Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1884-02-20

if you like, Yorke."
&c Unspeakable boon!'' laughed Cecil.
well, I'm ready" he added, deposit
ing the prize baby in the lap of it's proud
mother ond linking arms with his
friend. ~ 49,
Elbowing their way through the press,
they came to little nook, where Ro.
berta sat in her agricultural bower, with
bodyguard of relatives lowering about
her.
Tall stalks of corn, atop of which flut-
tered q blue ribbon, formed q back
ground for her piquant beauty.
She wore flowing dress of cream COL !
ored flannel. with bunch of scarlet
peoples at the waist. She was leaning
lightly against pumpkin which would |
have furnished Thanksgiving pies for a
regiment.
And with one little, brown, dimpled
hand resting on an apple marked "thir-
ty ounces" and the other holding an
ear of corn, with which she gesticu]ated
Slightly in her earnestnees, she was an
swering some questions relative to Kan
sas.
"You are quite right, sir" she was
saying; the soil is wonderfully fertile;
tickle it with hoe and it laughs with
harvest. And you say you have six
boys? Kansas is the best place in the
world to bring them up.''
LII think the matter over" said the
elderly gentleman, as he tucked away, in
9 capacious pocket, the pamphlet which
Roberta rendered him.
'''Wil you come into my Kansas?'
Said Miss Belmayne to the fly.
IT'S the finest land, is Kansas,
That ever you did spy,'"
parodied Yorke, in whisper.
Taking advantage of the old gentle
mans departure, Derwent introduced
his friend.
'Proserpine is exhibiting her mothers
fruits; but see she has found room for
some of her own flowers from the fields
of Emma" gallantly observed Yorke, as
he spied Miss st. Johns pansies.l
"Oh, you are looking at Lucia st.
Johns pansies? Those pansies came
from the garden of neighbor of ours,
and they are only another illustration of
the wonderful fertility of the soil" an
swered Roberta, turning everything to
practical account, like the shrewd little
business woman that she was.
'Lucia st. John!'
Cecil Yorke started, and tremor and
quick flush chased across his face.
eyes; pretty name, isn't it?"
Every. Is it's owner as pretty?"
"Pretty? I should think so! Her
hair is just the color of that, F." indicating
golden-yellow pansy, 'sand her eyes
are almost as dark as that" touching
a dusky king of the blacks with the tip
of her phenomenal ear of corn. Chow
fond you seem to be of pansies!" she
added, as Yorke's hand fell lightly on
the yellow flowers, to which she had
likened Lucia's hair, with an impulsive,
caresaing gesture.
81 met MIR. Yorke just outside the
cate p exclaimed Roberta, as she
oanced into Miss St. Johns pretty
sitting-room one crisp October day.
$50 fathers pamphlets have brought
him out here. suppose he was here
to see about buying your lots in Mar
vyn's Addition. But thought you had
put them into fathers hands to SELL"
; she added, with a sudden fear for her
fathers percentage.
II did put my lots into your fathers
hands. Mr.. Yorke only came here to
ask question or two," Lucia replied
with smile, that caused an unsupported
dlmple to break the pink curve of her
cheek.
"About the lots? I suppose father
was too busy to answer his questions, y
said Roberta, as she smiled, relieved,
II think our prairie air is doing Mr..
Yorke good, already. Why, he looked
positively radiant ! And so do you, Lu-
cia ! Why what has happened to you
and Mr.. Yorke ?" she added with sudden
suspicion, as her friend turned to CHR
rup to the canary too late to hide the
quick flush that fred her face.
"We've come to our Senses" said
Lucia, sententiously. ''It's the old, old
story. We were engaged six years ago
In New York. l was headstrong and
fond of admiration, and Cecil was quick
tempered and jealous. We had dozens
OF lovers quarrels, and at last, after an
unusually serious one, Cecil vowed that
he would be tormented no longer, and
married a girl who adored his very
| shadow. He has been a widower for
two years, but didn't know where to find
| me, as father and I have moved about
so much since we came West. Then
you and those blessed pansies supplied
the missing clue, and Cecil intends to
go to stock raising, and you must be my
bridesmaid" she concluded, with all her
dimples twinkling.
s'Certainly-if I'm not married first!
George Derwent has bought fruit farm
of father, and-wishes me thrown into
the bafgain!" eaid Roberta, with her
saucjest smile, as she returned Lucia
this Roland for her Oliver.
(Which offered the greatest Induce
ments to Land Buyers -yourself or
your father" laughed Lucia.
81 am inclined to think that pansies
triumphed over pumpkins" said Ro.
berts, mischievously.
"And curls over corn," returned Lu-
cha, patting her friends curly head.