The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1882-12-05

cigsrs and talks shout ths lexican var:
and mamms poses in the gfeat chair, and
dreams of embroidery wofka and tapestry
stitches; and IL am expected TO learn
Arabic and Sanscrit, and nobody knows
what else, and ignore eur wretchei pow
erty. But / san'tl Who eouldf
Mr.. Crofton looked pityingly at the
girls sparkling eyes, ana pale. excited
face.
"I am very sorry 70 hear this, !" said he.
Can nothing be done f''
EYES" ," said Miss Monteagle, brusquely.
Something can be done-and am do
ing it, in so far as / can. But papa and
mamma must not be allowed to suspect
it. am-learning tradel'
"You p he echoed. IA trader
There's factory near by here" she
said, calmly. "The country girls earn
little pocket money there on shirts. lam
to have q machine as soon as | have
learned to manage it. l 60 every even
ing, while papa fancies / am at the Greek
and Latin, to farmer Pelham's, whose
wife teaches me the use of the machine.
am learning house work, too. l made
the mayonnaise fo- yoursalad today, 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 menial labor"
"You are quite right" said Mr.. Crof-
ton.
"That is what / wanted to know" said
Mary, hastily. Because, living here all
by myself. in such a strange, unnatural
atmosphere, / sometimes get confused,
and scarcely know right from wrong"
But they will have to know it when
"When really 60 into the factory"
said Mary. eyes, / know that. But
until then, would fain spare them the
pang. | am to have dollar day, Mrs.
Pelham says, if / operate the machine
skillfully. And dollar day will buy
mamma many luxury, and go far to-
ward paying the grocer and the baker.
"You are noble girl,'' said Mr.. Crof-
ton, warmly; and in his eye, at that mo-
ment, Mary Monteagle was glori6ed with
rare beauty, as she stood there, the fresh
wind blowing her jetty curls about, the
reflection of orange sunset deepening the
color on her cheek, and the grave, far
away sparkle of her eyes half veiled be-
meath the long lashes. And if 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 shall 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 sexperience
of her, Mary Monteagle laughed mel
low, bird-like laugh.
81 WILL" said Mr. Crofton, heartily.
And 80 the compact was sealed between
them.
Instead of the week he had promised
his father to spend with old Colonel Mont
eagle, the sojourn was extended to three.
At the end of that period, he gravely
addressed himself to the darkeyed
daughter of the house.
How is the trade % he said.
81 am to have q 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 dollar day!'
Mary" said Mr. Crofton, seriously,
81 have been thinking of another plan for
yOu. Ou OCik AuO tkIob tDto AdIuuC % WAC
has made first-class housekeeper of you"
"I baked mince pies yesterday r. said
Mary, exultantly and / have quilted a
quilt and made soft soap, within the
week !"
az don't like the idea of your going
into factory" said MIR. Crofton. "Sup-
pose now, by way of variety, you were to
marry mer'
"But you're not in love with met" said
Mary opening her bright, black eyes.
But I am" said Mr. Crofton, with
great gravity. "Ihave deliberately made
up my mind that I can't be happy
without you. And although I don't
profess to be q rich man, | believe /
can make you better allowance than six
dollars week, while at the same time you
will not be compelled to work ten hours
day for it. This 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 p
II don't know!" whispered Mary. 81
might try"
And then she blushed charmingly.
So Colonel Menteagle's daughter went
to the fair Floridian plantation on the
shores of the river st. John, and aston
ished every one there with her thorough
knowledge of housekeeping in all its de-
tails. And the two old people, with their
burden of insolvency and care lifted off
their lives, dwell quietly on, in the ancient
tower-like house, and talk to everybody
who crosses their path of "the excellens
marriage which my daughter Mary ha,
contracted"
"a thorough scholar" says Colonel
Monteagls, with dignity, "a musician,
linguist, thorough Hebrew student. and
q proficient in Latin and Greek. my
self was her instructor. 1t is not singular
that girl of such intellectual power
should marry well"
But Colonel Monteagle, honest man,
never dreamed that it was the sewing ma
chine and soft soap, the mayonnaise dress
ing and the vehement struggle to get free
from debt, which conquered Mr.. Crofton'i
heart. There are plenty Of scholars and
poetesses in the world-but real wo-
manly woman-is not her price far above
rubies?
-"Dear" Hubbell.--" How did you
come to get in jail?" asked gentleman
Of q negro he saw behind the bars.
n r.