The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1882-11-16
ONLY A HUCKSTER,

or who brought into Crabsborc each
morning the village supplies Of fresh
fruit and vegetables. ~
Eyes, miss-all right" was tho brisk
reply, a. he executed the order with
much alacrity; and better crooknecks
you never cooked, I'll bet cabbage: l
knew you'd be wanting crooknecks Sat
urday, and I picked out tho three sweet
est could finland saved them particular
~ for you. And the pearmains-I could
have sold every last one away back here;
but thinking you might want some, I
wouldn't let 'em 10 for love nor money"
Miss Balsamapple grew very rosy and
smiled sparkling little smile away back
In the shadow of her provokingly deep
sunbonnet; aud the roses under its
crimped frills grow very deep, indeed.
a. upon lifting her basket down she dis
covered great bunch Of yellow and
white and purple chrysanthemums
nestled down amid the crooknecks and
pearmains. ~.
"You've dropped your flowers into
my basket, sir" said Miss Bella, inno-
Gently, scooping them out AND holding
The young farmer looked guilty Of
having committed a highway robbery at
the very least.
"I-I-thcy-1 just kind of pitched
them in for good measure" he STAN.
mered. 81 wanted to get rid of 'em;
there IN everlasting lot at home. Do
keep 'em, please"
He gave the lines u witch and then
ratified off without waiting for her re-
ply" -.
So Miss Bella finding herselfleft In the
lurch with the flowers on her bands,
carried them into the house to the die
gust Of Miss Aurora Balsamapple-a tall,
skim-milk blonde, in blue calico wrap
per. who had witnessed the proceedings
from the window, and was much scan
dalized thereby. .:
PPM shocked at you, Bella. she re-
marked in Il tone Of personal injury, for
keeping them u minute"
II couldn't help it," answered Bella,
''unless had SHE'D the IL at his back;
and then they won!d have fallen in the
mud"
"No killing matter if they did," said
my advice and throw them out there
now"
II won't" said Bella, fatty; and Mise
Aurora being well acquainted with her
sisters characteristics, shrugged her
shoulders and said no more: hut re-
venged herself by being SO exasperately
sulky that Bella, after q few Intellectual
efforts to establish harmony, found it
necessary for the sake OF her nerves to
make al errand to neighbours.
Miss aurora. taking deeper and more
deadly vengeance tor this by declining
to cook any dinner in Bella's absence,
was lunchlng on pickles and cold her
rings jim the kitchen when her sister
popped in in much excitement, with her
bonnet APE floating wildly in the air
like a pink banner.
What do you reckon, sis?" cried the
young lady. gracefully, "He was there!
and Mrs. White introduced us. He's
friend Of the family, and l,is names
Robin Russet; and Mrs. White says q
better or steadior or good-tempereder
young man never lived. He's got
intelligent, ard Mrs. White thinks lots
Of him, and says
IF you'll Just hayc the goodness" in
terrupted '(iss Aurora, impressively
emphasizing her words will, herring,
TO explain what under the san you're
talking about, would be extremely en-.
lightened and much obliged"
why, he-him," said Bella. "that
sells the crooknecks and things, and
gave me the flowers"
The huckster" shrieked Miss Auro-
"a dropping picked onion to clasp her
hands tragical]y.
''He amt a huckster! And don't care
ii lie is" asserted Bella, with astonishing
logic, "hc's nice"
"Oh, Bella-Eella!" murlnurcd Aurora
shat the pride Of the Balsamapples
should have fallen so low as this"
Bother the pride o! the Ralsam-
apples" cried Bella, stamping her foot.
who are the .Balsamapples that they
should tower above everybody that's as
good and smart rs they are? Selling
crooknecks amt a sin! Tho Balsam.
apples haven't any sense, and I won't
I've BalsaHlarples minute longer than
l can help: Now"
."And, oh, what will cousin Amasy say
when he comes to Craesboro,' continued
Aurora. despairin2ly, land one Of his
relations losing her head about a man
that peddles crooknecks: These rich
old fellows are Away go manifestations!
It'll spoil all my cha anccs.'
Aurora flung her herring into corner
and burst into tears.
Dear sakes! Don't cry, honeyw said
Bella, who was soft hearted. with all her
faults. 1t wont matter a pin. Cousin
Alnasa is to distant relation to build
hopes on. if We wanted to. He's got lots
Of kinsfolks nearer than We are-neph-
ews and nieces, and things we never
even heard of. Not likely he'd leave US
anything anyway"
bella Ba'sama pple, are you dunce?'
asked Aurora, sharply. "Who expects
forty second cousin to leave them any
thing on that account? Cousin Anna sa
hasn't any wife. Now do you UNDER
:"Oh," said Bella, with a lump.
That's the game, is it? But how do YOU
know You'll like him, Ro? You never
ppm mighty certain to like his bank
account" answered Aurora; land that is
the point just now. And could help you
toa good settlement. too, if you wouldn't
~ will" cried Bella, before her sister
could pronounce the Objectionable
''h"ckster." l don't want any settle
p'ent.-I've liked him ever since we
first bought hings Of him, and l know
-'~ "~">~o AAAVs SAAAA AlOW tl1dt we VIC
been introduced he's coming to see me:
and he's gentleman and l wouldn't
treat him mean for all the cousin Amases
that could be raked up, if they were SO
rich that they couldn't walk straight"
In evidence to the platform she had
chosen Bella appeared ut the Crabsboro
church festival in the company OF Robin
Russell.
ENTIRELY against my Wishes" contid-
ed Miss Aurora Balsamapple to her
friend Miss Cyrilla Dumps. II very
much disapprove of Mr.. Robin Russell
and must say think he's presum-
ing, bad hammered creaturew
What. ma'am-whaR" exclaimed a
fiery looking old gentleman, with red
wl'iskers and swapping little black eyes,