The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1882-03-22


calmly, THE country girls earn little
pocket money there, sewing on shirts. l
am to have machine as soon as can learn
to manage it. I go every evening" while pa
pa fancies am at the Greek and Latin, to
Farmer Pelham's whose wife teaches me the
use of the machine. aul learning house,
work, too. l made the mayonnaise for
your salad to-day, and baked the bread
our servant can do nothing of the sort But
it would kill mamma to think that stopped
as she would call it, to mental labor"
"You are quite right" said Mr.. Grofton.
That is what wanted to know said
Mary, hastily. Because, living here all by
myself, in such a strange unnatural atmos-
phere, I sometimes get confused, and scarce.
ly know right from wrong"
But they will have to know it, when"
When l really go into the factory" said
Mary. Eyes, know that. But until then,
would fam spare them the pang. am to
have dollar day, Mrs, Pelham says, if I
operate the machine skillfully And a dol
lar day will buy mamma many a little lux
ury, and go fs.r toward paying the grocer
and the baker
"You are noble girl !" said Mr. Crofton,
warmly and in his eye at that moment,
Mary Monteagle was glorificd with rare
beauty, as she stood there. the fresh wind
blowing her jetty curls about, the reflection
of the orange sunset deepening the color in
her check, and the grave, far-away sparkle
Of her eyes half-veiled beneath the long lash
es. "And if l could be of any assistance to
you in this task"
You can" said the girl abruptly. "You
can stay here and amuse papa, so that he
will not suspect what occupies my time.
You can divert his attention from Sanscrit
and Arabic, and all these mysteries"
And, for the first time in his experience
of her, Mary Monteagle laughed-a mellow,
bird-like laugh
III will, said Mr.. Crofton, heartily.
And SO the compact was sealed between
them.
Instead of the week he had promised his
father to spend with old Colonel Monteagle,
the sojourn was extended to three.
At the end of that time, he gravely adj
dressed himself to the darlS-eyed daughter of
the house.
:" How is the trade ?" said he.
{" am to have machine next week."
said Mary, with the conscious pride of one
who has conquered fate; "and then-only
think of it, Mr.. Crofton--I shall earn a dol
lar daym
Mary said Mr. Crofton, seriously, II
have been thinking of another plan for you.
You tell me that this farmers wife has made
first-class houseleeper of you.n
~ baked mince-pie yesterday !" said
Mary, exultantly; "and l have quilted a
quilt and made soft soap, within the week."
:" | don't like the idea of your going into
a factory said Mr.. Crofton Suppose by
way of variety, you were tomauy me ~
"But you're not in love with mel" said
Mary, opening her bright black eyes.
" But am, y said Mr.. Crofton, with great
gravity. ~ have deliberately made up my
mind that can't be happy without you
Although don't profess to be rich MN,
DticNc l. ctu you ~ bcttti uhoNhiSc
than six dollars week, while at the same
time you will not be compelled to work ten
hours day for it. That is the business
like view of the question. Now on to the
more personal one. Don't you think, Mary,
that you could love me? Because | love
you very much indeed -
"I-I don't know !" whispered Mary. 81
might try"
So Colonel Monteagle's daughter went to
the fair Florida plantation on the shores of
the river St. John, and astonished every one
there with her thorough knowledge of house
keeping in all its details. And the two old
people, with the burden of insolvency and
care lifted of their lives, dwell quietly on,
in the ancient tower-lilxe house, and talk to
everybody who crosses their path of the ex-
cellent marriage which their daughter Mary
has contracted"
"a thorough scholar" says Colonel Mont
eagle, with dignity. "a musician, a lin
guist, thorough Hebrew student, and
proficient in Latin and Greek. ] myself was
her instructor 1t is not singular that girl
of such intellectual power should marry
we'll"
But Colonel Monteagle, honest man, never
dreamed that it was the sewing maehine and
soft soap, the mayonnaise dressing and the
vehement struggle to get free from debt,
which conquered Mr.. Crofton's heart.
There are plenty Of scholars and poetesses
in the world-but real womanly woman
is not her price far above rubies? -Helen
Forrest GrGges.