The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-04-10
TIE GIRL He KNEW.

TIE GIRL He KNEW.
Well, I'm surer' said Mile Seaton
to herself, as she drew the muslin cur
tain quickly across the lower half of the
window. What impertinence!''
Between the W ndow which Mile had
So hastily shrouded from outer view and
the road, lay only strip of garden,
glowing with all the bright autumn
flowers known to nature, and set be-
tween box borders and a tiny palino
fence. The house itself was smartly
painted and covered with luxuriant
creepcrs; and on the gate was fixed a
small brass plate, brightly polished,
bearing the insert ption, DR.. Seaton,
Surgeon, &c. In fact, it was the
doctors house, and Mile was the
doctors daughter. and managed wonder
fully, the neighbors said, with one little
girl from the Orphanage, to assist her
in the household, for DIR. Seaton's prac-
tice was not only small bat poor, and a
regular servant was beyond their means.
AT present, Mile was making the crust
of Il tart for dinner, and had been
greatly aggravated, for, naturally, she
desired to see what she was doing, and
had drawn the curtain back-and an
omnibus, full of passengers from the
Ludlow Arms to the station, had
driven past, everyone turning his head
to stare. And then man in gig, with
a lady, who had said aloud, in such a
cOndescending tone, what a pretty
cOttage!" And then young man, in
dandy sportsman costume, with a gun
on his shoulder, and followed by boy
with game-bag, had sauntered by,
never taking his eyes off the window.
Actually staring at me, - said Mile.
q declare it is too bad. | wish the
house wasn't right iii the middle of the
road, SO that everybody that goes past
can see right into the Kitchen she ad-
ded, in temper. Its like living in a
peep show
why, Mile" piped the old grand
father, from his cane-bottomed chair,
tilted preeariously on its kinds legs by
the garden door, ''why, Mile, you
wouldn't like to be hid away in the
middle OF "a grove, like the great folks
at the hill?"
Yes, | would, - said Mile with en-
phasis.
why. Mile, repeated the old man,
mildly, as one addresses a delirious per
son, lyon couldn't see the omnibus &c
by. Don't YOU like to watch people
coming and going? [ do"
'.Oh, well, grandpa" said Mile, re
covering her amiability, and smiling
over the raspberries and red currants
she VIZ, pi.in2 in a heap beneath the
lakY era ii made bv her own fingers. ~
suppose it is interesting 20 those who
like it. and | don't care until those great
hrOves of summer tourists rush down
here, and keep flying by, all rugged up,
glaring in at the windows, with their
white feathers and red parasols and
black moustaches, when I'm cooking at
the window in a dowdy cotton dress.
You II own that trying.
well, those sort of people do dress
fine, must allow, but you re prettler
than any of 'em you Know Mile.
Flattery, even from ones grandfather,
is sweet. Mile laughed and two dim
pies came into her checks.
''You favor your grandmother Mile, -
continued the garrulous old man, land
she was called the belle of Elmtown
when | courted her. She had forty-two
offers of marriage, and | was the worst,
and she had me. >
I've never had one yet, :" said Mile,
taking up the tart. and looking into the
oven as she carefully placed it in.
What is more, there no one to make
place. .
..Perhaps-one will pass by some of
these days. Then YOU won't despise EN-
so, - said the grandfather. II know a
girl that lived away on a lonely moor
land farm, and not a living soul came
by once year. and one day one OF them
civil engineers, as they call 'em was
sent to survey the land for branch
railway, and he saw her milking the
COW. and
Here he paused. and Mile gave
shrek.
A painting, trembling boy, with his
eyes sticking out of his head, had sud
denly dashed into the garden, and stood
before them painting and calculating:
He's killed himself! He's killed him
sell. -
is it father" gasped Mile, tremb-
ling SO that she could hardly stand.
Hush, child. No. You We come for
the doctor. haven't you?" asked the old
man. who is itP''
ITS Mr.. Archer. He's shot, pant
ed the boy. Hes all blood; Think he.
is dead. Send the doctor Don't let
them hang me; 1 didn't do it a-purpose
He gave me his gun to hold and it went
off F"
t't he q known you as wen as do,
Bill, he wouldn't have given it to you to
hold, y said the old man; ''but you won't
be hung. Where is hep Mile, go and
find your father Here, come along,
show me where he is.
Away went She old man and the boy.
In minute more the doctor, who had
been trenching his potatoes in the little
field behind the house, was seen to leap
the fence and run up the road after
them, with his glasses on his forehead,
and spud in his hand. and Mile lean
inc against the doorway to quiet down,
soon saw a sad procession advancing;
the doctor, his father-in-law, and two
men from the village, bearing amongst
them a shutter, on which lay figure In
dandy sportsman attire-all bloody
and bemired-Billy following behind
with game-bag, gun, and cap, and other
portable property. -.
lis it serious, papa?' asked Mile.
$50 and make up the bedin the spare
room. and 60 over to your aunt's ana
stay until / send for you, If you feel
like fainting." replied the doctor.
Mile obeyed the first behest, but did