Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1885-02-20
HOW RDN1sDECIDED.

brown painted house with bow-windoWs
and spacious piazzas, half shrouded in
blossoming wisteria. -.
On one side is a croquet ground, and
on the other glimpse Of lovely old
fashioned garden, green, cool, and
shadowy, the mere sight of which is re-
freshing.
It is Sunday, and the people on their
way to church. Most of those who pass
this way are evidently Of the elite, tor
the street is the fashionable one of the
town.
As they pass the brown house, each
looks up at the bow-windows, as IT ex-
pecting to see there face that they
know.
But none is visible, though perhaps
those whom they look for are nearer
than they imagine; for at one end Of the
upper piazza, SCREENED by the matted
wisteria,, are two young girls, dressed in
thin slippers and white cool muslin
scaques. .....
One of the girls is tall, fair, stately,
and triAe inclined to embonpoint. One
can predict that at 40 she will make a
very handsome and imposing woman.
The other is nearly as tall, but 1.-the
and sylph-like, with a clear olive COM
plexion, dark roguish eyes, and a face
pretty and piquant.
Glow pleasant this is p she says. II
would not exchange with those people
going to church"
*'Nor L" says the other quietly. II
seldom go to church in summer"
"And Aunt Mary and Bernard-do
they 90 regular?"
''As for Bernard, he seldom goes at
any tine-spends the day lying on the
library sofa, reading. Mamma is gen.
orally an inveterate church-goer; but
just now she is on bad terms with the
new minister, and vows that if he don't
resign she will join the other church.
It is one of her WITNESSES"
Elbow odd!" says Edna, laughing.
ooh, you don't know her ] forgot
that you have not been here since you
were little thing of six years old.
What q pity uncle should have his
family so far away. We have been so
cut off from each other"
''He had to DO it, you knon, when he
failed"
Eyes, dear, I know, and + have al
ways felt very sorry for you. We, our
selves, live up to our income, and papa
declares he will have nothing to leave
Bernard and myself; but still we live
in good style, and anything, in my
opinion, is preferable to being gov
ernoss. How you must hate itr'
Eyes, indeed!" with n sigh. "and
dread the thought of going back to it.
/ have no aptitude for teaching. I Like
dress and gayety, and should like of all
things, to be rich, and the mistress of
just such house as those two hand
some ones opposite. Whose are they?"
"Onc-~-that handsomest Of the two,
with the greenhouse and fountain-is
for sale. The other belongs to Mr..
Derwent, one of our first lawyers. And
by-the-bye, Edna, here is chance for
the realization of your wishes for Mr..
Derwent is rich widower, and, it is re-
ported, on the lookout for young wife.
So don't fail to set your cap at him I"
she added, in a tone half laughing and
half earnest.
"Any children ?" asked Edna, idly.
"One--soon to be married and go
away. He must, Of course, have a mis-
tress for his establishment, for he is
fond Of entertaining and living in style,
and---There" she added suddenly, as
the door of the opposite house opened,
and q gentleman descended the steps,
shat is Mr.. Derwent! How do You
like his looks?"
Edna bent little forward for sight
of the rich lawyer.
He was about forty, and very good
looking, but stiff and precise.
Edna shrugged her graceful shout
ders.
II could never like man who walks
n that excrntiating dignifed man
ner," she said.
"Then J. may congratulate myself in
having never been remarkable for dig
nifty Of mien?" said voice in the door
way behind them.
There stood q handsome young man,
tall, dark, with silky moustache, and
steel eyes under his dark eye
brows.
He sauntered up leisurely, and stood
leaning against the balustrade, with
folded arms, looking down upon the
two girls Edna blushed slightly as she
met his gaze.
"Have you been eavesdropping?" she
enquired saucily. '.>
"No indeed! I came upon you quite
unawares, heard chirping and chatter
ing as of many magpies, and thought"
"Don't beimpertinent, Bernard" says
his sister serenely.
81? Certainly not! And if my cous-
in Edna entertains the least idea Of
what You hint ut, T am ready to go down
upon my knees and ask pardon"
Not here" said Edna, "on the piaz-
"a floor. I heard Aunt Mary complain
ing that it had not been swept for
century; and your immaculate white
suit would suffer"
"Thank you for your solicitude ON
my account, but T have soul above
such low interests. Dress is nothing in
my eyes" Ia
1T is a good deal in mine. love
dress, and devote much Of my time and
thoughts to it. There, now I have told
the truth" she added, laughing, and
will leave you to mediate upon the folly
of womankind. while I so and write q
letter holne."'' H.. ,s*s +. q.
And she airily tripped away while his
eyes followed her to the door. ,... ;
Bernard" said Laura, IT want you
to WAYlay Mr. Derwant and Invite him