The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1886-01-15
\ FREAK OF

The morning sky was all alight with
fying clouds rs Lettuce Grayson coming
into the barn. with Il basket in her hand.
paused Il moment on the threshold and
listened.
Il thought So" said she. ''lt's the
tune he always whistles. I've caught
him this time
Letticc was light of foot. and rs she
came softly on the hay-carpeted floor of
the upper loft. George Carton never saw
or heard her, but worked steadily away
1T his canvas.
Suddenly Il hand came down with
quick, sudden emphasis III his shoulder.
Now cried Lctticc, eXultantly. Il
know who it is that has been stealing
all our eggs. III tell my uncle, and have
you locked up! And-oh. my goodness
me. | declare. | thought il was Joe
SmithcrS. the farm-lad."
And taking ANONYMOUSLY to her
heels. lctticc flnd; 1T the same moment.
Il beautiful spcckled hen took cackling
flight from the nest i'm the corner that
George Carton had been ~skctching.
The young artist rose and shook the
scattering bits of hay from his can
vas.
Upon nv word" said he. this is
rather an unexpected interruption. So
she suspects me of sinister designs upon
the fresh eggs, does she?'
He lay down in the fragrant hay, in
a sort of gracefully careless attitude.
with hands claSpcd under his head, and
looking dreamily up ut the peaked root,
where the swallows came and went.
And rs he gazcd he thought of Lcttice
Grayson's great glittering eyes and oval.
dimpled face.
"A rustic nymph,' he said TO him
self; 81 dryad in the wilderness. So
she is the niece thatold Farmer Buckley
spoke about. Well, she will. prove IN
additional attraction to the dull old
farmhouse if once ] can manage to
make her acquaintance"
But he saw Lettuce no more.
mo, ! can't, aunt" said the girl;
latter the dreadful mistake that | made,
/ never, never. can look him in the face
again"
..Nonsensc,'said Aunt Bulkelcy:''ain't
we all liable tn make m~istakes?"
but some mistakes are worse than
,oars
g. ,bo hIooLorod borri d;Son,ooroJ
So, ,ho farnn csnJ Ar Carton baJ Tho
old barn to himself once more.
''Oh, yes" said Aunt Bulkeley. She's
a bright, lively girl, Lettice is. with a
deal of book lcarnin' ut her fingers
ends: but a deal too independent To live
on her relations. And so she took Il
r., smi, Lo. hr, - bn,,o. ,Lon moth.
;mm Amd sho aIy,n,.S SnonJ. hnr hoi;-
IL her.
~ n,oro NJ. r.r,ou ,houoh, obo,,
:, ,ho am,,.in. ho u',s tbot Irt,ico had
nonn
..I hoEor,I shu,,lJ L,vo TLod tho,
Ill ~" ,La,mht 81 yLo,LJ lilo 20
- @ S"
nv n'i -. n. r,.,oo .o,od
90 ,ho orna, o;,'
Is was scarcely SIX months. before Let
tlce came back to The farm. IL was WIN
ter there now-ihc woods were hung
with lclcle ilgurcS. the streams referred
III chaihs OF ice.
Bless me- cried Uncle eupeh
peerlng lnqulsluIeiy through his spec
tacles; what brings you mere at this
time Of year! -.
You haven lost your sItuatlon'
chimed in Aunt Bulkeie.y. o tell
us that.
YES. SAID Leitlce, ilinging aside her
fnr wrapplnga. rs she Rugged the OH
people II sal down by the red bllIc
OF the wood iIrT. MY father rlch Oh
cousin has died ana left me Il fortune.
I'm rich now.
Goodness me!' said Aunt Bulkelcy,
dropping her Spcciacles. -" h;'teVer
VIII YOU do win Il fortune!
"ihe hrst thing. sad Lettuce eNul'
FAMILY "wili be ! pay Inc mortgage on
this farm: II the second OH with a
sudden bilSh' Il snail be SO BUSY 1T
tnS up my grand new mouse anu
iirs' OF ALL you ana uhcie Ruben are 10
come UP ana MAKE me Il long WISH.
ms was the pcgii,hinS Oh i1ctllce ;
new acq"'ln'ancn WIN ne"rSe ,a,lo",
III VAS ai iNil'SN INV. Nv ollN ~