The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1883-10-18

you 11ho SuEiotlouS. Hlu aOouSeOucu
to Twin in dungeons, and I'm too old to
begin now. So, if you please, ms'am,
I'll go back to the city this morning"
"And leave me alone, Bridget"
"a girl has got her own health to look
to, maam; and wages amt no object
when there's chills and fever in the
neighborhood."
And away trundled Bridget, with her
nose elevated in the air.
Mrs. Truax rang the bell for the cham
bermaid.
"Leah," said she, when that young
lady made her appearance in stiff
starched muslin apron, and ribbons in
her hair, "cook is going away, and 1
shall let you take her place until"
81 beg your pardon ma'am," inter.
posed Leah. II was just thinkin' of
leaving myself. I don't like the looks
of the place, ma'am-and no house in
sight, and burglars around as thick as
blackberries, and a ghost in the back
attic, as the gardeners boy has seen his
self, when the moon was at the full. So
if you'd please to settle up my wages
ma'am, III go in the same train as Bird
get takes"
Mrs. Truax sat down and cried. She
had been brought up in fashionable
boarding-school, in total ignorance of
the most essential rules of domestic
economy. She didn't know skillet
from steamer.
"If it was in the city I could send
around to a restaurant for dinner" said
she; "but now-oh, what shall I do?"
And the banging of the door behind
her departing hand maidens was q
mournful echo to her thoughts.
She was still sitting and crying in the
musty dining-room, when ring at the
front door bell summoned her back to
the realities of life, and there stood half
dozen gsyly-dressed ladies from the
city.
"How are you, dear?.' said Mrs.
Tullius Markham. 1--we come up
with the dear girls to get breath of the
hay fields, and eat strawberries and
cream with you. in this sweet old man.
orial place."
And poor Mrs. Truay. aghast though
she was at this unexpected invasion, was
compelled to put on an aspect of well
coming smiles, and invite the guests into
the parlor. which had not been busted,
and smelled good deal like receiving
vault in cemetery.
Please excuse me just minute, while
you are taking of your things" said Mrs.
Trnax.
And she hurried out into the garden,
with a bowl in hand to gather straw.
berries.
But, to her surprise, q great, hulking
man was there before her, prying under
the leaves.
"What are you doing in my straw.
berry patch, sir?" Indignantly demanded
the lady.
The man looked up with an insolent
grin.
"Tm a.lookin' for Strawberries" said
he, land precious few l finds. This
ere beds regular swindle."
Leave my premises!" cried Mrs.
Truax.
Don't get excited, ma'am," said the
man, advancing With stealrhy footstep.
THAT ere watch of yours looks like the
genuine article. My ticker's out of re-
pair. I'll trouble you for that"
And before Mrs. Truax realized the
audscity Of the attack, the tramp had
made good his retreat, with her little,
diamond. studded Geneva watch and link.
chain.
As she burst into tears, the ''handy
boy" who was never handy when he was
wanted, appeared from behind bush.
Eyes, that's always the way, ma'am,"
said he. Them trsmps ia awful. They
comes up from the railroad track under
the hill, and grabs just what they wants.
That's the reason the other tenants left.
They've stripped the fruit trees and gar
den stole all the fowls, and broke into
the house two or three times"
mercy on us!" gasped poor Mrs.
Truax. "But why didn't you run for
help, when you saw him snatch my
watch?"
where would I run to?" asked the
boy "And where would find help?"
"Pick some strawberries for me-" said
Mrs. Truax. recovering the bowl she had
dropped into the grass; land be quick
about it,"
There amt none," said the handy
boy.
Can you get some milk or cream?"
said despsiring Mrs. Truax.
| There amt none short of Deacon
Peabody's, up to Pine Hollow" said the
boy.
How far is that?"
| -Four miles and half"
| "Are there any bakers here?"
No. said the handy boy, "there
amt"
Mrs. Truax stood Q minute or two,
bordering. Then she went back to the
house.