The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1882-08-17
MRS. LARRABEE's MORNING CALL.

sit here all day long and look at that view. /
wonder who lives here; it must be some very
rich family, for just see those stables over
there, and the queer houses, and then the
lawns and drivesl Itmust take an army of
servants and a mint of money 10 run a place
like this. That is a boathouse down there at
the water's edge. OF course the mar who
lives here has a yacht-probablv a small fleet
of them. Dear mel these Hudson River
princes simply roll in wealth. Perhaps this is
the country seat of some celebrated New York
merchant. Driver, what is the name of the
gentleman who owns this place"
The colored man on the box of the carriage
reflected a moment. 81 amt been long in
these parts" he said at last, apologetically.
He beckoned to a gardener who was clip
ping a hedge near, and the man left his work
and came up to the carriage, touching his hat
respectfully TO the two ladies seated therein.
The elder of them, a stout, pompous dame
with large diamonds in her ears, said patron
izingly: ssGGod morning. VIII YOU tell me
the name of the gentleman who owns this
country seat?n
"Mr. Partridge, ma'am."
"Partridgea"
"Yes, ma'am."
"Partridgel George Reed Partridge?" cried
the S out lady in great excitement.
Yes, ma'aIn," said the gardner, touching
his hat again respectfully and then ~rcsuning
his hedge clipping.
The stout lady laid a fat, tightly-gloved
hand upon her companions arm: sMy dear,
N" w. "bCAh w hAiSh cO
well in Rome. You remember his wife and
only son died of the fever there that winter,
and he was almost heart-broken. His wife was
a sweet C~oachman, drive up to the
house.n
''But, Aunt Etta-'' the young girl began,
In a tone of remonstrance.
My dear, | know him well. lie would con-
slider it a slight, an insult, if | should drive
through his grounds without s'opping to say
How do you dog The idea of this being his
nlQR.-s -. fhnnnlnf fhnt Ia lfvnI in Notr VArly
and l suppose he does in winter and comes
here for the summer He is a retired mer-
chant, you know, and immensely wealthy
immensely.
The coachman had meanwhile driven his
horses up to the entrance OF the house, and,
as he stopped them, a man-servant came dow
the broad stone steps and stood ready to oper
the carriage door. Mr.. Partridge was at home
and the two ladies' alighted and followed the
servant into a quare hall where a single
sheet of plate-glass framed 4 picture o.
the river and the blue hills beyond
The pavement was marble, a fine carved stair.
case wound up to the floor above, and or
every side were silent witnesses to the truth
of Mrs. Larrabee's assertion that Mr.. Part
ridge was a rich man.
"Hhom shall | say, madam?n said the ser
want, as he ushercd the two guests into 6
small reception-room.
1.-TWO old friends,n quoth the stout lady
superbly. Then she put her gold-rimmed eye
Oh AS dhu dDOu6 ICl
critically, rising once to peep through III,
door-hangings into the adjoining room. He
companion, a tall, slim girl with soft brow
hair and eyes, seated herself in a low chair b.
an opened window and crossed her hands il
her lap, YEARLY. She looked pale and tired
and contrasted in every way with her stout
rubicund aunt. She wore. no rustling silk, n,
sparkling diamonds, and q feminine observe
wouId nave ms antly detected that her glove
were only three-buttoned while her aunt
were eight. Almost motionless, she sat look
ing down at the carpet until Mr.. George Rec
Partridge entered. He was a burly, white
haired old man, with a smooth-shaven, ma
hogany-colored face and a pair of twinkline
little eyes.
"Well, Mrs. Larrabee,' % he said, in a big
outdoor sort of voice, "this is a great sur
prise. ] could not imagine who nv two oil,
friends were, and I should have concluded tina
James had not said that you came in a car
rage But / don't know who the other oil
friend can ben He bestowed q shrewd glanc
upon the girl, who had risen and stood befor
him, a faint blush spreading slowly over he
face. land | should not call her so very old,
he added, with a laugh.
