Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1884-04-12

She was standing at the door between
the kitchen and sitting room; an ugly
ginpham house apron covered her slen-
der figure from her pretty throat to her
dainty feet; her soft cheeks were hot
and red; her sleeves we're rolled TO her
shoulders, and her small hands We're
dabbled with -four.
What q bothersome creature you are,
Lulu. do wish you Ould leave me IN
peace" drawled the handsome elder Sis
ter, who was lazily reclining on sofa In
the coolest corner Of the dolicioasly
breezy apartment.
She was dressed in fresh white muslin,
with blue ribbons III her pale gold hair.
There was delicate tinge OF carmine
on her cheeks and thin. hard lips: and
there was a suggestion of artistic pen
cling in the too perceptible blueness of
the veins and in the dark curves of the
naughty brow.
II cannot help the cattle being out,
can ~ she added. Grossly.
The man father WAS to send ought
! to be here by now, l should think" said
Lulu. refiectively, with glance of quiet
| disdaiu at her sisters unnecessarily fine
| toilet.
Just then somebody raped loudly at
| the outer door, and a dusty hat and
shabby coat we're visible through glass
panel.
That must be him now" she contin-
| ued. Frances, will you 90 to the door,
please?" she pleaded, suddenly, mind, nj
of her bare arms, her floury hands and
| ugly house apron.
Indeed, will do no such thing" WAS
the ungracious reply. And l will not
have him brought In here; you can 60 to
the kitchen entrance and tell him what
he has to do"
But he may be a gentleman" pro-
tested the mere considerable Lulu.
| a gentlemanr' was the supercilious
ejaculation. "What stupid girl you
are. Do you suppose father would send
| n gentleman to take care of his COWS, or
that gentleman would do it? The man
on the stoop looks much more like a
tramp" she added. loftily, Needless that
the individual patiently waiting outside
| the open window must unavOidably hear
all she was saying.
But Lulu, in defiance of her sisters
| injunction, walked straight to the door
and opened it in her own pretty and at
tentive way.
Mr.. Brinklev sent you?" she asked =,
civilly.
II am Jerry, at your SERVICE" he re-
piled, in curiOusly hesitating voice,
touching his dusty hat with wonder
fully graceful salute, and Lulu noticed
that his smile was beautiful and his teeth
very fine and white.
| You have had no lunch, dare say"
she said. with u deprecatory glance to-
ward the frowning sister. = l can give
you cold meat and pie and glass Of
milk, and then you can look after the
COWS. They are doing dreadful damage
| in the wheat, am afraid" 81 anxiousiy
concluded.
perhaps | had better look after the
COWS first" he answered; and Lulu mar
veled that his manner of speaking was
so very agreeable. :" But l shall need
some directions" he continued, still re-
garding her with puzzlIng expression
III his clear, keen eyes.
IL must go with YOU, suppose" said
Lulu, with u rueful glance toward the
deserted kitchen.
And. tying IL quaint calico surbonnet
over her bright brown curls, the busy
young daughter of Farmer Brinkley
walked bravely away 10y the side Of the
new hired man.
|
you now" he remarked, after he had
been guided to the little dairy set in the
side of the hill, to the tool -hsuse and to
the pasture lot where the bars had be en-
broken and displaced by the rebelliOus
horns of old Brindle.
~ am glad, too" she said simply.
"I was baking when You came, and
things do burn SO when there ia no one
to watch the oven"
"But Miss Brinkley is there" he re-
marked.
Frances" she exclaimed, with little
stare of bewilderment that was delight
full. Then, with An unusual laugh, she
said: My sister is too han 1some to be-
useful. She detssts work and knows no
thing about it,"
As she went back singing toward the
house, Jerry gazed after her until the
graceful figure vanished ameng the
vines that embowered the entrance to
the Kitchen
What a bonny creature she Is, he
thought. A girl with n warm heart
and sensible head; q girl honest and
true and sweet. have dreamed of such
az she. and perhaps shall not be sorry
for my delay here until Brinkley comes
back. Fortunately idleness il always
irksome to me, and | Am used to this
sort of employment; besides, meanwhile
have that charming little jewel Of
womankiud to study. l have always
understood that the elder sister il the
most captivating. but l am inclined to
fancy that there Is mistake some
where"
Time passed swiftly and pleasantly,
bringing at last the day of Mr.. Brinkiy q
return.
On that morning Frances came down
from her room III exquisite attire. Her
mood was particularly radiant and par
ticularly exacting.
Jerry, l wish You to make haste for
once" she said. in her most Extensively
overbearing accents, to the new man,
who WAS breakfasting in the kitchen.
~ want the pony phaeton brought round
the instant you're doue with your break
fast. l shall drive to the station for
father and a gentleman who comes with
him. Do You think you can remember?''
she added, with an abrupt, patronixinH
amiability.
81 will Try" he answered, with a sin
Rular chuckle, that was not audible IL
the amiable lady.
And. Lulu. you will be obliged to make
| ready nv best white muslin: do be q lit
tie painstaking with II; you have become
friHhtfully carelt - with my starching
Father says MIR. waldron has very fas-
tidious notions about women's dress, and
want to look my best ssnieht. He has
the finest dairy farm IN the State; bis
income IL immense, and he has home
like palace"
just then Jerry arose from the table,
and, whistlirg With questionable indif
ference, sauntered out upon the lawn.
But Frances did not so TO the station
TO meet Mr.. Brinkley and the desirable
guest.
A half hour later the simmer sky was
black rs INK and the rain was coming
down like q delnge.
In the midst of the storm, and before
his time, Mr.. Brinkley arrived. Jerry.
sheltered from the rain and from obser
Walton IN vine clad corner of the kitch-
en- piazza, smiled aueerly behind the
| uevsnAps.Y he WAS readinu