The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1886-08-07
ORIGINAL S T OR Y.
THE FIRST AND THE TWENTY-FlRST
BY MRS. CAROLINE A. sOULE.

CONCLUDED FROM LAST WEEK.
After breakfast Ralph went first to
his letters, and then took his paper and
hooks out under the old oak tree. Mis-
tress Grace joined him soon, but only to
ask il they would dine country fashion
at noon, or wait till
CAT noon, of course" said Ralph, "as
we are here for health, and l believe that
is the healthy hour" Then as the lady
turned TO 90, he asked her if she could
tell him the legend of Halpine House.
the one she just limited at last evening.
Tt was a trap, but she fell in it, not hav-
ing anything particular TO do, Mabel be-
ing among the maids, with sleeves rolled
above her elbows and a dainty muslin
kerchief binding up her ripping hair.
ST will come back" said she, and she
did, with her soft cambria ruffing, and
somehow the whole forenoon passed In
talk between the two.
Mabel stole to the front door once or
twice and peeped out, delicious little
dimpls playing the mischief with each
cheek. at would be funny" said she to
herself. "if after all these years, Grace
should fall in love-" And Harry, from
the roof of the many gabled old house
whittier he had gone with his field glass
to survey the country, as he looked
down on the couple gave low, mellow
whistle, and then whispered,-"Dear old
fellow, he does need wife after all; I'm
only rattle-brained boy to him."
The dinner was quite equal to the
breakfast, only three courses, for Mis-
tress Grace had warned them all would
be served in homely way; but the first
was roast lamb, with new potatoes and
green peas; the second salad that had
been growing in the garden at sunrise,
crisp as no market salad ever was; then
currant dumplings with cream sauce, and
delicate cup custards.
81 say, Ralph, as our Yankee friends
would express it, we are in clover, aren't
we?'
"Yes. boy, we will certainly stay all
summer"
They sauntered out to the cool, shady
porch, and there maid brought them
their coffee, in little thin egg-shell-like
cups that had come down to Grace from
a rich godmother.
Ralph drifted soon to the old oak tree
and somehow Mistress Grace after an
hour or TWO drifted there too; but she
had promised to hunt him up curious
old book or two that had sketches in it of
the neighborhood. And somehow the book
with its worn, yellow leaves suggested SO
much that tea time came ere they thought
half the afternoon was gone.
And Harry Well, Harry did not get
one glimpse of Mabel all that day. She
was busy with the currants, and she
made the pudding and the custards
and prepared the tea, determined Grace
should rest. But Harry was not lone
some. He made friends with the farmer
and his men, AMI being handy with tools
and quick to plan, he had done half a
dozen things about the place that needed
doing, before he came in to tea.
81 don't know what to do with myself
this evening"" said he, as he sauntered up
to the oak tree where Ralph and Mis-
tress Grace were sitting, still busy with
the old book of sketches. "Can you sug-
gest something, Mistress Grace?"
II should think you could afford to
rest Mr.. Selwyn. My father says You
have done the work Of two able bodied
men to-day. But if You are not really
tired, and would like 70 see the neigh
i, .borbood little you might go with my
sister down the Priory road a mile or so.
She is going TO carry some things to one
OF our bed-ridden people"
Mabel appeared just then, basket upon
her arm, as fresh and lovely as though
she had been pulling flowers all day in
stead Of toiling over jelly kettles and