1T Is my niece, Ellen Hus,ead," said Mrs
I4arrabee. You remember, she was in Rom
with us.n
"Ah, yes, of course; l recollect now,n MI
Partridge exclaimed. lie shook hands wit
the girl heartily. SIT is no Monder that
didn't recognize you, Miss Ellen, for the las
time l saw you you were alonglegged creatur
in short frocks.n
Mrs. Larrabee looked rather shocked, bu
her niece smiled. 1.-THE frocks have been lie
down." she said, gayly.
SO l see. l suppose it was necessary
why, you are quite a woman, eighteen teaI
old, l { dare say"
"Nearly nineteen said she
"You must stop shooting up and AXE t
spreading out. With your height, you ough
to weigh a hundred and forty pounds"
"She has been studying very hard all VIII
fer" said Mrs. Larrabee. ''That is why sh
Looks SO pale and thin"
eStudying, eh?n Mr.. Partridge repeated
"Studied the flesh off your bones? l wish vo
had said danced it of. 1 dom like learne
of 'em."
A bright look flashed into the girls fac,
"Ah, you need not be afraid of me,n she sait
in h~alf-triumphant, h~alf-mournful accent
81 am not learned in the least, and 1 can't b,
although l have tried very hard"
Mr.. Partridge twisted about in his chair an
looked at her with new interest. His glanC
Travelled deliberately from the crown of ht
head to the tip of the boot hat showed itse
benea' h her simple gown.
"My niece refers 10 the trying ordeal tina
she has just passed through" said Mrs. Larrr
bee. s'She came to Poughkecpsie to entt
Vassar College, but she failed in her examin
tions. That is how we happen to be here; "
are going back to Chicago tomorrow
"leould enter the preparatory class, chime
In her niece, shut L feel too old for that.
thought | should surely enter Freshman;
studied hard all last winter for it, but l a
dreadfully deficient in mathematics. l can
even manage fractions; and as for algebra
-" She broke off c~loquently and looked U
into Mr.; Partridge's face with a smile
comical despair.
He burst into a roar of laughter. s.My de.
child" said he, what earthly good would
DO you II you could manage fractions? Ket
out OF Vassar College, and gather your ros,
while you may that is my advice"
Il shall have to do something 10 earn n
W living" said she, in a simple, straigh
forward way, sand l hoped 10 become
teacher"
Tn laughing look on Mr.. Partridge,s ia
was replaced by a very grave one. He purs'
up his lips. ''Whewn ~ lie Whistled.
Mrs. Larrabee now came to the rescue, al
guided the conversation in the direction
Europe. Ellen was rather left out of the d
sultory talk that followed, and sat by, sile
and absorbed in her thoughts. Evidently tn
were not the vague, pleasant day-dreams of
young girl, for a little line showed itself b
tween her brows, and she compressed her Ii
as though she were mentally making soI
great resolution. AS he listened 10 Mrs. La
rabee's smoothly flowing stream of words, NJ
Partridge every now and then glanced
Ellen in his quick, shrewd way. Sometim
she caught his glances and returned them wi
a smile, but oftener she was quite unconscio
OF them and worked away at the problems tn
seemed to trouble her. Outside, the carria
stood in the shade of a great c~hestnut-trt
aud the colored coachman slumbered peat
fully on his perch, while the horses stamp
impatiently and whisked their tails in fut
efforts to dislodge the flies. In the distance
man drove q mowing-machine round a
rounda lawn, and, nearer, a gardener NOV
a rake lazily to and fro over a graveled pat
The south wind stole in through the open
window, bringing with it the smell of rost
A vague drowsiness stole little by little ov
Ellen, and the muscles of her face relaxe
How sweet it would be 10 lean her head agair
the back of her well-cushioned chair and fC
get her troubles in sleep! She closed her ey
once, but opened them quickly les her au
should see her. That lady was talking in b
customary fluent and impressive manner.
sit was such a lovely morning that thong
would bring Ellen out for a drive. S
has never seen anything -: the Hu
son River before, and the scenery he
Is SO celebrated, and | am sure
deserves its fame, for anything more beautii
cannot even imagine. You see, we meet
chance, the usual way, Mr.. Partridge. ! h