The Evening post. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1888-1889, 1888-12-27
A PLUCKY GIRLS RUSE.
From ne Ne,p York sun.

ing hours were often as perplexed and
troubled as Nettie's
For there was Frank Mitchell, on the
one hand, the son of the richest man in
Coverdale; college educated, handsomely
attired, smooth of tongue and courteous
of manner. And there was Harry Lane,
on the other hnnd, stalwart young
farmer of %, who owned well-con-
Quoted farm, was as honest and true q
man as the wide world could produce,
aud fully his own master. And both
were counting pretty Nettie Wilder.
And poor little Nette was growing
grave and womanly, thinking of the
choice she had made. For, if Harry
had been her boy lover all her life,
Frank possessed the charm Of novelty,
and he would take her from the drudgery
of farm life.
Yet there was something about Frank
Mitchell that Ncttie distrusted. She
could not define it, and none of the
whispers that "Mitchell's son was a lit
tie wild" had ever reached her; yet she
was conscious of certain shrinking
from his most tender speeches.
She was pondering over all this one
pleasant October afternoon, and, as a
shadow crossed the window, she looked
upto see Harry Lane carrying a large
covered basket.
1--WE are gathering the pippins," he
said, coming to the window-sill, 'and |
brought over basket for your mother"
Mrs. Wilder, from the inner part of
the room, advanced to speak some words
of thanks, adding:
Don't you want to take some to your
grandfather, Nettie? Harry can 60 to the
crossroads with you"
Half reluctantly Nettic put on her hat
and sacque, and selected some of the
finest pippins for smaller basket.
With a nod and a smile Nettie left
Harry at the crossroads (where he
promised to meet her at 8 clock) to cross
the lot that saved nearly half mile Of
The distance to her grandfather's On
entering the kitchen she frightened
Katie, the old servant, by the ashy pallor
of her face and the strange tremor of her
voice, as she said. sharply:
"Where is grandfather"
Hes not come in from town yet"
was the reply. "Whatevor's come to
you, Miss Nettie? Are you going to
faint2'
mo. | am tired l must watch for
grandfather, or he may drive past
Then she ran across the garden to the
gate, for there was sound of wheels on
the road. Her grandfather checked his
horse as she opened the gate, to say to
her:
Jump in. I'm going over to Mitch
ellis"
"You must come in first" she said.
II must speak to you, grandfather. 1t
is important"
Her pale, agitated face and her earnest
1x.,1r Cat. h. Al 4
he tied the horse and followed her into
the house.
"What is it, dear P" he asked "Be as
quick as you can, for want to get home
before dark, and it's good stretch to
Mitchells."
Grandfather, have you money for
him? p
Eyes, all the quarterly rents. Folks
all paid up to-day"
you must not take it over, grand
father. There are three men over in
Higgins old barn waiting to rob YOU"
"Nonsenser
ut is not nonsense, grandfather. ]
came across lots with Harry, but when /
passed Higgins place / saw some of
those great yellow pears hanging over
the barn, and went to get them. When
was up in the tree / saw and heard the
men. They are in the barn, and they
Thev mean to sion von and taIa tho
money And oh Grondfatber IL v ,nu
don't On on thew viii come over bera az
rob v6, So vor ,,,,st iot mo do xybo "i'I
have nIanned a. me- take the mo non /,
on and Won stav here, IF thew ston me- I
will Iell them that Won have sent tho
money to Mr. Mitchell -
"Y0u can saw 7 mat Mitcbor,s man
Wilson in town If Won choose Often
send II ont NV him Int mot hin, to-dov
before II was maid Rnt Matte can;t
lot Won RIM into donger -
There will he no danger IN me
They will never think have III,
money ),
"Rnt thew NAV look IN soc -
For answer Nettie tool down a coil nj
superb brown hair that had been neatly
ta,;s,od ~, ,,ndar No. hat Sbai,ir'. /,
ont sbe said. s .
"Give me- the no,os grandfather
Ue tooll a h;S rou froSIn h;s ,yaiIot ord
1ooiroS On IN r5rte adoirot;n,, n'hiiS Not
lie t,y;Stod Il into ber ha;r ,,;,,ri,,O ouS
Mating the enlarged coil mil il was iT
prIer and dnaify nercbin the J Ja
Int over all '''o N"'
"Don't worry about me 4" she said
l,;ss;nm tho IA , 49, tonSor,' 1"o T I",
after moments hesitation sba said
varv varv oraynIy, ''''N
a}irand fatber yor will kecn q eocrot =
ItelI Won one y - 'p '''' "
~