Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1886-09-09
MAYSIE'S LOVER.

ever and anon whisk in with q tantal
izing invitation to Maysie to leave roof
and walls behind and follow them tc
the green wood. Not that the pantry il
an unpleasant place by any means
Viands of goodly odor line its Shelves
and Mayse's occupation indicate thai
moro are to be added, for, with rolling
pin and board, snowy flour, golden bat
ter, basket piled high with eggs, and
arms barred to the elbow, Maysie is
making pies.
Il VOW, Maysie, you're slower than
cold molasses, says her mother, APP
pearing at the pantry door, broom and
dust pan in hand. IF you knew who S
comm up the road, lookin' as if he
wanted to take somebody to ride, you d
hurry up with them pies. If you look
ed at your paste more and out of the
winder less you'd get through quicker, "
and the matron passed on.
Maysie is conscious that vehicle
stops at the front gate, a deep bass
question and answer, and then-Oh,
misery! that horrid little Bob is show
ing somebody around the corner of the
house and leads him directly up to the
pantry window.
The gentleman losses his hat on the
grass behind him, leans his arms on the
window-silI, and says languidly: 1T
looks cool in there, can l come in p
"Of course not"
but, why?'
"Bccause there isn't room for two, "
replies Maysic, rolling her paste briskly.
From an inner room calls Maysie's
mother, saying when you 90 out,
Maysie, | want you to go over to the
village and see about Bess' graduatin'
dress"
.'You see, " says John Hartwell, this
is an eligible opportunity. Bess needs
her dress, you need the air, | need
your comrany--if you allow me to men,
ton my humble needs, and''-as fin
ish,ng inducement-'youm may drive"
Then l will go and dress" says
Maysjc.
When they are finally driving along
the pleasant country road Hartwell
chances at Maysic with undisguised sat
isfaction, and presently remarks E:
"You arc pretty creature, Mayse"'
Sorry l can't return the compli-
mentw
Il am good but not pretty" asserts
Hartwell.
Then if you are good, tell me what
TO buy to-day"
"Of what nature-fOr what Obiect?'
Pm going to buy dress for Bess''
-hourishing her right hand-"and q
dress for me'-tlourishing her left
hand-"and they must be alike and
they must be either white or blue.
Tell me-" with solcmnity, chow would
you like to see me dressed.
Clothed in white samite, mystic
wonderful
Maysie jerks the reins and hastcn'
the gait of the animal she is driving.
'Don't abuse your horse, Maysie,
says Hartwell, covering her small
hand, which is undeniably coarsenec
by the household tasks that fall to tn,
lot of poor farmers eldest daughter
with his own, far whittier and softer
for Hartwell tolls not. neither does h
spin, being the posscssOr of a small for
tune, which enables him to dispens
with all labor except head-work suili
Gent to keep his money well invested
This is our parting drive,' he adds.
"Parting.' echoes the girl, tremu
lousy.
Yes; l have business which call
me away. | can't tell how long | shall
be gone, but when come back-whicI
will be as soon as possible, Maysie-
shall have a question to ask you"
His eyes are fixed on her face, an,
che makes no reply, other than ros
flood of color.
Il don't ask the questil May
sic, he continues, after 4 pause, "be
cause | am bound by a promise; bu
when you see me again | shall be fire
to ask it. viii you wait till come
dear?'
Maysie has never before had lover
but she can not fall to understand him
She looks every way except in the dar
eyes which seem to search her yer
soul; the horse which she is pretendin
to drive follows his own sweet will, an
nearly upsets them. ANSWER me,
urges Hartwell's low voice, and tinall
Maysie succeeds in munbling, half il
audbly, perhaps So at the sam
time briskly Strengthening up and com
pelling her Grant steed to pursue tn
path of rectitude. Hartwell seem
quite satisfied with the silly littl
answer, for smile curves his lips, an
they remain silent until they present.
enter the little country village.
He follows her about while sh
garvely makes her simple purchases
hesitatiug long between cream colo
and blue nuns yelling.
"Why don't you help me?" she say
petulantly. What are You good for?
This" says Hartwell, laying h
finger on the blue, will match you
sister Bess' eyes"
But for me! for mer' impatientl
Nothing was ever worn to match n
eyes"
This is true. Eyes too expressi,
to be blue, too lovely to be gray" I
one has yet discovered the color
Maysie's deep and changeful orbs.
You see," she says, Il should tai
the cream and be done with it, b
there isn't a ribbon in this little TOW
that would harmonic with it."
And, of course. you couldn't
without ribbons; that would be t.
dreadful" gravely.
"Weil, it would, you know" al