Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1888-01-19
CORNER LOTS.
BY ROBERT HOWE FLETCHER.

anu inc OlStanb CoronadoS Islands and tn
hills Of Mexico foated in blue haze befor
her, Tulita had no eyes for the pretty picture
her mind was occupied with weightier mat
tiers. Perhaps she was not even aware tina
she herself made much prettier pictur
with her girlish figure relieved against tn
white adobe house behind her, and he
shapely head poised on one side, as she critic
ally examined, with her big dark eyes, eacl
spray of lavender. She may even have beel
unaware that the young man walking on th
other side Of the road was evidently of thi
opinion, although when he made a mister
into a chuck hole full of dust, through hav
ing his eyes ON her, Tulita's rosy lips puck
cred themselves up, and a suspicious littl'
movement Of her shoulders suggested tha
she was not entirely ignorant of the young
mans mishap.
But, as has been said, her mind was en-
gagged with weightier matters, and scarcely
vouchsafing a second glance at the retreatine
figure of the young man, she entered The
white adobe house. Placing her fragrant
load upon table, she took up an old copy Of
The Fashion Guide, which she had left fact
downward when she went to gather laven
der, and consulted it with a studious frown
Then going to a chest of drawers, she pro
seating herself with a business like air, pro
ceeded, with many references to the instruc-
tions, to braid the sprigs of lavender together
with the ribbons.
These useful as well as ornamental little
articles" the book said, at the end of its dis.
QUESTION, ''are rapidly becoming indispensa-
BILE in every household. In fact, we know of
several young ladies who derive comforta-
bic income from the manufacture and sale of
lavender sticks"
II don't know" said Tulita, to herself, as
she regarded her first effort disparagingly,
sit seems to me that anybody would be a
fool to buy that. But, there, she continued,
moro hopefully, 'you never can tell about
these Americans
And, proceeding with the work, she soon
exhausted her lavender and ribbons, and had
instead neat little pile of Lavender sticks -
"Madre dc Diosn said Tulita, as with her
chin on her hand she gazed at the result of
her labors, eff that little mother of mine was
to catch mo at this, how quickly those things
would go out of the window, and she laughed
softly at the thought. although" she con-
tinued, 'if she can do sewing for money, why
should not | also workl At any rate, must
have ONE shoes, that is the TRUTH And
thrustIng her foot out, she leaned over the
table to look at it. 1t was dainty, slender
foot with an arched instep, but the shoe upon
it was Enthusiastically, hopelessly ragged.
"Ahl go hide yourself" said Tulita, severely
''you make me ashamed
Then sinking back on her chair, she rested
her chin on her hand once more, and thought:
"Ah, if only / could make enough to buy a
pair Of Shoes And after awhile a tear
rolled down her cheek and fell on the laven-
der sticks.
But at this moment the click of the latch
on the garden gate made Tulita spring to her
feet With quick movement she swept the
lavender sticks into drawer and when tho
new conner entered tho room, Tulita was be.
fore the mirror singing to herself, while she
braided her long hair, which had fallen as
suddenly as southern night.
SIS it thou, madrep sac said.
Eyes, it is I-all that is left of ne,n said
the lady who had entered, a woman whose
still handsome face was lined by grief and
trouble. "Sainted Mother but it is warm in
tho sun" she continued, tanning herself With
that INDECENT graceful sweep of the wrist pc
culiar TO women of the south. Then, pausing
q moment, sho elevated her head and said:
"What is that odor in the house, like sage
brush?
Perhaps it is this bit of lavender said
Tulita, hiding her guilty face behind her
hair,
"Paugh!' said her mother. at is too
strong Throw 1t away
And aG she obeyed, Tulita's heart went
down into her ragged boots at this unexpect-
ed disparagement Of the odor of lavender.
Usage brush, indeed" 1t disheartened her
so that tho idea of attempting to derive a
comfortable income from the manufacture
and sale of lavender sticks" was at once dis
missed in scorn. Even the possibility of new
shoes grew very faint.
But with the next mornings sun the hope
and high spirits of youth returned, and when
Tulita started to walk in to San Diego to
make some purchases for her mother, the
lavender sticks were hidden beneath her
shabby little black mantle Last night, after
she had gone to bed, she had lain awake for
at least an hour deciding where to offer them
for sale. SIENNA s. Squills' drug store was
the favored place. 1t was on the principal
street, and had fine large windows full Of
fancy goods 1t would be very simple mat
ter to walk in and ask them to sell the sticks
for her. or course she would pay them some
thing for their trouble. tt en-, too, she had
heard that very morning Il ere were an I'M
usual number of eastern tour lists in town, and
she hurried her steps so as not to lose any
chances.
But when Tulita came in eight of SIENNA &
Squills' establishment her enthusiasm ebbed.
She chided herself for walking so rapidly and
getting heated and out of breath. What
would the people in the store think of herf
Slower and slower grew her pace, until, ar
irving in front of her destination, she stopped
and looked at the display Of fancy goods in
the window. The comparison was not favor
able to her lavender sticks.
perhaps, after ALL" thought Tulita, ''the
idea of anybody wanting to buy such things
is absurd Suppose SIENNA & Squills should
laugh at herr She concluded to think about
it little more ard walked on.
The further Tulita went, however, the
more her courage returned, until, telling
herself she was behaving ridiculously, she
reSolutely retraced her steps until the store
was once more reached But again she paused
irresolutely before the window. Then she
crossed the street to look in the window of a
book store that might perhaps be better
adapted to her purpose. Deciding against
the book store, she returned to the drug
store Then the dreadful thought occurred
to her than her movements must be attract.
ing attention The policeman on the corner
had certainly looked at her very hard.
What if he should speak to herl This idea
was so appalling that Tulita hurriedly
walked on down the street, without looking
to tho right or left. 1t was not until she had
turned the first corner she came to that she
recovered her equanimity. Then scolding her
self severely for this panic, sho continued on
slowly around tho block, until once more she
found herself in front of Soma g. Sduills
establishment. Bracing up her treacherouS
courage with a great effort she walked in.
One of the clerks, observing the hesitation
of young and pretty customer, advanced
toward her, and. in his suavest manner, said
"What can do for you today, misSf'
''Is-a-is Mr.. SIENNA in?' faltered Tulita-
''AIr. SIENNA, mssin exclaimed the young
man, with look of surprise, ''Mr. SIENNA il
dead.n
oh" murmured Tuhta, 81 am very
sorryn
And with burning cheeks, she found her
self i'll the street once more. How far o.
= 4 ~. NJ