Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1884-01-11
Well, the answers fairly poured in.

NAG been waiting Tor +" an american
girl who is a good plain cook" but
Molly resolved to be critical and
waited. In the meantime, seeing
that a way was open, she dressed her
self in her best and went shopping.
She chose to patronize Rush & Crush,
where her high and mighty airs
gave unbounded satisfaction to the
clerks, with whom she was a favorite.
She sailed up to the print counter
with great dignity, turned the goods
over, pulled the corners crosswise,
after the fashion of women shoppers,
deprecated the patterns, etc., but
finally bought print for three dresses,
bingham for aprons. etc., to tho
amount of three dollars, and counted
out with great majesty the three
trade dollars.
ooh, Molly, you know we can't
take them," said the clerk. Molly
turned to Mr.. Bush, who, sauntering
along with his eyes on the other side
of the store, was taking in the whole
proceeding.
"Mr. Rush," she said, II took these
here day before yesterday, and now
the clerk refuses them.
MI. Rush was grimly amused at
her audacity, but instead of answer
ing her, turned to the grinning cash
boy in waiting, and snapped. "Cash,
what r you waiting for? Take the
goods and money this instantw
The youthful Mercury disappear
ed like a spirit, and Molly felt some
what like her great grandfather did
at Conco,d.
Monday morning brought a letter
which seemed promising, and which
read as follows:
need a domestic, and prefer one Of our own ma.
= hired man. Ny wife is feeble, and the domest-
would pay three dollars q week to the right per-
son; # you feel capable for the gls;se, and can
you come as soon as possible.
Then followed some directions
about trains, and the whole was sign
ed in plain, homely fashion, "Yours,
Bethuel Harlow"
"Wife feeble" unused Molly; "well,
she won't be poking round the kitch-
en- all the time,, (another flash of the
Concord spirit). Domestic" not
servant" or 'shired girl" That
suited.
The result was that a few days
later Molly, armed with a letter from
her minister. was set down, the only
passenger. at Wheatfield's station.
Squire Harlow, waiting for the ex-
pected good plain cook" was smit-
ten with great misgivings at the
sight Of the stylish young lady, for to
his eyes, accustomed to the dress of
Wheatfeld's daughters, the simple
grey suit with it's graceful drapery,
seemed the height of elegance, and
he was not treasured by the question
of the station agent: "Got company
from the city, amt youW But It was
too late to retreat, and soon old Dan'l
was pulling them steadily toward
home. The squire said little, but
glanced at the girl occasionally from
under his shaggy eyebrows. It was
a fair honest face, which freshened
with every mile in the sweet evening
air, and the gray eyes took in every
thing, from the chipmunk on the wall
to the locust trees, with their fragrant,
dropping clusters.
"Want a piece?" said the squire, as
they drove under one. Her face was
answer enough; and stopping old
Dan'l, the good man cut cluster and
dropped it in her lap. She thrifty
took off her new lisle-thread gloves
to take it, showing hands so white
that the squire groaned internally.
Those hands wash his dishes and
scrub his floors? Was this young
lady, who was prettier and better
than any girl in Wheatfelds, his do
nestle? He shook his head slightly,
chewing a bit Of the locust.
Mollie ventured a few questions
about the family, and heard the story
of what was always uppermost in the
squirrels minc-the story of the lost
daughter Mary, n of the victims of
New England's scourge, who had
faded away three years before, since
when "Miss Harlow had sorter pined."
It was a pathetic little story told in
the laconic New England way, but
the brown, knetty hands worked I'M
steadily on the reins, and the sources
eyes had 9 far-away look, as though
toward the country that held his
Mary.
Presently they drove up to a COM
Portable house, with an air of plenty
about the large barn and wide porch,
over which grew a white lilac. Mollie
found her Mistress a little woman
with faded, gentle eyes, and soft,slow
voice. She looked at the girl kindly,
and held out her hand. After giving
her a few directions, and telling her
where to find things, she added to
her husband, Tell John to carry her
trunk to the east chamber" This,
apparently, was something unusual,
for the squire opened hia mouth as if
to say something, but, being a man
of few words, shut it again and went
out.
Mollie, following her trunk, found
herself in a small room, with q bright