AMI you lop off great branch
es without pang of remorse."
"Well, Miss Amy, it is as I say. You,
sweet ladyship is stingy of nothing bu,
sweetb1ier."
"Stingy, eh?" and Amy lauphed merrilv