The Portland daily press., 1886-03-29
gains for a supply of provisions from We;

Adluc 4cI a ouPpl9 VI plOttcAOlo AAS-A "
terly TO Stonington,
at isn't the kickshaws that trouble me,
said Rosa. 81 can make ice cream equal 10
Madame Hsbenstein herself, and nobody can
beat me on iellies But the gardens here are
so late. And city boarders want green peas
and strawberries, and all that sort OF thing,
just the same as if Watch Hill lay on the
edge of the tropics. People are so unrea-
sonablew
In the course of business affairs, Meta mad
made the acquaintance of the editor OF the
editor of New Haven newspaper.
my dear sir" said she, with charming
frankness, "I'm going to advertise in your
paper. Nothing can be done nowadays With
out advertising. Now, don't you want to
give us puff? The least bit of one will dc"
''I'm always ready to commend genius,
said Mr. Fordyce, CALAMITY. "In fact was
going to speak of engaging three connecting
rooms-with view of the ocean, of course
for Mrs. Fordyce and the three little ones
and their nurse. Just write your notice,
and We'll try and edge it,"
"You are so kind!' cried Meta, who felt
just a trifie disappointed when Mrs. For
dyce and the children were mentioned,
though why she did not know.
Business is business" said the editor, Sc
renely.
But when Lillian read the notice she
opened her blue eyes wide.
"Why, Netta," said she, ''you give the i'm
preston that Sea Cottage is full of board
ers."
'sWell," what then?" said saucy Meta.
mo one wants to be first at place like
this"
Almost the earliest arrival was the ne'er-
do-well cousin from Kansas, with his wife
and sons. He had settled down into port
ly, middle-aged merchant, and his appear
ance lent solid sort of responsibility to the
place.
"Never believe what you hear" said he to
Meta. 81 was rather wild as lad, but
am soberer than twenty judges now. Ask
my wife. And l came here because my boys
like the sea. Never expected to find a rela-
tive on tee premises.
''Do you call those six-footers boys?" said
Meta, laughing.
Sea Cottage throve under its vigorous new
administration.
Clara Daggett kept everything in apple-pie
order. Rosa Nixon worked like a bee in the
kitchen, aided by little Fanny Hoyt, and
barefooted son of the soil, who dug clans.
caught bluefish, turned the ice-cream freezer
and ran errands.
Everything else was done by Meta and
Lillian (Carstairs & Hand they called them
selves on the bill), and well done, also.
And early in the morning before any of
the boarders were up, they ran down to the
fringy edge of the sea and had their dip
the delicious tonic that gave them strength
and courage for their days work.
cts better than drudging at old Bobinet's,
isn't it. Lill?" said Meta.
ooh, a thousand times better!"
In the second week the editor arrived with
a dashing young woman, a colored nurse and
swarm of little ones.
There she is" said he as Meta came out
greet them.
miss Carstairs, let me introduce my STEP
mother, and three little brothers and sis
ters."
Netta's cheeks famed; her eyes sparkled
'They are very welcome to Sea Cottage"
she said, gracefully.
And Mrs. Fordyce afterward complaining
ly remarked that ''if Mrs. CarstairS had
been duchess, she could scarcely have as
sumed more gracious airs. Not but that the
house was well kept and the table really
excellent. But after all, the young woman
was only boarding house keeperw
And her amazement may be imagined,
when, at the end of the season, her step-son
calmly announced his engagement to Miss
CarstairS.
Miss Dagget, it presently transpired, had
been plighting herself 10 one of the tall Kan
sas boys
"He says the West will be the very climate
for me-" she said. And you won't mind Lilly
dear-will you?-but Rosa Nixon has prom
ised to marry the young man who keeps
the books for the Triton hotel do think
the air of Watch Hill promotes weddings"
Lillian Hand laughed. "You are all typi-
cal women" said she. "Well, well, go and
fulfil your missions-make home happy and
all that sort of thing. But | mean to stay
here and keep the Sea Cottage. There are
plenty Of half-starved and overworked
city girls who will come out and help me; and
/ rather like the business. Oh, of course |
shall spend my winters in Stonington. There
is always new house linen to make and old
to mend, and plenty to keep me busy; but
really think 1 have found my vocation at
last"
And thus triumphantly closed the first
campaign of the Sea Cottage brigade.