Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1885-01-09

burnie, as described by Beatrix Browne,
was a modern castle And why did
this handsome Harry persist in calling
his sister Marian ?" -.,<
Marian herself was also puzzled. un.
til it occurred to her. mind, call of a
sudden" that this Miss Harper must
have been sent to their assistance
by old Mrs. Telliff, who knew all sorts
of nice girls in need, and who was also
acquainted with the fact of their moth
er's illness.
"Mrs. Telliff is always thoughtful. :"
she pondered. "But so dreadfully
brusque and abrupt sometimes"
do You know how to take care Of
sick people, Miss Harper?" she asked,
as she was shaking out the snowy mus
lin folds of the curtains in the "best
room."
"Not particularly" confessed Nell
cent. "Why?"
ooh, because mamma is just recover
ing from rheumatic fever!" said Marian
"and it would be so nice if you could
help us nurse her."
. "Then will help you," said Nell
cent with kiss.
Harry isever SO useful, said Marian.
"He is the dearest fellow in the world.
But he can't do everything. He is down
stars now broiling the chickens for
dinner. He learned to cook when he
was camping out. And mamma can t
drink any coffee but that which he
makes"
Melicent's eyes spanked. "He must
be the best of brothers" said she.
"He is" cried enthusiastic Marian.
Mrs. Brown, the sweetest Of pale in
valids, received the visitor with some
thing of that puzzled air which Nell
cent found so hard to understand.
And there was cottage piano, a banjo,
some new music, and wilderness Of
wild flowers; and the young people
promised to show Melicent cascade
up the glen, and haunted dell still
further on.
"They are so nice," thought Mel1cent
that night when she went to bed in the
little muslin curtained room. "Not at
ell what expected to see, from Aunt
Josepha's description. And Harry is
so unselfsh and tender to his mother
and Marian is so sweet and afectionate.
I am sure could be happy here for a
year"
Consequently, the next day, when
the grand carriage from Glen burnie
ratified down the read, and Miss e aatrix
Browne came to claim the wait and
stray, Melicent Harper was more sur
prised than pleased.
Have / come to the wrong place? ?"
said she. ooh, they have beer so good
to me! The wrong Browns? No; that
cannot possibly be. They are right,
right in everything. But I shall not go
away until Mrs. Brown is we'll enough
to be about the house."
And Mellcent adhered resolutely to
this determination, in spite Of Trix's
frowns and Herschel Hubert's blandish-
ments. She remained nearly all sum-
n1er at the cottage, and spent On y one
little week at Glenhnrnie
but one can accomplish y good deal
in a week, " said Mrs. Betbune Browne,
hopefully "And, OF course, Glenburnie
must be like Paradise to her, after those
horrid little cramped-up rooms and ever
lasting pine forests"
Herschel Hubert made himself as
agreeable as he possibly could to the
New York visitor, and on the night be-
fore her return to New York he laid his
hand and heartat her feet
ooh, I am so sorry?" said Melicent.
"But am engaged already"
''To Harry Brown?" said Herschel
Hubert. grinding his teeth.
EYES," said Melicent, ito Harry. ]
was going to tell Beatrix about it to-
night. ] am so veHed that you should
have committed yourself in this sort
Of way. But please let's forget all
aboutit."
Mr. Herschel Hubert Browne muttered
some sort of lame congratulation. and
withdrew from the scene as hastily as
possible
"It's all comedy of errors, it seems"
he said, almost savagely, to his mother.
Here is our season wasted, our purse
empty, our tradesmen ciamorous; and
Harry Brown, down at the cottage, has
gained the prize"
And all that Mrs. Bethune Browne
could say was:
ITS very strange! Very strange, in
deed"