The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1885-06-20

to go phere and steps to come down
there. The windows were small; the
stone porch ludicrously proportional,
and Meta clapped her hands in glee.
1.-THE very placep' said she.
Lillian pointed disconsolatelv at the
great hotels on the heights beyond.
"What OF them?" said Meta. Eve
shall not interfere with their custom
ers. We are appealing to an entirely
different class-the people who aboml-
nate bands-the people who come
here for rest and quiet. Why, there
must be fourteen or fifteen rooms IN
this delicious old cubby-hole. And
such a view OF the sea Count the
light housesi Look at the signal ser
vice buildings Lill, already see our
selves shoveling gold pieces into our
pockets"
~ wish | could be as hopeful as
you." said Lillian, softly.
So the brave little brigade went to
work on the wave washed beach OF
Watch Hill
Miss Daggett proved herself not only
an adept at repairing old furniture,
but she went valiantly out with ham
mer and nails and mended the fence,
put in new panes OF glass, white-washed
the ceilings, and, with the aid of a
young Rhode Island carpenter, actual
" put up a row of COW sheds and hen
houses in the rear.
Rosa Nixon reduced the kitchen de-
partment to working order, and drove
sharp bargains for a supply of pro-
visions from Stonington.
at isn't the kickshaws that trouble
me-" said Rosa. II can make ice
cream equal to Madam Habenstein
herself, and nobody can beat me on
jellies. But the gardens here are so
late And city boarders want green
peas and Strawberries and all that
sort of thing just the same as if Watch
Hill lay on the edge of the tropics.
People are so unreasonable!
In the course of their business al
fairs, Meta had made the acquaint
ance of the editor of New Haven
newspaper.
my dear sir" said she, with charm
ing frankness, "I'm going to advertise
in your paper. Nothing can be done
nowadays without advertising. Now,
don't you want to give us a puff?
The least bit of one will do"
II am always ready to commend
genius" said Mr. Fordyce, CALAMITY.
"In fact, was Just going to speak of
engaging three connectingrooms-wlth
view of the ocean, of Course-for
Mrs. Fordyce and the three little ones
and their nurse. Just write your no.
tice and We'll try and edge it in.'
"You are so kindp' cried Meta,
who felt Just trihe disappointed
when Mrs. Fordyce and the children
were mentioned, though why she did
not know.
Business is business" said the edi-
tor, serenely.
But when Lillian read the notice, she
opened her blue eyes wide.
''Why, Netta," said she, you give
the impression that Sea Cottage isfull
of boarders."
"Well, what them" said saucy
Netta. mo one wants to be the first
at place like this"
Almost the earliest arrival was the
ne'er-do-well cousin from Kansas,
with his wife and sons He had set
tied down into a portly, middle-aged
merchant, and his appearance lent a
solid sort OF responsibility to the
place.
Never believe what you hear" said
he to Meta. Il was rather wild as
lad, but | am soberer than twenty
judges now. Ask my wife. And Icame
here because my boys like the sea.
Never expected to find a relation on
the premises"
"Do you call those SIX Hooters
boys?" said Meta, laughing
Sea Cottage throve under its vigor
/ Gus new administration.
| Clara Daggett kept everything in
apple pie order. Rosa Nixon worked
! like bee in the kitchen, aided by lit
/ tie Fannie HOyt, and a barefOoted son
of the soil, who dug CLANS, caught
/ bluetish, turned the iCecream freezer,
| and ran errandS.
| Everything else was done by Meta
and Lillian (Carstairs Il Hand they
/ called themselves on the bills.) and
well done also"
And early in themorning, before any
| of the boarders were up, they ran
down to the fringy edge of the sea and
had their "dip"-the delicious tonic
| that gave them strength and courage
| for the days work.
'1t's better than drudging at old
/ Bobbinet's, isn't it, Lip" said Meta.
And Lillian answered:
/ sob, thousand times bettern'
In the second week the editor ar
rived, with a dashing young woman, a
! colored nurse and a swarm OF little
/ ones
'There she isl said he, as Meta
came to greet them. Miss Carstairs,
let me introduce my stepmother, and
! little brothers and sisters"
Netta's cheek flushed; her eyes spar
1 kled.
''They are very welcome to Sea
1 Cottage" she said, gracefully.
And Mrs. Fordyce afterward COM
plainingly remarked that ''if Miss
/ Carstairs had been a duchess, she
could scarcely have assumed more gra-
cious airs. Not but that the house
was well kept and the table really ex-
cellent. But, after all, the young
woman was only a boarding house
| keeper"
And her amazement may be mag
lned, when, at the end of the season,
her stepson calmly announced his en-
gagement to Miss Carstairs.
Il do like a woman that has some
pluck and go in her." said he ''She
suits me exactly, and Imeanto do my
best to suit her"
Miss Daggett, it presently trans
pired, had been plighting herself to one
OF the tall Kansas boys"
He says the West will be the very
climate for me-" said she. "And YOU
won't mind, Lily dear-will you?-
but Rosa Nixon has promised to mar
ry the young man who keeps the books
/ for the Triton Hotel. do think the
air OF Watch Hill promotes we'd
dings"
/ Lillian Hand laughed
You are all typical women" said
/ she. well, well, go and fulfill your
missions-make home happy, and all
| that sort Ofthing. But Imean to stay
here and keep the Sea Cottage. There