Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1885-12-31
LISA.

his eager eyes upon the dainty visitor.
! And Lisa dropped her work, and ran
| TO look at 1t, too. Yes, thereit was, q
little black-and-gold creature, fiutter-
ing softly among the plants in the
window.
"Poor little fellowI his summer is
nearly over Johnny said Lisa, the
faint, golden haze Of the outside world
reminding her that it was September.
nIike mine,n said the invalid, falling
back on his cot with sigh.
"Now Johnny, what nonsenseW said
his sister, with great pretense at
cheerfulness.
HI know shall die, Lisa, ifI stay
shut up In this city much longer. Oh,
if we could only goto the countryP
Yes, ifthey only could, thought the
sister, with great, passionate longing
for the freedom. The pure air and the
beauty of wood and field; but how could
thew when it took all she could possibly
make with her needle to keep them in
the bare necessities of life? All sum-
mer the poor, weak, ailing boy had
fretted and pinned for the country, and
she toiled over her sewing machine day
and night, but never could she lay by
enough even for day out in the woods.
She was a pale, slim young creature,
NOT over1S, not particularly pretty, but
sweet and tender, with soft, dusky
Southern ewes and waxing, dusky hair.
She looked out into the dusty street,
and even las she did so, saw the young
nephew of old Miss Law drive up with
that lady in the buggy. Miss Law oc-
cupied the little yellow house opposite
and taught day school. She was Q
little. withered old maid but very kind
and cheerful, and Lisa's eyer brighten
ed as she saw her returning home.
| How brown and strong Mr.. Archie Law
looked, and how carefully he assisted
the old lady out of the buggy, ana
opened the gate for her, before ne drove
away!
Lisa had heard great deal about him
from his aunt; of his fine farm on the
McDonough road, of his mother, and O.
his own splendid qualities. She fell
that she was really acquainted witt
him, and watched him drive away
| with friendly eyes, before sitting dowr
to her worl, again.
Half an hour later Miss Law bustiet
in.
"Well, Lisa, my dear, how does thu
work get on? Johnny, are you bette
, to.day?'' she said, giving Lisa kiss
and Johnny pat, before she sat down
aYou have been away" said Lisa
bringing in glass of fresh water.
uYes: out to see Archie and his me
ther. Poor soul! she has sprained he
ankle, and the doctor says it might b
: month before she can get out again.
"Oh, I am sorryv' exclaimed tn
sympathetic girl.
Eyes, it is bad, now that they wei
:, SO busy picking cotton, and extra hane
hired, and nobody to see about tl
H house and kitchen but Dinah. tol
my sister-in-law she ought to get gi
"a nice, steady white girl-to sta
with her until the fall work Is over, an
, she said might engage one If ! coul'
and send her out to her."
Lisa's heart gave quick bound, an
the blood rushed to her face; she drol
ped her work.
"Oh, Miss Law, doyou think woul
Isuit her? Indeed, know great de
. about housekeeping, for kept hou
for papa before he died"
! 'tYou, child? You hire out?'' gaspt
the little spinster, and she put up h
glasses to look more clearly at the gil
"Why not? work like a slave her
and Johnny is longing for the countr
N If we might go for two months.
would take no wages, only our boar
and help about the work.
Miss Law looked again at her, nott
the eager, wistful expression of her eye
the paieness of her delicate chin, no
= that the flush had faded, and then ii
m hoIlow-eyed invalid on the couch.
"Well, well, | had not thought
: such a thing, but probably II would
= good for you both. Yes, | really belle
J. It would. I'll see about it right away
- "If you only wOuld!'
:. aYes, yes, will.n
And the end of it was that few da
: later Mr.. Archie Laws buggy stood
y, the quiet street again, and Mr.. Arch
- himself ran up the stairs and dragg
- down the small trunk, into which Ii
'm had packed their scanty wardrOt
M And Miss Law kissed the children
children she called them -and ba
them get good color before they car
back, and impressed it on her nepht
that he must take good care of Lisa.
b aAll right, aunt. She shall be II
special charge,n he said. and looked
the Young girl with wonderful
bright, pleasant smile In his blue ey
~ and on his firm mouth. All, wha
m. lovely day it was, with golden sunshil
eeg. with blue haze hanging over the d
,th tant hills, and with the first faint Il
Of autumn on the leaves. The colt
no fields were white, and every now a
then mellow snatch of song wot
float up on the air from the throat o
!. happy-go-lucky picker. Then the Il
arm-house, set in grove of trees, WI
the softening touches Of time about
with vines shading the veranda and !
clinging to the old rock chimneys.
was heavenly, thought poor Lisa, W
had been homesick for just such visi
of peace and quiet; and when Mrs. Il
gave her such a gentle, kindly WELDON
a mist of tears blinded her soft, du
ewes. Johnny drew long, content
sigh, and stretched himself on I
piazza. So through the dreamy, gold
days they made the most of their p
cious holiday. Lisa fell quickly ii
the ways Of the household, and prov
herselfa q quick footed, deft young h
per. Oh, yes, it was delicious holidl
with Just enough occupation to make
pass all the more swiftly. Archie {
not forget that promise to take care
4 Lisa, and did not apparently find
III task unpleasant, while she gradua
4 .rt- = q y. II. T1.sI