The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1888-03-15
LOVE IN MASQUERADE.

Bob Russell turned over with yawn
and threw down the paper whose
sporting columns he had been study
inc.
He was on the green cambric-covered
lounge in his Aunt Sarah Briscomb's
cool dim sitting-room. He found it
very comfortable after morning of
rowing and bicycling. Each after
noon of the five days he had sojourned
in Westfield had found him there, read
ing or sleeping.
He had concluded that Westfield was
a tirst-class place for summer vaca-
ton when a fellow was tired out with
a long siege of city newspaper work.
Aunt Sarah was in the porch, her
placid face just beginning to cool from
the heat of dinner-getting, and her
specialized eyes slowly closing.
Bob, looking out at her, was falling
into like drowsiness, when a phaeton
pulled up briskly at the gate, and a
young person stepped out of it, who,
once seen, dispelled the last YES
tige of Bobs sleepiness.
He sat up promptly, straining his
eyes for a better view.
''Well!' Aunt Sarah called out, in
gratiiied tones, pulling herself back
from the verge of her nap, and getting
ready to receive her caller. I'm very
glad to see you, Miss Stone. | wasn't
certain you'd come to-day. I've got
my butter all ready, though, and you
can have rs many eggs as you want"
Miss Stone hitched her horse, and
came up the path and took wide
porch-chair.
Bob congratulated himself on its
position. 1t gave him good view of
the young lady's very sweet face.
Its so warm" she said, tanning
herself with a stylish little fan.
Bob observed that her dress and her
bonnet were surprisingly pretty for
Westfield.
so It's" Aunt Sarah agreed. Il
thought likely you'd stay at your un-
cle's and sit out in the hammock and
read, or something. It's just the day
for it."
Miss Stone frowned gently.
Il never sit in the hammock" she
said with a pretty seriousness; Il have
no time for it.
"Well, there" cried Aunt Sarah, be-
ginning to laugh; Il forgot all about
your notions, Miss Stone; or there, |
won't call 'em notions, I'll call 'em
principles. You're just as tickled over
the country as eyer?'
just, cried Miss Stone, smiling
good-temperedly.
"And you get up at four O'clock every
morning yet?"
And sometimes earlier"
'And you keep OF helping your Aunt
Mirandy with the work? You help get
breakfast, and help get dinner, and
"And bake-yes, I've learned tc
make bread" said Miss Stone, trium-
phantly ''And l MIXED last night;
milked real straight, too, only little
went out of the pail"
Aunt Sarah was laughing silently.
"And you don't want to get back
home-sure You dontp" she queried
"Oh, no." Miss Stones gloved hands
clasped themselves impetuously. 81
never want to see the city again-nev-
er! This is such a lovely life-so per-
fectw
You're just the same, sure enough, F"
Aunt Sarah observed, wiping her
dampened glasses. Il reckoned you'd
get over it. Well, do you think just
as much of Hank Grimes as ever?'
''Oh, our boy?' Miss Stone grimaced
laughingly. Now you know what l
meant. | said that he was honest, and
faithful, and Industrious; that he had
all the qualities of gentleman, ex-
cept good-breeding, and that l should
prefer an energetic son of toll for a
husband" said Miss Stone, getting be-
comingly pink in her earnestness, to
a frivolous, flippant-minded city man
they're all frivolous and flippant-
minded" Miss Stone tapped the arm
of her chair decisively. "And no lack
of birth, and station, ard wealth should
prevent my marrying an honest worthy
young man. think / might prefer
one with some worldly disadvantages;
| could lift him up" said Miss Stone
seriously.
"Well, yes; you could support the
family" Aunt Sarah assented, with a
chuckling gaze on her visitors pretty
diamond brooch and earrings.
"Yes, could lift him." Miss Stone
repeated gently. ''But Hank Grimes
II don't quite like red hair. and cross
ed eyes, and freckles. all together; and
| believe he is deeply devoted to Mary
Ann Simmons, besides"
Miss Stone laughed sweetly and
dimpiingly, as she rose to follow Aunt
Sarah to the dairy.
Bob Russell sat in reflective stiffness
during the ten minutes which passed
before Miss Stone went out at the gate
with basket of eggs and pail of but
ter. and drove away.
lie rushed to the window to watch
her-a slender and charming figure,
with peachy face, against the dark
background of the phaeton. He felt
a sudden regret, which amounted to
poignant anguish, that he was friv-
olous flippant-minded city man.
Miss Stone was very favorsh!v im-