The Mineral argus., 1884-03-27

I her cousin. going about from house 10
house, cutting and making dresses for
seventy-fve cents a day. Although she
worked hard, for every one vas anxious
10 have the city dressmaker, the pure
countrv air. fresh milk, and homemade
/ bread. and perhaps q lighter heart
/ brought back the color to her cheeks,
and sparkle to her eyes. Her cousin
told her she was growing young. Cla-
rissa was now tWenty-elght. Her parents
had died when she was sixteen, leaving
her almost entirely dependent upon her
own exertions for ner support. When
she was about twenty, she became en-
gagged to a young man she had long
known, and was looking forward to a
nome Of her own, ifonly a humble one,
when a dreadful accident occurred on
the railroad, where John Porter, her
lover, was brakeman, instantly killing
him. Since that time Clarissa
had worked on, taking but fttle inter
est in anything, and only caring to earn
enough to keep out Of debt. This change
from the city to the country had been
Just what she needed. She arrived at
Harlaud in April, when all nature was
awakening to new life, The meadows
and hillsides were beautiful with the
fresh grass of spring. On every tree
and bush the brown buds were bursting,
and the tiny green leaves peeping out.
Robins were singing blithely as they
slyly watched the ploughman turn over
the brown burrows, knowing they would
not have to 60 far Tor their dinner.
So with the sweet spring-tiAe new
hope and courage sprarg up in Clarissa's
heart. Life had a good deal of bright
ness in it, for her, after all.
AS eacon Grover walked toward abe
church, with Jerusha's remarks ringing
in his ears, he was obliged to admit that
the dearest wish of his heart was to
make Clarissa Howe his wife. The first
time he saw her at church, and heard
her sweet voice singing the old familiar
hymns, he had almost fallen in love with
her, and afterward seeing her at the
evening meeting, with her cousin who
had given him an Introduction, he was
still more pleased with her. Never, in
his young days, wnen he was paying
much attention to Mary Ann, had he
been so much In love. When he was
about his work be found himself think
ing OF Clarissa. His field of ~ripening
wheat reminded him of her golden
brown bair, and the blue %violets, that
little Mary picked down by the brook,
and brought to him to put in water for
her, Just matched her eyes.
He had never paid any particular at
tention to Clarissa. but some how it had
begun to be whispered around that
deacon Grover was all took up with the
new dressmaker."
Mrs. Green had been the first to car
~ the rews to aunt Jerusha, who was
very indignant. Although she had a lit
tie home of her own, she liked her posi-
ton as mistress of her brothers. house,
and the rent of her place could all be
put in the bank.
THE idee," she said, "of Jacob mar
Tying that air city d~recsmakeT, WhatU
she know bout takin' care of milk, and
seeiL' to farm work. | presume she
can't make a loaf of bread.
"Good eYenin'" said aunt Jerusha to
Mr.. Green who came'in, with her knit
ting, soon after the deacon had lett the
house for meeting; take a cheer,
thought you'd gone tn meetin."
"Wall, l did calculate tn, but Aaron
ne was late bout milkin', and time l
got the milk strained and the pals
washed, it was too late tn 20; seems to
me you look kinder pale, amt We teelin'
weil?'
"No I amt, I've got the neurology.
1t always brings it on tn get nervous,
and l got kinder riled up talkin' with
Jacob. 1 limited to him, when he was
fxin' fur meetin', bout gettin' mar
ried."
"Did ye; what did he say?"
"He was kinder put out when l spoke
bout Clarissa Howe; he never made no
answer but went right out of the room
slammin' the door"
Land sakeg, did he? guess there's
somethin' tn it then"
"Wall I wish l hadn't spoken tn her
tn come and make my black cashmere
dress"
GOOD land, We han't, hev We, l must
say you're gettin' stylish"
81 know | hev always made my wi
dresses, but this is going to be a nice
one, and see One she made for DIR.
Watkins wife, twas fixed nice, I tell
ye, all trimmed with fringe. | am cal
culatin' tn 60 down tn Emeline this fall,
she lives in the city, you know, and |
thought I'd have one dress that would
look as well as hers but eff | hadn't en-
gagged her I'd make it myself eny way"
"When's she goin, tn conner"
Next Sunday to stay three days, but
| ken just tell We. there won't be no
courtin' goin' on. I'll let the cream stan
and Spite before I'll leave 'em alone a
minute. You see that he don't get any
chance to see her, seeing she's going
round from place to place all the time,
and faint likely he'll 20 tn her cousins
Sunday night when there's a meetin'
and he a deacon
wall all 1 hev to say, you'll see he'll
find a chance to see her for when a man
gets his mind made up to get married,
nothin' amt going to stop 'em, especially
if he is a widerer."
Monday, o on after breakfast, Clarissa
arrived at Deacon Growers and WA soon
at work on the black cashmere dress.
Tho 1auann did MT Enau~ a-uk1s.~