Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-09-19
R0SA'S ENGAGEMENT.

Dear mel" said Mr. Pitcher, what are
our gals so dressed for? Amt 1t washing
day?"
Hush. fatherw said his thrifty wife.
They're expecting company. The Widow
Collins is coming to wash to-day"
Mr.. Pitcher whistled softly.
Phew-wp said he an my young
days we didn't hire woman at seventy
five cents a day when we had stout arms of
our OWE"
Things change, father said his wife,
hurriedly.
Not always for the better, though" re-
marked the good farmer as he got into his
One-horse wagon and drove away.
Do you suppose he'll be along soon ?"
- said Rosa.
How is a body to tell?" retorted Fanny
rather impatiently.
Oh, Fanny, I'm afraid !" faltered Rosa
You take my place, won't you? He'll
never know that it wasn't you who wrote
the letter"
Rosa, what a child you are" said Fan
ny, with Il calm superiority.
Oh dear" said Rosa, " am in such a
twiteratoni | almost wish, Fanny, we
hadn't answered that advertisement"
" It's too late to think of that now said
Fanny. There he comes, this minute"
Where cried Rosa, divided between
her extreme curiosity to see the man who
had advertised for 4 wife in the columns of
the Fda-sie,o County Journal and the instinct
that babe her flee to the most convenient
closet He is handsomem whispered she.
And he has got his Yalise with him p
said Fanny.
Lap cried Mrs. Pitcher Z" wonder if
he expects TO be asked to stay?'
i the sound of footsteps on the door
stone Fanny fled precipitately, Rosa sank,
painting, on the haircloth sofa, and Mrs.
Pitcher FASTENED to answer the knock.
Does Mr.. Pitcher live here?" said a
tall young man with sandy hair, mus
tache to match, and pale blue eyes, yelled
behind spectacleS.
He does" falteringly answered Mrs.
Pitcher. Please to walk in. My daugh-
ter is in the parlor."
Perhaps said the young man, hesitat-
ingly, it might be well 10 explain to you
that /"
No explanations are necessary" said
Mrs. Pitcher, growing more and more fur
ried. "She quite understands. Please
walk INTO the parl0r, you'll find her there. "
Rosa, sitting exactly in the center of the
haircloth sofa, looked not unlike a mouse
in Trap. who would fain escape, if it could.
The young man sat down his valise and
bowed stifily.
hope l see you well, miss said he
Pretty well" stammercd Rosa.
And then followed an awful silence
The young man, after pOrtentously clear
ing his throat, began to unfasten the buckles
OF his valise
l have something here which l should
like to show you" said he.
He has got some credentials as to
character" thought Rosa, or perhaps it's
an ,r.,,Fr - l.
onem
Are you fond Of cooking2" said the
young man. "But l needn't ask. Every
New England girl is that"
d" like it pretty well, said Rosa, much
marching at the questioner.
You read good deal, I suppose"
oh, yes, said Rosa Frightening up a
little.
Exactly" said the young man. We'll,
/ have here the very thing that will suit
You, Your next neighbor below, Mrs.
Slatterly, has taken two copies of it. and it
was she who recommended me to call here.
a complete cookery book, with all the
recipes III poetry and illustrated through
out at only 81 4 volume A souvenir
alike worthy OF parlor table or the kitchen
dresser, or even place in the young lady 5
boudoir And as for literary excellence"
His tongue was unloosed at last; he was
sufficiently vouble now
Rose started to her feet
Ars-aro yoa book agent?" she cried
That's my business, miss" acknowl-
edged the young man, unwrapping several
differently unbound volumes of the % Com
plete Cookery Book in Verse" "Will you
do me the favor TO look at this book ?"
No, | won'tp' excitedly cried Rosa.
| only ask trial TO convince YOU that
" Let me go p cried Rosa, blindly rush.
ing 10 the door. IL am not WELL
think am going 10 faint
The book agent picked up his spectacles
looked blanllly at the blue. red and green
Volumes of his stock in trade and began
slowly TO replace them in his valise.
. don't believe | shall make trade
here" said he to himself. The people
are queer. l hope I haven't got into pr
waite lunatie asylum
And he opened the front dooS and walked
out OF the house, just rs Rosa ran sobbine
down the grapevine path in the garden
directly into the arms OF tall young gian
who was coming up from the river with al
overcoat on his shoulder
Rosa, said he, I've come here to ask
you TO pardon me. 1t was l that adver
tised. ! did it just for a joke. But wher
you answered it,
" lothian Eiettr' cried Rosa, nearly
choking with wrath, IN never forgive
you in this world-never.n
She struggied to escape from his grasp
but in vain
Kow, Rosa, don't be vexed " said he
4ou will forgive me-you must. AnC
You shall marry me, too. There I al
ways said could pluck up spirit TO ask
any girl to marry me; but somehow this
matter seems to settle itself. No, you shall