The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1886-10-01
THEDRONE OFTHE FAMILY,

what to do with our Lottie?" said
Mr.. circuit ''YeS. that's what puzzles
me. The other girls have all managed
to do pretty well by themselves. Ara
minta went TO Madame D'Arbley for six
months, and now she's opened dress
making for herself, and she's doing fine
ly. Rachel is teaching district school,
and Eliza is type setter. They're all
three of 'em smart stirring girls, and
I've no word of fault 10 find with them.
But Lottie! really don't believe that
that girl has genius for anythingr'
The mild old rector of the parish
looked sympathisingly at .Lottie herself,
who. with downcast head and burning
cheeks. was polishing the inside of the
windows as they talked.
"lndeed?" said he. That's unfOr-
tunate"
ii tried her at millinery" said Mr..
Orcutt consoling himself with pinch
of snuff, "and they said she spoiled
more ribbons than her work would pay
for. l sent her to the gold-beating fac
tory, but she was no use there. took
her TO see the school-trustees. but they
SAID she wasn't the stuff that successful
teachers were made Of And | don't
know but what they're right" said Mr..
circuit with sigh. If Lottie had only
been boy, now, she might have took
the farm, or learned blacksmith's
trade, Or"
Father" said Lottie in low voice,
81 should like to be IN artist"
Mr.. Orcutt stared ut his daughter.
"Ehr' said he. ..Wouldn't you like
to be queen, and sit on the throne?
An artist, indeed! 60 straight and
feed the young ducks and gOslings.
Lottie, and don't let me hear no more
such nonsense. An artist! Well, l do
| wonder what our girls are coming tor
"A good many young women have
distinguished themselves IN that way, l
am told" said mild MIR. Audubon.
"My girls are working girls" said
Mr.. Orcutt bluntly. ''l'ut an artist or
an author-they are made of different
clay. I've been left with four mother
less daughters, ana I've done pretty
well with all of them except Lotto; but
Lottie is n puzzle TO me-"
A month later, when Mr.. Circuit
brought home his new wifc-a hard
eyed, rGd-cheeked young woman. with
CUFFS uONH OIlc SltlC
of her facc-LOttic went away.
You'd deal better stay and help
your mother with the hOusewOrk," said
Mr.. Orcutt; .I'd be willing to allow
you your board and clothes, to make
yourself generally useful
''She is not my mother" said Lottie
in slilled voice; land Mrs. Mount
says may help in her shop until | get
q place somewhere else TO suit me-"
So Lottie, the standing puzzle OF her
fathers life, became the shop-girl in
Mrs. Mounts fancy shop, and studied
up the mysteries of tape. ribbon, wOrs-
ted, needles and pin-cushiOns.
But one day Mrs. Mount came to the
circuit farmhouse IN towering rage.
"My best customer" said she. "Nlrs.
General FitzgibbOn! All through Lot
ties fault! And she vows she'll never
set foot in the shop agan!' .
1t was some time before she could be-
come sufficiently coherent to explain
the particulars of her accusation to Mr..
circuit and his wife. But it TRANSFERRED
at last that Lotto had been audacious
enough to sketch a caricature OF tho
august Mrs. General ST. George Fitz-
gibbon on the back of IL pasteboard
collar box. and that that lady had UNI
luckily caught sight of it in an evil
| hour.
WAS it like her." said Mrs. circuit.
Like her." said Mrs. Mount; "why,
it was the old hag hersclf-false hair,
French bonnet, and all. never did
see anything so ridiculous. But that
don't mend matters. I've locked her up
| i'm the back purlor, and I've told her
I'd send you there right off, Mr.. circuit.
| For, of course, nobody can expect me to
keep her there after thisn'
Mr. circuit looked feebly at his wife.
What am / to do. Malvina?" said he.
"Why. go, of course" said the step
mother, bristling up in authorization OF
the coming contest bring her home
at once. I'll teach her what it is to Of
fend lady like Mrs General Fitzgib-
bon"
but you forget, Malvina-"
81 don't forget anything" sharply re-
sponded Mrs circuit.
THAT she isn't child to be whipped
or to De shut up in dark closet. She
is eighteen"
old enough to know better" said
Mrs. circuit, COMPRISING her thin red
lips. There are other ways Of dealing
with refractory girls. Eben, than those
you have named"
Mr.. Orcutt looked admiringly at his
wife, who had been matron of an orphan
asylum before he had married her, and
then he went out to hitch up the horse
to bring Lottie home.
But when they reached the stufly lit
tie back parlor at the rear of Mrs.
Mounts shop, the dingy cage was empty,
the bird had flown.
"Where's Lottie?" shricked Mrs.
Mount, looking under the sofa and be-
hind the cupboard door.
| And echo-and echo only-answered:
"Wherep"
At that same moment, pretty LOttie
herself, who had seemed TO blossom
suddenly and spontaneously into beauty
as the white scroll of lily unfolds in
the sunshine, or rosebud suddenly
opens into crimson perfection. was talk.
ing to Maurice Fitzgibbon himself in
the shadow of hedge of lilacs half a
mile away, with no spy nearer than tho
silver eye of the evening star.
yes" cried Lottie vehemently, 81
will marry you if you will take me away
from this place! Let me 60 to Italy.
Make an artist of me.