Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1883-02-28
MRS. LARRABEE's MORNING CALL,

cit here all day long and look at that view.
wonder who lives here; IL must be some very
rich family, for just see those stables over
there, and the queer houses, and then the
lawns and drives! 1t must take an army OF
servants and mint Of money TO run place
like this. That is a boathouse down there at
the waters edge. or course the man who
lives here has a yacht-probably a small feet
of them. Dear mel these Hudson River
princes simply roll in wealth. Perhaps this is
the country seat OF some celebrated New York
merchant. Driver, what is the name Of the
gentleman who owns this place"
The colored man on the box OF the carriage
reflected a moment. ~ amt been long In
these parts" he said at last, apologetically.
lie bcckoned to a gardener who was clip
ping hedge near, and the man left his work
and came up to the carriage, touching his hat
respectfully to the two ladies seated therein.
The elder of them, stout, pompous dame
with large diamonds In her ears, said patron
iZingly: "Good morning. viii you tell me
the name of the gentleman who owns this
country seatW
"Mr. Partridge, ma'am."
"Partridgem
"Yes, ma'am."
"Partridge' George Reed Partridgel" cried
the stout lady In great excitement.
ayes, ma am,n said the gardner touching
bis hat again respectfully and then resuming
his hedge-clipping.
The stout lady laid a fat, tightly-gloved
hand upon her companions arm "My dear,
IL is the very Mr.. Partridge whom we knew sc
well in Rome. You remember his wife and
only son died OF the fever there that winter
and he was almost heart-broken. His wife wa;
a sweet woman. Coachman, drive up to the
house,
"But, Aunt Eta" the young girl began
In tone Of remonstrance.
My dear, know him well. He would con
slider 1t slight, an insult IL / should drive
oh lie de Cd 90
How do you dop The idea of this being his
place thought that he lived in New York
and / suppose he does I'm winter and comes
here for the summer. He is a retired mer
chant, you know, and immensely wealthy
immensely.
horses up to the entrance OF the house, and
as he stopped them, man-servant came dowr
the broad stone steps and stood ready to oper
the carriage door. Mr.. Partridge was at home
and the two ladies alighted and followed the
servant into square ball where single
sheet of plate,,glass framed a picture o.
the river and the blue hills beyond
The pavement was marble, a fine carved stair.
case wound up to the floor above, and or
every side were silent witnesses to the truth
OF Mrs. Larrabee's assertion that Mr.. Part
ridge was rich man.
"Whom shall say, MADAME" said the ser
want, as he ushered the two guests into O
small reccption.room.
1.-Two old friends" quoth the stout lady
superbly. Then she put her gold-rimmed eye.
glasses on her nose and gazed about her
critically, rising once to peep through the
door-hangings into the adjoining room. Hei
companion, tall, slim girl with soft brown
hair and eyes, seated herself in low chair by
an opened window aud crossed her hands III
her lap, YEARLY. She looked pale and tired
and contrasted I'm every way with her stout
rubcund aunt. She wore no rustling silk, NO
r..
would have instantly detected that her gloves
were only three-buttoned while her aunt's
were eight. Almost motionless, she sat look.
ing down at the carpet until Mr.. George Reed
Partridge entered. He was a burly, white
haired old man, With smooth-shaven, ma.
hogany-colored face and pair OF twinkling
little eyes.
"Well, Mrs. Larrabee," he said, In big,
outdoor sort OF voice, "this is great sur
prise. i could not imagine who my two old
friends were, and should have concluded that
you were pair of dangerous book-agents II
James had not said that you came in car.
rage. But ! don't know who the other old
friend can be-" He bestowcda shrewd glance
upon the girl, who had risen and stood before
him, faint blush spreading slowly over hei
face. "And should not call her so very old, ,
he added, with laugh
at is my niece, Ellen Husead," said Mrs
Larrabee: you remember, she was in Rome
with u.s."
"Ah, yes, Of course; recollect now" Mr.
Partridge exclaimed. lie shook hands will
the girl heartily. at is no wonder that
didn't recognize you, Miss Ellen, for the last
time saw you you were along-legged creature
In short frocks.n
Mrs. Larrabee looked rather shocked, bu
her niece smiled. "The frocks have been lei
down." she said, gayy
$50 ! see. | suppose 1t was necessary
Why, you are quite woman,- eighteen year.
old, | dare say"
"Nearly nineteen" said she.
you must stop shooting up and take L
spreading out. With your height, you ought
to weigh hundred and forty pounds"
"She has been studying very hard all win
ter" said Mrs. Larrabee. THAT is why sh,
10 ks so pale and thin"
studying, chi" MIR. Partridge repeated
had said danced IL of. l don't like learned
young ladies very much In fact, I'm afrait
OF 'em."
bright look flashed into the girls face
"Ah, you need not be afraid Of me" she said
In half-triumphant, half-mournful accents
81 am not learned In the least and can't be
although have tried very hard"
Mr.. Partridge twisted about in his chair ant
looked at her with new interest His glanc,
Travelled deliberately from the crown of he
head to the tip Of the boot that showed itsel
benea h her simple gown.
she has just passed through, said Mrs. LARA
bee. "She came to Poughkeepsie to entel
Vassar College, but she failed i'm her examina
tions. That Is how we happen TO be here; W.
are going back TO Chicago tomorrow"
VI could enter the preparatory class" chimet
IN her niece, but | feel too old for that
thought j should surely enter Freshman;
studied hard all last winter for IL, but / an
dreadfully deficient In mathematics. / cam
even manage fractions; and as for algebra
=" She broke of eloquently and looked III
into. Mr.: Partridge's face with smile o.
comical despair.
He burst into a roar of laughter. "My dea
child" said he, what earthly good would 4
do you II you could manage fractionsl Keey
out OF Nassar College, and gather your rose
while you may; that is my advice"
III shall have to do something 10 earn my
own living" said she, in simple, straight
forward way, sand ] hoped TO become
teachcr.n
The laughing look on Mr.. Partridge's fac,
was replaced by very grave one. He purseC
up his lips. "Whew !" he whistled
Mrs. Larrabee now came to the rescue, ant
guided the conversation in the direction Of
Europe. Ellen was rather left out OF the de
sultory talk that followed, and sat by, silent
and absorbc0in her thoughts. Evidently the,
were not tho vague, pleasant day-dreams of
young girl, for little line showed itself be
tween her brows, and she compressed her lips
no lhOuBu BIC WcTe mcntdlly making sOm(
great resolution. AS he listened 10 Mrs Lar
sabee's smoothly-fowing stream Of words, Mr.
Partridge every now and then glanced a,
Ellen In his quick, shrewd way. Sometimes
she caught his glances and returned them will
smile, but oftener she was quite unconscioul
Of them and worked away at the problems tina,
,eemed to trouble her. Outside, the carriage
stood In the shade Of a great chestnut-tree
aud the colored coachman slumbered peace
fully on his perch, while the horses stamped
impatiently and whisked their tails In futile
efforts to dislodge the flies. In the distance
man drove mowing-machine round ant
round lawn, and, neS-er, n gardener moved
a rake lazily to and fro over a graveled path
The south wind stole in through the opened
window, bringing with II the smell of roses
A vague drowsiness stole little by little owe,
Ellen, and the muscles OF her face relaxed
How sweet II would be TO lean her head aRains,
the back OF her well-cushioned chair and for
get her troubles in sleepl She closed her eve.
once, but opened them quickly lest her ann
should see her. That lady was talking In he,
customary fluent and impressive manner.
at was such lovely morning that thought
would bring Ellen out for a drive. She
has never seen anything OF the Hud
son River before, and the scenery here
A. n. =