The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1886-12-02

"Does Mrs. Murray live here ?''

A.oeIsy tnus uncerem0nlouely to address
the gaily-attired young woman who was
adding up the accounts behind the tall
desk.
He stood near the door, keeping q sharp
lookout on the barefooted boy who was
holding his sleepy old horse-for he had
heard, many time and oft, of the
wicked ways of juveniles in NewYork.
In reply 20 his respectful question, the
young woman nodded her head and curt.
ly answered:
cup stairs"
It's pretty big house," said Mr.
Webb, glancing about him. "The MUIR
rays wasn't rich when they lived down
our way; but Rachel never had good
judgment. I should say now that the
rent of house like this"
It amt house," said the young wo-
man, speaking with lead pencil between
her teeth.
"Ain't house, eh P'' Martin Webb's
honest, onion-colored eyes gradually ex.
panded, until..you would have thought the
lids could scarcely contain them. "Not
"a house p
p "No; it's fat. Fourth story, back
room. Name of Murray. Staircase Just
out in the hall there
And SO, for the first time in his life, Mr..
Webb found himself in the precincts of a
"flat"
He lost his way half a dozen times, this
gaunt, good-humored giant, with ham
in his arms, two or three strings of coun-
try sausage over his shoulder, and bas-
ket of red ".Josey Moore apples clasped
tightly against his breast. That was a
matter of course.
He walked into the kitchen of one fiat,
brought up in the parlor of another, and
presented himself, smiling, at the late
breakfast table of third, where a luck.
less printer, who worked all night on the
early edition Of a morning paper, was
sleepily chipping the shell Of an egg.
"Call them eggs?" said Martin, con-
temptously. "If our VOLTS Corners
hens can't beat that sort O. thing-but
Pm sure ask pardon; guess Pve got
into the wrong fat. P'r'aps you can tell
me where lady named Murray lives ?"
And by dint of many such questionings
and inquiries Mr.. Webb at last got him
self, his red apples, ham and sausage into
a scantly furnished room, looking out on
bare brick wail-a room where every
thing had starved look, even down to
the cat, which sat intently watching a
mouse-hole in the wainscotting.
Mrs. Murray, tall, pinched, elderly
woman. was engaged, through double
pair of spectacles, in mending fine laces !;
but the slow motion of her needle, the un-
certain expression of her face, denoted no
very brilliant success.
And seated on the windowledge op-
posite her, in riding habit Of dark green
cloth, beaver hat with black-green
veil twisted around it, and jaunty little
ivory-handled whip, was pretty girl Of
eighteen or twenty.
Both started at the entrance of Mr..
Webb, both smiled glad recognition.
"Why," cried Mrs. Murray, "It's
Cousin Martin Hilda, give your cousin
a chair. I declare, Martin, l am aston
ished to see you here!"
"No more'n be to get here, guess"
returned the farmer, with peculiar noise
down in his throat. "These 'ere city
folks, they do take the starch outen a fel-
low. Amt much like our medder fats
down at VOLTS Corners, eh ? Here,
Cousin Rachel, I've brung ye one of
Eliza's best sugar-cured hams an some
sausages, an bushel of the apples that
growed on the tree beyond the well-the
real red-cheeked Josey Moores, you
know"
"It's very kind of you, l am sure"
said Mrs. Murray. "Hilda, can you not
offer your cousin some refreshments after
his journey?"
Hilda colored painfully. How could
she explain to her mother that the cup
board was utterly empty, even of crust
Of bread
"I'll bring up something directly" she
murmured
And then she vanished.
From one good hearted neighbor-the
very printers wife, indeed-she borrowed
a pot-full of freshly made coffee, from an
other, a few slices of cold boiled beef !;
from third, a pan of new baked buiscuits.
with little butter and q comb of honey,
and then she few back to spread the fru-
gal meal.
care they all we'll, Cousin Webb ?"
she asked, timidly, as, holding up her rid
ing habit with one hand, she arranged the
table, and ministered 10 the appetite of
her guest, with the other.
Mr. Webb nodded his head keenly
surveying her the while.
GAIL WE'LL" he responded, between the
swallows of coffee. "Eliza, she sent her
love-and Reed-no, Reed didn't send
no love, but he wanted to be specially
remembered, Reed did. He's had dread
full good luck with the sweet potato pat
cbes and tobacco crops, this year"
"Has he ?'' and Hilda blushed rosily.
She might have added something more,
but Mrs. Murray officiously interfered.
"You mustn't be late for your appoint
ment with Mr.. Dulany, daughter" said
she, with glance at the clock.
And she added, in explanatory fashion ::
"Hilda rides out every day. Two
hours. With-ahem IA gentleman
friend"
"Rides out, does shep'' said Mr. Webb
" guess likely it costs considerable to
keep horse in New York; Pm glad
that you and Hilda's got so much money
to spare"
"I'm told" said Mrs. Murray, compla-
Gently, that Hilda's horse is one of the
handsomest in the park. And, of course,
a young girl like her ought to get plenty
of exercise and fresh air"
Mi. MILL 49, 49,