Kimball enterprise. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1883, 1883-07-06
MRS. GRESHAM'sIDEAL.
BY MARY REED cRowEL1.

BY MARY REED CRowELL.
1t would have been impossible to have
anywhere found sweeter.looking wo-
man than Mrs. Observation-Disclosures
dewy-eyed, with lips like strawberries
half-smothereI in cream-and she was q
young widow.
"But Mrs. Gresham, think you must
be crazy!" Bessie Baldwin said, at which
remark Mrs. Gresham smiled.
"Not at all. 1t is simply that am
tired to death of the endless routine of
fashion and society, and that don't in
tend to endure it much longer"
"But one can't run away from society
and fashion,"
"No?" Mrs. Gresham laughed. every
we'll; intend to make the first expert
ment in that direction then. 1 know
you will laugh at me-" she went on,
"but l really do not see why my plans
should not work, for"
"Do tell me plainly and at once, what
your mysterious plans are, you provok-
ing little woman?"
And Bessie Baldwin'so own bright ewes
were as full of curiosity as it was posi-
BILE for a young girls eyes to be.
We'll, then, let me tell you, intend
to out-and-out desert Mrs. Nettie Gres-
ham, to leave her behind in this big.
handsome house, while Mrs. Nettie
Smith is going to spend the summer in
the most outlandish country place she
can find. Perhaps I should speak more
plainly, and tell you deliberately mean
to lose my own identity, and thereby
possibly find some enjoyment"
"But your friends?"
''They are not to hear word of it,
But your dozens ofsighing cavaliers?"
Bessie laughed.
slightest pity for one Of them" ~
Really, nor" Really, not any pity
for Mr.. Hugh Osmond?"
And then, by the way Mrs. Gresham's
eyelashes' fell, it was evident that Mr..
Hugh Osmond did not stand exactly on
the same level with the rest of the
"sighing cavaliers"
Confess now, Nettie, you do like
him." cried Bessie catching instantly at
the momentary relenting, as she cap
tured both of the widows lovely hands
and surveyed the flushed, tell tale face.
"Well, yes," Mrs. Gresham answered
frankly, II DO like him a little. But
Bessie, he is too delicate, too efeminate.
He makes me think he has been Graded
among rose-leaves and fed with the rarest
wines Of life--aregujar Sybarite! Do you
know, Bess, could not really look up
to man who only exceis in leading the
German, and who is noted for wearing
the handsomest neckties in New York;"
did | ever hear such nonsense!"
answered Bessie.
yePy t6ayyrx kelX qs not asha All the same it is
with wicked, little laugh. "Now, in
stead of further discussing this subject,
come and let me show you the delicious
wardrobe I have prepared tor the woods
-cambrics, calicoes and fannels, for 1
tell you am going to a real, genuine
farmhouse"
And Mrs Gresham carried the day
and actually took Bessie Baldwin with
her to the red-gabled, old farmhouse,
in Northern New Jersey, where to
breathe the clover-scented air was like a
draught of spicy champagne. But after
awhile, as even Arcadias may pail, so
this country life, which was such con-
trast to Newport and Saratoga, began to
grow somewhat monotonous.
cts just a little dull, isn't it?" Bessie
said to Mrs. Gresham, one morning as
they lay half asleep in their respective
hammocks on the shady piazza.
"No!" Mrs. Gresham persisted, grave
ly. "It is not. It is delightful! And
just think what it will be when the new
box of books comes!"
Mrs. Kent, the landlady and farmers
(D Is H.
house just OF that moment
II was afeared you'd find it bit lone
some," she said with the unconscious
familiarity which so delighted our two
city ladies. "It rsen't to be so lone,
some when our Moses lived to home,
but somehow there don't seem to be
no young folks around now. Judge
Winters nephew, he came up to the bis
house yesterday-he comes every year
about this time; but then, he amt much
account, for he is one of your highland
mighty ones, and amt very free in his
ways"
"What dreadful pity!" Bessie said
| gravely.
Yes, amt it?" Mrs. Kent went on
entirely unsuspicious. "Judge Winters
folks are rich, and everybody likes 'em
and they've lots of city company, and
we've supplied the eggs and butter, and
cream and berries, and such like for ter
years or more back. Wouldn't you like
to go UP and look at the grounds? Its
the prettiest place you ever see."
| Mrs. Gresham shuddered at the ides
Of the "city company" she had come SC
far to escape.
"Bess, she said, after Mrs. Kent hac
returned to her duties, and the two sa
silently for some moments, chow woulc
you like to see this young Mr.. Winter?'
''See him? Why, what for? !"
! ooh, don't know! But, do you
know. Mrs. Kent has talked so much
about him that imagine he must be 6
real hero-different, you know, from
ou1 city silk.and-silrers."
| "Nettie, you are not going to fall ir
| love with this rustic Adonis over whom
Mrs Kent raves SOP,
Mrs Gresham's laugh rang out softly
"What if should tell you the mis-
chief was half done already? do real
! ly believe, Bess. could think q gooc
deal of such man as he must be-sc
noble, so single-hearted, so strong anC
so manly. Why, just remember how
enthusiastically Mrs. Kent tells of hi
bravery in rescuing those two little girl
from the burning farmhouse, actually
| risking his own life fo. theirs! How Ii
! it, Bess, we never meet such men il
New York city?"
'Nettie, your enthusiasm is all wasted
on me, and if it wasn't wicked, I'd bet 6
box of six kids, assorted colors, that h'