Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1885-09-02
GODS WILLING PRISONER.
EMMA ETHEIsIDGE BARLOW.

GODS WILLING PRISONER.
EMMA ETIIERIDGE BARLOW.
On one not unplcasantly warm day
during the first week in August, 1884,
as sat in my law Office on the third
floor of one of the blocks in Chicago's
busiest center lazily smoking a cigar
and resting my feet upon the table
among scattered papers, and [ think
more exactly upon a copy of little Mrs.
Trymany's decree for her last divorce
than on any other, my office door uncer-
moniously burst open and the curly,
blonde-haircd head of my old Ann Ar
Dor chum, Hal Gale, from New York
City, preceded his tall, well-propor-
toned, sinewy, yet graceful form, as
he rushed into the room in real college
style, grabbed both my hands in his
an" pulled me over the table into a
chair, seated himself astride another
L u
ask how he came there or how he did,
shouted: "Ho! for Waukesha, old boy.
| went there last year at this time and
had oceans of fun. More pretty girls
there than you could shake stick at.
Will you go? I'm off tomorrow
Not being particularly driven by my
business just then, and really needing
rest and change, gave ready assent.
had stipulated with Hal that we
should stop at some small hotel or
boarding house where, when / wished,
| could be as quiet as pleased, while
he could seek his coveted gaycty else
where. But the 5 900 guests then in
the town had filled each and all of
them to overlooking excepting the i'm
mensc Fountain Spring House, which
though entertaining 800 people still
had a few rooms unoccupied, in one of
which we were heartily glad to settle
ourselves after miles of tramping.
Hal had trunk to carry his morning
suit, fishing suit, half-dress suit, and
evening full-dress suit, besides which
he wore most approved travelling
suit. I had satchel to carry my-my
--my-well the Only suit I had was
the business suit which I wore coming
and which I considered enough, as all
l ever do at such aces is to look on
The Italian band which discourses
sweet music during every meal at the
Fountain House, had already COM
menced playing for the children s
dancing hour before Hal and left the
large dining room with its seventy-five
W tiers. Very fairy-like the children
looked floating about in the largest of
the five consecutive parlors. They
were all ages, from 6 to Is, and dressed
fully as richly as their elders. Their
hOcr was over at o'clock and then
came the turn of the older ones, when
Hal was in his element. AS usual at
summer watering places there was a
bevy of sweet young ladies and dearth
of young men. Beside Hal there
seemed to be but one other young man
whom the fair ones could depend upon,
but Hal is always equal to entertaining
from six to ten young ladies season,
and he did his duty industriously that
evening so long as a sound of music
could be heard.
did not have very much of Halls
company after the first day. How
| could l, for were there not his two
blonde young ladies to take for a drive
in the morning? His three brunettes
to take turns in escorting to the parks
or allow them to beat him at game OF
ten-pins in the basement bowling-alley
at the Fountain house? But | soon
noticed that his lady for his before
supper drives, his evening promenades
on the piazza and his first and last waltz
in the ballroom was always Rachel
Rodman, of St. Louis, the fascinating
Hebrew, and belle of the house. What
gay young man could withstand tlut-
tering about this brilliant light? With
form of somewhat above medium height
and face of most perfect Hebrew
beauty, added to intelligence and
charming manners, she was truly ire
sistable. When her face was in repose
her large black eyes looked into yours
with the softest bewildering depth Of
reserved magnetism, occasionally yelled
by the white lids, whose long, dark
lashes made the snowy cheeks look
almost transparent and when slowly
raised again added to the charm of the
bewitching orbs. But when speaking
her eyes lost their dreamy depth and
sparkled with animation or twinkleC
with mischief, and her full red lips
parted over glistening pearly gates
which seemed to open temptingly tt
paradise of love. 1 questioned Ha
about such devotion but he laughingly
replied, ''Pshaw, nothing is meant OF
either side,' but look on his face
made me doubt him and hasten to add
Remember, Hal, that if you and sh'
do not object, your religious difference:
would hardly be overlooked by he
parents or YOURS ''She nor l coult
ever forget that he asserted, hurryins
to join her as she entered the ball
room dressed in simple white SAITH
gown without other ornamentatiol
than punches of natural white flower
which costume so enhanced her rar
STYLE that almost could not blam
Hal if he resolved to labor ''seve1
years. and yet more if he but won her
Among the first faces l singled on
for special study, were those of
remarkable appearing couple OF tn
Fountain House guests. The elder
magnificent white-haired man of pei
haps 20 years of age, about six feet tall
well proportioned and perfectly erect
whose dark complexion, lustrous biacl
eyes and elegant courtesy of manner
bespoke the thorough Southern gentle
man. He always wore a gloss
broadcloth dress-coat buttoned up t
his handsome chin. He appeared t