Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1883-07-25

while her cheeks burned with shame,
and her eyes were full of indignant tears.
"To think that mamma would act so,
even If the girls are so anxious to secure
q wealthy husband that they forget to
be decent in our own home !" thought
Pet, savagely. II don't care. I'll en-.
terrain him, and I do hope he won't no.
tice their neglect -
A sudden light came into the young
mans eyes at Pets question, and he an:
swered, quickly:
II should, indeed! I love roses
dearly"
II suppose he's glad to get out of the
room. am, at any rate" thought Pet.
Giles ever so much nicer than his un-
Gle, if he isn't rich !"
"These are my roses. Aren't they
lovely?" she asked, as she conducted
her protege to a corner of the garden
where several rose bushes were COW
cred with fragrant blossoms,
Beautiful" he exclaimed, enthusi-
astically at-not the roses-but the fair,
flushed face before him.
III gather bouquet for you," she
SAID, quickly, as her eyes met his.
They were not missed from the par
lor until Bridget announced that tea was
ready; aud Mr.. Fairfax, coming in at
that moment from the village, where he
had been detained, asked why the other
Mr.. Dunlap had not accepted his invi-
tatioD.
"He is in the garden with Pct" said
Miss Agnes, sweetly, secretly deciding
that she would make Pet present OF
her last summers silk, as a reward of
merit for taking the nephew off while
she and her sisters rivaled each other
in their attentions to the uncle.
| The younger Mr.. Dunlap was enjoy.
ing himself much better with the little
girl in the garden than the poor, over
whelmed Mr.. Dunlap in the parlor; but
he could not understand it.
He had never been treated in such q
manner before, and the circumstance
puzzled him exceedingly.
He could also sec that Miss Pet was
making uncommon efforts to entertain
him, and to keep him away from the
parlors where the others neglect ap-
peared SO manifest.
just as Mr.. Fairfax started in search
of them, Pet asked innocently:
"Your uncle must be very rich man
to own such beautiful place az Oak
Lawn? l should think be would have
found some one to help him enjoy it by
this time"
"Perhaps he has never met tue right
one YET" he answered, with a merry
twinkle in his eyes and sudden clear.
ing of his troubled brow.
He understood it all now, AMI was
quite willing to be turned over to little
It would be too tedious to relate the
summer campaign in detail. Suffice to
say that the elder Misses Fairfax were
more than pleased that the younger MI.
Dunlap preferred Pets society, thus
leaving them entirely free to captivate
his wealthy uncle.
As for Pet, her tender, sympathetic
heart grew warm toward the young man
whom her elegant sisters seemed scarce
ly to notice.
Besides, Mr.. Dunlap, junior, enjoyed
the long rambles in the woods and fish
ing excureions which Pet delighted in.
while his sedate and elderly uncle ap-
peared to be quito content to lounge
about Mrs. Fairfax's parlors, and have
ali his wishes anticipated by the three
pretty girls, whose smiles were lavished
upon him, whose gentle face and low
voices thrilled him with admiration. till
In his perplexity he scarcely knew which
of the fair divinities to choose for a wife.
One day, in the early autumn, Mrs.
Fairfax's heart was relieved of the great
burden of anxiety she had borne uncom-
plainingly all summer, by the announce
ment of Mable's engagement to the elder
Mr.. Dunlap.
It had not been pleasant summer for
the worried woman, but Mable's engage
ment fully compensated her for ali her
pretty trials and kitchen economies, and
the thought that one daughter was we'll
disposed of-that Mr.. Fairfax could
never twit her ofutter failure in her am
bilious matrimonial scheme-was very
gratifying.
While the happy couple were receiv-
ing the family congratulations (which.
however, were not unmixed with envy
On the part of the two sisters who had
not received the prize-Pet walked de-
into the room, leaning on the arm
of the younger Mr.. Dunlap, and looking
exceedingly pretty in one of Mable's old
silks. Pet had Jared unusually we'll
during the past few months in cast off
inery, and she had knack OF making
second hand articles look prettier on her
than the new ones on her sisters.
Leading her straight to her father.
MIR. Dunlap asked his blessing on their
love, and his permission to make Pet his
wife.
What-Pet, too? Really, now, this
quite upsets mel" exclaimed Mr.. Fair
fax, excitedly. "Why, Pet is only a
little girl yet, but she's worth all the
rest put together, and, come to look at
her, she has grown wonderfully Of late.
I" don't know as I could trust her
happiness in better hands, he added,
after moments pause, during which
Mrs. Fairfax had vainly endeavored 10
telegraph her disappointment of the af-
fair across the room to her husband; but
he could not or would not understand
her facial contortions. "Yes-take her.
and make her a good husband. I've
just given Mabel to your uncle, and"
my uncle ?" interrupted Mr.. Dun.
lap. "Why, Johns my nephew!"
"Your nephew ?" cried Mrs. Fair
fax, owe thought he was the I'M
cle!'
"That is on account of his age" said
the younger Mr.: Dunlap, smiling COM
placently. $50 kind of him to come on
and assist me about purchasing and re.
pairing my estate. He's noble fellow,
Mabel, and you'll never regret your
choice"
~ think that the girls will do better
without your assistance. mother" said
Mr.. Fairfax, in low tones, with sly
twinkle in his eyes that looked lovingly
across at Pet.
A Problem in Flying,