River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1885-02-26


the property of Colonel Almont, and
was for sale, with its fine blooded stock
of horses and cattle, its furniture, it.
library and everything in the house anG
around it. The Colonel and his family
were in Europe, and intended to stay
there while he educated his sons al
Heidelberg. So he offered the whole
"a house that cost hundred and thir-
ty thousand dollars, with all its offices
of all kinds, stables, palmery, grapery
and greenhouses, furniture made Il
order, and over twelve hundred acres o.
land in a high state of cultivation
for, as he said in his letter, "a mere
song" So it was; but, as it was set tC
the tune of three hundred Thousand
dollars, there were few who could rem.
der the music
They all admired the place The
agent, who was there, seized ON the
Scampers and Didymus, to whom ht
showed everything and explained
everything. Didymus was amused al
this. and whispered to Miss Scamper
He has picked ont the only three who
could certainly not buy it," Miss Seam.
per, by the twinkle in her eyes, evident
" appreciated the fun of the situation
Then the agent seized old Scamper, and
begged him off to look at the blood hor
SEES and imported cattle, leaving Didy.
mus and the girl together
"How do you like the place, Mr.
Dodd ?" inquired she.
Like it, Miss Scamperl Why. it i:
a garden of Eden; that is, it would be
so to me, if had an Eve in it.
The young lady smiled, aud said
"You like country life, then, Mr.
Dodd?"
Naturally" replied Didymus. 81
lived in the country until [ was twenty
two / was born and bred there.
would have been there yet but for the
death Of both my parents. l went tC
the city in search of fortune. / have
done very well for the last seven years
and have put little by; but TO covet q
place like this is like wishing for the
moon"
"The country is the place to live in
and the city to work in" said Miss
Scamper, sententiously.
ITO live in, l grant you, if you have
the means-a good farm and money to
work it. Otherwise you toll harder in
the country than in town, with less
comfort and less profit"
They then discoursed on rural top
les, with a marvellous unity of senti-
ment, until the venerable Scamper
and the agent got back, which was al
the time the whole party, each with q
nosegay furnished by the gardener
from the green houses, was ready for a
return to the Springs.
There were yet two days of the young
mans vacation left, when he determin-
ed to place his fate at Miss Scamper's
disposal at the first opportunity. The
chance came that very night. That
evening a number were seated on the
veranda enjoying the moonlight. Miss
Scamper sat apart from the rest in
heavy shadow, with her grandfather.
The old gentleman rose when Dodd
came and left. Miss Scamper made
room for Didymus at her side, and the
two began to talk of the days doings.
"By- the-by," said Didymus, have you
heard that Almont has been sold ?"
Yes"
"And to the great heiress, Miss Boil
sover. / wonder if she will keep old
maids hall there?"
Miss Scamper laughed low, silvery
laugh. 81 presume she will, she said
unless she chance to marry. Wasn't
that sad accident at the mill to-day ?"
Every. The man has wife and four
children. / went over to see how they
were-to see if they were in pressing
need you know; but that part is all
right. This Miss Bolsover, who must
be staying somewhere near, had been
there and provided for all their wants.
I suppose, as she has bought Almont,
she means to play the Lady Bountiful
here, which is ali the better for Micky
and his family"
81 believe, Mr.. Dodd," said the
lady, chat you play the part of Lord
Bountiful sometimes, especially If some
poor woman left with four children
should rouse your sympathies.
"How did You know" he asked.
"a little bird told me-" she said.
"You not only paid Mrs. Grants rent,
but got her eldest boy employment, and
fairly ran away to avoid her thanks.
She was full of your praises"
'But she did not know my name,
said Didymus.
True. But don't you remember
that veiled lady sat there the last
time you came? That was !. I was
in Philadelphia on visit and looked
up Mrs. Grant, who had been a SER
want in our family before she married.
She told me of her troubles,
and how stranger had helped her.
/ looked at you we'll, and when you
came here | knew you in an instant.
Didymus felt his heart futter. Now
was the time; but bis tongue refused its
office. After little pause Miss Scam
per said, II have had very pleasant
time here, and am almost sorry that /
leave tomorrow"
Tomorrow" cried Didymus in des-
peration, Selling Ter hand, which was
not withdrawn ooh, Ruth-Miss
Scamper-you must have seem"
Here he stopped, but the fingers OF
the lady frightened little in his grasp.
A friendly cloud passed over the moon,
and the recess grew darker.
81 love you, Ruth, darling. he muir
INJURED, and drew her INCREASINGLY to-
ward him.
The people on the veranda were too
busy in conversation to hear faint
sound made at the sealing of a COM
pact between two foolish young peo-
pie. But once il was all settled the
tongue of Didymus was fairly unloos-
ened, and he went on building his
their joint scheme of life. He told her
of the money he had laid away, and the
big salary in prospect, and the coy lit
tie suburban cottage on the Schuylkill,
with its acre of ground, which he would
be able to buy.
And there is room for granfather to
live with u.s." he said.
THAT might not suit him, Didvmus,
she replied, though it is kind and
thoughtful of you. He would prefer his
own larger house IN New York.
"His larger house" cried Didymus.
az thought he was poor"
"Poor! SIlas Scamper poor! Why,
he has a two-third interest in the great
banking house of Gould, Silver 81 Co.,
Now IOihy L dl4o anu tcuuds tlOuSH
he figures as the Co. He has his own
house, and a great many more of them.
Didymus, in spite of his exceptance,
felt gulf yawning somewhere. This
rich banker
II beg pardon, Miss Scamper," he
said, "but somehow
Yes, Didymus, you believed him
poor, But why do you call me Miss