Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1882-06-23
4 SUMNER BY THE SEA.
.ssie Bolton was delighted.

Bessie BOItDl WIS tItBnltl.
Five minutes ago Bessie had been IN
despair and her gentle sister Eolia
reflected Ill her moods like human
looking glass.
Eolia Bolton had not been well. Ii
was not exactly y decline, but she had
lost her appetite, grown pale and cough
ed, and Bessie's quick affection had
taken alarm ut ouce.
"Miss Bolton ought TO go INTO the
country" the doctor sald-and before
Eola could demonstrate, her sister had
given III the room they occupied ~
the city, and consulted the nearest real
estate agent But it WAS easy to talk
about sthe country" Malaria reigned
supreme III this place clouds Of mus
qultoes drove away the rural asplrant
III another, high fares blockaded q
third, and thus il went on, until Bessie
began 10 think il was a moral impossi
hillty 10 obey the doctors edIct.
Until one day, walking sadly by the
seashore, they came unexpectedly upon
low, rambling old farm house, with
ia gray stone walls halt covered with
creeper2, and wilderness Of holly,
hocks, sweet williams, and crimson
roses Ill tangled together III the back
yard, while, III full view upon tile front
Il battered placard, TO Let" swung
lilly u and fro III the wind.
And then it was and thcre-that
Betsie's lead weighted heart gave The
upward aprlng.
"Eolla' she cried, "this il just the
place for liz. Smell the sea AIR! Look
at those delicious waves creeping over
the sand below Observe the pictures
que old pile with lie house leeks grow
ing en- liz roof a.d the vines blowing
ahsnt III tire breeze
I'm afraid We cant atlordit, Bessie,
said Eplia.
Inquire at next house below SAID
Bessie, Il, eipherlng the worn inscrip
tion 81 tire paper. Come, Eolla
come I've prcaentiment that VIZ
shall meet exactly what we want here.
The next house below, however, was
4 full mile dis ant, over q stretch oil
slippery sands half Hooded by the foam
oi the incoming tide II WAS inhabited
Nv deaf old woman who didn't know
she couldn't say" Was the rent
high2 "She couldn't say for certain
she believed It was about ST. month
hut size didn't know Were the
premises iii good repair? She didn't
feel that she could take it upon her to
assert Could they have the key
We'll, she wasn't certain P'raps
they could. Sometimes her old man
hid il ii his coat pocket, but Yes,
here Il was. There was u deposit IL
be paid the first months rent, if-oh,
thankee, kindly. She was very much
obliged, shc was sure
And Bessie ctme running out to
Eolia. trinmphantl,' waving the key
over her head.
Cuisines is business. Eor' she cried
eyultantly And We are the ladies OF
the manor now Wen sleep under
that pretty sloping roof tonight
Aud they did, having succeeded in
borrowing sola-hedstead and two OF
three chars from the ncighbor's cot
tage Jeyfuily they wandered over
the old rooms, pecping through the
dust filmed llttIcCs, opening the green,
three corn.rrd cupboard inspecting
their new premises with all the delight
If day-uld praprietressfs.
For Bessie colored photographs and
Ealia designed wall paper, calico pat
terms and TILE decorations, and they re.
qnrea .tsiud1n" facing the north, and
plenty of foom There were no lux
urious butterflies, these sisters, hut two
warm hearted, dlligent working girls,
who earned their own bread, and ate it
with Il sense of honest pride
So Eolia STAYED III the old house to
set il to rights, with the and of Mrs.
Chuhh's red ,rmrl Oldest daughter. and
Bessie went up 70 town 10 pack their
littlc store of furniture and send il
down by express Aud the first night
that they Sat n The little bow Widowed
apartment that fronted the sea with
the easements all cnrtained with chintz;
the well worn crimson carpet on the
floor, and the mcrr, little fire of drift
wood blazing on the hearth. they looked
smilinrlv into one another's eyes.
81 feel better already" said Eelia.
The very air that | breathe is like a
tonic Rul il is IS lonely :"
'Nho i afraid Of solituie?' cheerily
demanded Bessie, u She knelt To put a
new pile Of wood on the fire. You
viii see that We shall he like two queens
in nur palace here. En- We can send
our work iii Is the city twice a week
hy express, the expense here will DC
trifiing, and
There. cried Eolia, with start, Il
knew il WAS some one knocking
hoard il twice before
Its obs Chuhb With the fish for
breakfast, said Bessie. springiugto her
feet.
No, it isn't said Eolia. The fish
came half Hi hour ago Bess, Tn
afraid its pirate, Or 4 smuggler,
or -"
Don't be goose, F." said the elder
sister, as she went hriskly IL the door
and peeplng out into the saltscented
twilight. She SAID
Who's there ;"
Its l." clear voice answered
Captain Llhurr. with my traps"
Then IFS pirate + family ejacu
lated Eola 10 herself,
What do yon WANT demanded
Bessie.
TO come in !" shortly responded the
othor voice. what should | want
Open the door little further, cam
you, my good girl?'
Go about your business said Bessie
with the emphasis Of one Who is de
termined to have her own way.
''Let me in :" sternlv spoke the voice
I'll do nothing IF the sort" said
Bessie. There's tavern two mile,
up the road and farm house one mil,
below. Ii You want shelter 60 which
way Won please. You cannot com,
here
but why notf' persisted the in
truder.
Because don't choose it," said Bes
sie-and she shut the door in his face
And needless Of the roulade of knock,
on the panel which succeeded this bnlC
coup detail she came back to where
Eolia sat, pale and startled.