The Princeton union., 1881-09-08
THE MISTAKE GARNET MADE,

ing nemlOcks. Here dWeit Mrs. barley, or
the Widow Darley, as she was commonly
called by the inhabitants Of Linden. Here,
since the departure Of her neice, Garnet,
her brother Roberts child, for the city to
learn the dressmaker's trade, which event
occurred couple OF years ago, she had
lived alone, substituting on the produce
she raised on the few acres Of ground at
tatched to the cottage, which she managed
to sell or barter away for groceries at a
thriving town three miles distant. : 1, "
Day was fast vereing into dusk. Indeed
fore some time twilight had lain gray upon
the scene, and only q silver line kiesed the
purple tops Of the distant mountain. The
Widow barley sat by the window busily
engaged in darning a wretched looking
stocking over a mammoth mock orange,
,bemoaning with every stiteh her recent at
tack of rheumatism which confined her to-
the house, when she was thoroughly con-
sious of the fact that her services were
needed out Of doors. Now was the time to
dig her potatoes. now was the time to gath
er certain apples, and do everything in
fact; and here she was; not only unable to
get about, but SO heavily trammeled by
debts that she found it impossible to secure
the assistance SO much headed.
NWell, Ideclare! !'paa a zgs5. y, -
'!< This exclamation was caused bv the
rumbling old stage coach that daily passed
ner house stopping at the front gate, from
which alighted her neice, who ran lightly
up the walk and into the house, followed
BY a strongly built man bearing on his
shoulder good sized trunk, which he de-
posted in the hall before making his
exit. asaysa5 ,,gG5 II s@ff
6f How dye do, Aunt Susan? !" with hug
and q kiss. Not a slave to rheumatism, 1
hope!" 81. 81 q. ].
y Yes" replied the Widow barley, Who,
BY the way, was a tiny woman Of fifty, with
q face not unlike the wrinkled apples that
grew on the tree in the garden, 4the mon
ster has got me again in his clutc hes. But
whatever brings you home? You haven't
been sent adrlft again, surely?"
Yes, aunt, a tremor of pain threading
her voice in spite Of her efforts to appear
unconcerned, times are dull, and Madam
Brown has SO little work she deemed it ex-
pedient to dispense with the serfices 0 the
girls who prove incompetent. I, being the
least skillful ofher apprentices, was dis
charged withouta regret. Mo st summarily
she dismissed me withholding the few quaint
words OF commentator she grudgingly be-
SSS"SN uHOA VIC +OGAO46s AHv0 AO Nt6tS3
for dressmaking and am termed a regular
botch. Not very good recommend ndation to
help secure another situation, eh? But,
never mind, aunt! I see I am needed at
home. How are things prospering?"
Not at all, in her most dolorous tone.
athe place is fairly weighed down with
mortgages, and for aught I know to the
contrary, Mr.. Lincoln may fQreclose
any day. Yes, z any day may
find us without shelter. Our larder is
about empty, and there is no money to re-
plenish it; all the -four has been scraped
from the barrel, and day I was obliged
to borrow pailful from Jane Grey. then,
too, there is not tea leaf in the caddy and
l do not know how to exist without my cup
of tea. ment to have dug a few bushels
of potatoes and got Mr.. Denver's horse to
60 to obtain some of the things I cannot
get aleng without, but am good for moth
ing good for nothing!" with profound
Ipigh. 1.7 7.1.5' .1. a
Never mind. aunt, don't worry. I'll
see what can be done in. the morning. .
The next forenoon, about 10 o'clock,
with hoe swung over her shoulder, and q
half bushel basket in her hand, in which
reposed half dozen Of potato bags and a
dainty repast done up in 8 newspaper she
trudged to the potato lot to see what could
be dene; for the widows neice, Garnet En-
bers, was girl equal to any emergency
She was slender, graceful girl, neither q
blonde or brunette, but q combination Of
both, as pretty q creature MS one would
care to see, with her wonderfully fair com.
plexion, tinged with the mereat flush Of
pink, her dark eyes were almond shaped
and full of vim, shadowed by black curl
ing lashes, and a super abundance of red
brown hair, coiled low on her we'll shaped
head. She donned a dun hued calico dress,
which she fastened up on all sides to keep
clear OF the dirt, thereby displayed 9. foot
arched and slender as an Arabs, and over
her head, hiding her wonderous hair. was
one of her aunt's sun -bonnets making her
look, as she declared, regular guy. She
reached the lot and set to work in earnest.
but somehow she made little progress. Oh!
1t some strong handed masculine creature
was but around. What short work he
would make Of the job! a5Ii5 fft5t.s.s
At this juncture the report Of gun
sounded near, and Garnet looked Just in
time to see chipmunk, running along the
fence dividing her lot from Mr.. Denver's
topple over, and an instant after man in
gray, mascularly framed aud as handsome
as Apollo, with q wide somebrero shading
his face appeared in sight. How propitious
the fates were. What she had devoutly
wished for was yonder-a man. Mr. Dem
ver's hired, without doubt. She suspended
operations, and with her hoe raised aloft,.
cried out.
Here, young man, come here! want
You to help in digging few bushels Of po-
tatoes. will see that you do not incur
Mr.. Denver's displeasure by doing as
desire. And, indeed, for that matter,
you might as well be working for me as to
be idling your time in killing harmless
creatures. Come, what do you say ~
All right, miss; I'll be with you as soon
as can exchange my gun for hoe, forI
suppose you intend to keep on with. your
digging?" d
Certainly. Now don't be lorg about it,
That's good man. s4s5 s3S ssss4 ~
She was earnestly digging away when he
vau1ted over the fence and stood by her
side, hoe in hand, his hat lowerd down
on his face than ever. Garnet paid .nosat-
tention TO his personal appearance. He
was nothing but a hired man, so whether
ugly or comely what mattered it TO her!j
Old Sol, an infamed ball of heat, glowed
upon them savagely, and the perspirationi
stood in beaded drops upon their faces as
they toiled on; Mr.. Denyers hired man.
making no better progress with his row Of
potatoes than Garnet with hers. The girl
glanced at him contemp ptiously.
You don't succeed any better than Ia
girl. You are the greenest hand that