The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1886-05-20
nHE RUSTIC WIFE.

181E IGOS11O WIFE,
you're mistaken. would sooner
die than marry a country girl"
but, Fred, suppose her intelligent,
moral. full of natural poetry, tender
hearted. graceful, unspoiled by ad-
miration. guileless, simple, loving
creaturep''
"Oh," said Fred. "ohoice collection
OF virtue and grace. Country beauties
are always sweet. and so are country
COWS. No, tell you, If she was as
lovely as an angel, with the best sense
in the world, still il unskilled in music
and literature, with no soul above
ohurns and knitting needles, l would
not marry her for a fortune"
"Hal hat" laughed Helen Irving,
but it was a very pianissimo laugh,
way down in the very corner of her
heart. Hidden by the trunk of very
large tree, she sat reading within a
few feet of the egotist.
In another moment the young lady
came in sight. Fred's face GRIM
soned, and he whispered, with visible
trepidation:-
''Do you think she heard mep"
mo replied the other audibly, "she
shows no resentment, she has not
even looked up from her book; you are
safe; she could not have heard you,
but what an angel she isl
Yes. Helen was an angel, as far as
outside beauty might merit the
encomium. She sat half-inclining on a
rustic seat, striving to smooth out the
dimples in her cheeks as she laid her
book aside and began twining an un-
finished wreath of wild roses.
Leaning on one white arm, the
gnarled white oak tree in the back
ground, flowers strewn around her,
peeping from her white dress, she sat
quite at her ease, apparently uncon-
scious that two handsome young gen.
t(emen were so near her.
Approaching, with low bow, upon
which his mirror had set the seal of
faultless elegance, Frederick Lane took
tho liberty of asking if the young lady
would inform him where Mr.. Irving
lived. With an innocent smile, the
beauty looked up.
"Mr. Irving, tho only one in the viii
age, is my father" she said, rising in
a graceful and charming manner.
THE large house on high ground, half
hidden by trees and thick shrubbery,
that's whore we live. believe it was
an academy once, that's sort of a
select school, isn't it?' with tho most
natural simplicity, turning to Fred.
He replied with another graceful
bow.
Tell your father" said he, THAT
shall do myself the honor to call on
him tomorrow. He will remember
me, Frederick Lane, at your service. -
Eyes, sir; l will tell him for you. ~
said Helen, tucking her sleeve around
her pretty arm, and making rather
formal courtesy. Then catching up her
books and gathering some flowers she
hurried home.
'Now, father, mother, aunt and
sis,' exclaimed the merry girl, bound
ing into the room where the family
were at supper, $50 sure as you and I
live that MIR. Lane you talk SO much
about is in the village. He will call
here tomorrow-thef first specimen of q
city beau Gas of course he is), all senti-
ment, refinement. faultless in kids,
spotless in dicky, important and self
assured as one of that class can posi-
bly, be. Promise me, all of you, that
you'll not lisp one word about music,
reading and writing in his presence,
because have a plan. Father will
not, l know; but if you, sis will keep
quiet and ask no questions, will give
you that work box you have coveted so
long"
"Helen. you are not quite respect
full" said her father.
"Forgive me, dear father" and her
arms were around his neck. Il al
ways meant we'll, but I am thoughtless.
There, all is right now," she said, kiss
ing him lovingly on the cheek.
'Come, sis, what say you?
"Why, on that condition, I'll be as
still as a mouse, but what's your rea-
son?''
"Ah! that's my own business" said
Helen dancing out of the room.
Helen sat at an open window,
through which rose bushes thrust their
blushing buds, making both a sweet
shade and fragrance. The canary
overhead burst forth every moment in
wild snatches of glorious music. Hell.
On was at work on long, blue stock
ings, nearly finished, and her fingers
flew like snow birds.
"You knit most admirably; are you
fond of it?''
Ives, quite; l like it better than any.
thing else-that is l can, churn.
land do you read much2" Fred
glance had travelled from the corners
of his eyes to every table, shelf and cor
nor, in search of some books or papers,
but not book or leaf, yellow or rare,
had repaid his search.
ooh, yes, SIR" said Helen, with q
sanctified air.
'What books, permit me to ask7''
II read the Bible a good DEAL" said
she, gravely.
us that all?'
"All; of course not; and what do ".
find in the Biblep History, poetry,
| eloquence, romance-the most thrilling
pathos-" blushing and recollectine
herself, she added, with manner a.
childish as it had before been dignified
las for the other books, let me see: I've
got in my library-there's the primer
Counting her tingers) School Glass
Reader, Robinson Crusoe, Nursery
Tales, Fairy Stories, two or three Gle
ments of something, biography of som,
person or other, Mothers Magazin,
and King William III. There, ism
that good assertmentp''
Fred smiled.
perhaps l don't know as muc1
as those who went to school more, 'sh
added, as if disappointed at the NUT