The Sunday tatler and Jersey City express. (Jersey City, N.J.) 1883-1886, 1886-06-27
ONLY A COUNTRY GIRL.
"You're mistaken. l would sooner die
than marry a country girl"

moral, full of natural poetry, tender
hearted, graceful, unspoiled by admira-
ton, guileless, simple, loving creature"
sob, said Fred, "choce 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, if unskilled in music and literature,
with no soul above ccurns and knitting
needles, l would not marry her for
fortune"
.Ha! hal" laughed Helen Irving; but it
was very pianissimo laugh, way down
in the corner of her heart. Hidden
by the trunk of very large tree, she sat
reading within few feet of the egotist
In another moment the young lady came
in sight Fred's face crimsoned, and he
whispered, with visible trepidation:
do you think she heard me?"
.'No," replied the other, audibly, "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, so far as out
ward beauty might merit The encomium.
She sat balf-reclining on a rustic seat,
striving 10 smooth out the dimples in her
cheeks as she laid her book aside and
began twining an unfinished wreath of
white roses. ~ G
Leaning on one white arm, the gnarled
white oak tree in the background, flow
ers strewn around her and peeping from
her white dress, she sat quite at her case,
apparently unconscious that two hand
some young gentlemen were so ncar her.
Approaching with a low bow, upon
which his mirror had set the seal Of fault
less elegance. Frederick Lane took the
liberty Of asking if the young lady would
inform him where Mr.. Irving lived.
With an innocent smile the beauty
looked up.
.'Mr. Irsing-the only one in the village
-is.my father, she said rising in grace
full and charming manner. ''The large
house on high ground, half-hidden by
trees and thick shrubbery, that's where We
live | believe it was an academy once
that's sort of select school. isn'tllY with
the most natural simplicity turning to
Fred.
He replied with another graceful bow.
"Tell your father" said he, that shall
do myself the honor of calling on him
to- morrow. He will remember me-Fred-
erick Lane, at your service"
Yes, sir, l will tell him for you,' said
Helen, tucking her sleeve around her
pretty arm, and making a rather formal
courtesy. Then, catching up her book,
and gathering some flowers, she hurried
home.
''New father, mother, aunt and sis,
exclaimed the merry girl, bounding into
the room where the family were at sup
per, so sure as you and live, that MIR.
Lane you talk so much about is in the
village. He will call h re to merrow-the
first specimen of a city beau las, of course,
he is) all sentiment, refinement, faultless
in kids, spetless in dickey, 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
plan. Father will not, know; but If |
you, SIS, will keep quiet and ask no ques-
tions, will give you that workbox you
have coveted so long"
Helen, you are not quite respectful"
said her father.
"Forgive me, dear father, and her arms
were around his neck. II always meant
well, but am thoughtless. There, all is
right now, +" she said, kissing him lovingly
on the cheek.
Come. sis, what say your
why, on that condition, I'll be as still
as mouse; but what's your reason?"
"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 bushipg
buds, making both sweet shade and FRA
grapce. The canary bird overhead burst
forth every moment III wild snatches of
glorious music Helen was at work on
long blue stockings nearly finished, and
her fingers flew like snow.b birds.
You knit most admirably; are you fond
of itY'
Eyes, quite; / like it better than any.
thing else-that is, l can churn. i
And do you read much?"
Freds eyes travelled to every table. shelf |
and corner, in quest of some books or
papers, but not book nor leaf, yellow
or rare, had repaid his search. i
"Oh, yes, sir" said Helen, with sane
tilted air.
What books. rermu me TO ask?"
II read the Blule a good DEAL" she |
said, giavely. sU
'tIs that ALP
"Alll OF course not; and what do we
find in the Bible? History, poetry, elo.
que1ce, romance, the most thrilling pa
thos-" blushing and recollecting herself,
she added, with manner as childish as it |
had before been dignified- for the
other books, let me see; I've got in nv
library there's the primer Counting her |
fngers), School Glass Reader Robinson
Crusoe. Nursery Tales, Fairy Stories, two
or three elements Of something, Mothers
Magazine, and King William HI. There
isn't that a good assortment?" Il
Fred smiled.
Perhaps don't know as much as those
who went to school more,p she added, as
iflsdiSannninfed ut the rnrfe reinindar