The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1882-02-04
A GOOD INVESTMENT.

anoneyp''
Hetty Merton spoke in a deprecating
| pleading tone, as if asking wonderful
| boon. 1t was at least an unusual re.
quest, for farmer Merton laid down his
| paper. and looked at her in amazement
over the rim of his spectacles.
Money! he replied; ''what forP''
s'Yes," her lips quivering in spite Of
all her assumed bravery, ito buy a new
dress. / have nothing really decent,
and / wanted it for cousin Jennie's
party. | viii get something serviceable,
| please, father.n
'.Hurn! / need all my money to buy
bread and meat and necessaries; new
frocks for parties are not down in the
list and he took up his hat and strobe
away.
"0h, dear! Mother, it's just too bad.
My old dress is SO shabby, and-and am
never to have anything new like other
girls?n and again. she buried her face
IN her bingham apron and sobbed Bit
terly.
Couldn't you alter my grey silk SO
it would answerp''
Your grey silk!'' with a look of dis
gust, sand besides it's the onlyrespecta-
Bile dress you possess Mother with
red cheeks and brig ;, indignant eyes,
'tare we so poverty stricken as father
pretends?''
'.Well-I don't know" said loyal,
tender-hearted Mrs. Merton: there
that bill of Rogers's due this summer,
and the crops last year, father says,
weren't over good"
NONSENSE! The crops were fine,
and the bill of Rogers's is by no
means any reason why we should be
shabbily dressed the remainder of our
natural lives It's what you call father S
thrift, but what our neighbors name
stinginess. However, suppose I'll have
TO give up the party. Oh, dear! If /
only had some way of earning the
money myself
'sHetty," said her mother, in a serious
voice, s'there are the strawberries, that
father says don't pay to gather, and re-
fuses to do anything with this year. We
cannot possibly use them all; If you can
dear, and Tom can help you gather and
dispose of them.
''Oh, mother! the very thing! How
fortunate you thought of them
And pretty little Hetty hastily dress
ed herself in light print dress, tied On
a white sun-bonnet and called to her
fourteen-year-old brother, who was
wedding in the garden, and revealed her
plan to him and asked for his assistance.
Good for you, sis!'' he answered,
tossing stone after refractory chick
en-. Yes, I'll help, and say, why not
sell them to the squire?''
Hetty started, the sweet rose color
deepening in her cheeks. The squire was
the rich new landlord of Cloverdeen, the
finest place in all that country round,
and said to be very handsome and inn
mensely wealthy, and foolish little Het-
ty had cherished some romantic notions
in. regard to him although they never
met. but Toms advice putthem all to
fight.
Eyes," she thought, closing her red
lips firmly, ''why need care2 His
money will be SIS good as anyone's-"
It was very beautiful mansion that
she paused before and regarded with
doubtful, trembling heart, yet passed
on up the gravelled carriage-way, wise
enough to go around to the back door.
A portly-looking lady, in black silk
and gold earrings, docking up from an
account-book she was glancing over the
maid ushered her into the housekeeper' s
room.
'sWen,'' said the lady, interrogative-
".
%" live nave SOIlc line SjTdWDC[IlCS
to sell. Do you care to buy any?''
And the upshot of the matter was, |
Hettv went home with light heart, for |
the housekeeper of Cloverdeen had |
promised to take all her fruit at an ex-
cellent price.
1t was hard work picking them in the |
hot, dewy mornings. and not altogether
pleasant carrying them over the fields |
every day to Cloverdeen, but Tom prov |
ed valuable assistant, and the work |
progressed smoothly until one day, as
Hetty was passing out of the squire |
grounds, she was met by a handsome, |
dark-eyed young gentleman, riding a |
superb and highly nettled black horse, |
that SHE'D aside at the futter of her bon
net so violently and suddenly as to fling
his rider to the ground.
s.Ohi,' cried Hetty, in wild alright,
running toward him. 'tAre you hurt?
Oh, I hope you are not harmeds'
'sNo," said he slowly, Il believe not,
only my shoulder has received Il wrench
Down from the house fastened anx-
ious friends, while Hetty took up her
basket and went on her homeward way,
her mind stifl seeing that handsome,
Intellectual face, and the dark, gentle,
penetrating eyes.
.'Hetty," said her father one day,
''sister Mary met me at Mayfeld last
night, and seemed anxious about your
coming to Jennie's party. So ii you
want that dress, / suppose you'd better
get it. Here's the money"
why, fatherr' she exclaimed, greatly
amazed. why, l. Oh, thank you,
father, if you really mean it" and she
slipped up behind him and dropped
light kiss on the top of his bald head.
My Hetty's the handsomest of the
Lwo,' thought the old farmer. YES,
she's the handsomest lass in all Loan
shire, for that matter. Surprising give
her chance to show the folks what she
IAN do. Just as q little SURPRISE
ssGet something handsome he said:
II don't know much about women's fall
ais and such like; but have it made in
own and all right. and if that ain't
enough you shall have more"
ssOh. father, how good you are! but
hink this will be sufficient, - said mod
st Hetty.
That morning, entering the shaded
rounds of Cloverdeen with her last
,asketfu1 of fruit, she came directly up
N the young gentleman she had seen
0 ignomiaious1y dethroned.
.sAha'' said he. with smile OF de-
GIFTED recognition, lifting his hat gal /
antlY. and extending his white hand