Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1883-11-01
J0CELYN'S MISTAKE.


against the purple horizon, old Bear
Mountain leaned, while wildernesses OF
pines seemed to stretch away into din
distance, and noisy brook foamed and
babbled through the glen, close at 10
celyn Halls feet.
''It's lovely view," said Jocelyn,
balancing herself on the extreme point
of plateau of rock, and shading her
forehead with one hand, as she looked
off over the rolling pine-tops but
what on earth has become of my tur-
key-chicks? Oh, deari oh, dear. why
did | ever tell Melinda Blackett that |
would find those undergraduates? They
are worse than Bedouin Arabs! I'd as
soon undertake to follow up tribe of
gypsiesl One thing, however, is very
certain won't go home until have
found those thirteen little wretches and
their unprincipled mother!"
Jocelyn was very tired. Certain was
it that none of her city admirers would
ever have recognized her this morning,
in Melinda Blackett's tapping sun-bon-
net, with her curls tangled, her cheeks
dyed deep crimson, her finger-ends
stained with blackberry juice. one
tlounce torn off her gown, and her
French boots hopelessly burst out at the
Sides. She could have waltzed allnight
on Delmonico's waxed floor, but two
hours of turkey-hunting had compile
tely demoralized her, II wonder where
| ami said Jocelyn, rather obviously.
ats bad enough to lose the turkey
chicks, but it's still worse to lose my
self! | wonder if there are any pan
theirs and wild cats in these woodsp
Or-snakes? Hush! was that the sound
of the turkeys peeping? Chick, chick,
chick! No it was only some horIid. de-
ceitful birdi Oh, you little wrctches,
where are you?"
And, with deep sigh, Jocelyn tied
the sun-bonnet which she had taken
off to fan herself with, and resumed
the line Of march,
II viii find Them" said she. The
idea Of my being defeated by brood of
turkcy-chicks! Ncveri'
She had scarcely searched the coverts
of the glen nearest her, when she came
upon an unexpected auxiliary, IA tall,
young man, in a broad straw hat, rib
bonlesS and weather-stained, who SEEM
ed to emerge from the very jaws of
frowning rock. Heroine though she
was, Jocelyn started and shrieked at
first.
81 beg pardon, am sure" said the
young man. 81 hope | didn't startle
you?o
''But you did. though" said Jocelyn
severely. at is very inconsiderate of
you to bounce out of the woods in that
sort of wayr'
eff | had dreamed---
There, there!" said Miss Hall. way
ing her hand in deprecatory manner,
eve won't discuss the question! What
have you got in that basket? Anything
to eat!A
Cor, be it confessed, our heroine
was very numerically hungryD
''NOt exactly answered the stranger
who was evidently taken by surprise by
Jocelyn's cavalier manner. lt's-only
a brood Of young turkey-chicks.
'Of -turkey-chicksn repeated Jocc-
lyu, knitting her brows in sudden in
dignation. give them to me this in
stanti
II beg pardon,' again exclaimed the
stranger
Give them To me, say" repeated
Joccivn, stamping her foot They are
miuc! I've been hunting for them all
the morningn
There is some mistake said the
young man The little creatures be-
lone to -
Now, I'm not to be deluded in this
way. said Jocelyn. who had once
taughta Sunday-school class in the Five
D,irfe NIisaf,,, o,,J LnI Z. ,,I,,, ,,r.;t;,.o
way with her, which would not have
disgraccd either Queen Victoria or the
Pope of Rome. "Here's a quarter of
dollar for your basket, and | dare say
il S more than it is worth. The turkey
chicks are mine Thirteen? Yes, the
number is quite right. And, my good
man, She added, severely. II don
know what sort of clergyman YOU
have in these parts, to allow you to fall
into such state Of moral turpitude,
but | should advise you to go home and
look in your Bible for the Commaudent
which says: Thou shalt not steal! .
Aud Miss Hall vanished into the
weeds, leaving this Parthan arrow be-
hind her
u think. she said TO herself, smil
ing proudly under the Tapping shadow
OF her sun-b bonnet, she won't forget
that lesson immediately. The idea of
country people being SO innocent and
unSophistcated! Why. that young man
would nave walked off with my turkey
chicks right under my eyes and nose,
if hadn' had the spirit to stand up
for myself.
But our fair heroine had strayed a
good deal further from home than she
knew, and it was high noon before she
walked into the kitchen of the long,
low farmhouse, where Melinda Black
EFT was just dishng up a tempting tu-
reen of chicken fricassee.
Here they arer' said Miss Hall, set
ting the basket on the door. do take
care of them, and let some one bring
me glass of iced-milk!
Here are whatr' said Melinda
''Why. those horrid little runaway
turkey-chickS, to be sure said Joce-
Ign.
Bless met said Melinda, they
came home three hours ago.
.'What?" cried Jocelyn
"And they're safe in the poultry
yard added Melinda.
Then" gasped Jocelyn, her cheeks
blazing redder than ever. "whose are
these?'
melinda lifted the lid of the basket
and peeped in
II declare to goodness, don't know
said She. Where did you get them?'
"A young man was walking in the
woods with them" confessed Jocelyn,
hanging down her head "And-I
snatched them away from him | was
So certain. you know. that they were
min, and he had stole EN-.
Matilda opened her eyes in amazement
"Wen. never. said she There's
nobody know of keeps turkeys herea-
bouts except ourselves only Mr.. After
bury.
And who is Mr.. Atterbury?"
"Why, the new minister, answered
Melinda.
"ls he tall?" said Jocelyn, with ter
rilied apprehension seeming to chill all
her veins. And dark? And slender?"
That's him exactly" asserted Me-
linda
Give me the basket?' said Jocelyn.
II must go back and return those dread
full turkey-chicks at once. Oh, dem.
oh. dear! what dreadful blunder
have mader
"Oh. | am sorry, said Melinda
b ackett. who had a coaNing way and a
soft. soothing voice full OF magnetic
power. But. Miss Hall. you re hushed
az Il WI -.