Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1888-07-20
A RAINY FOURTH.
BY HELEN FORREST GRAVES.

BY HELEN FORREST GRAVES.
"Our folks haint kept boarders
always" said Mrs. Bartlett, in the meas
ured whine which had now become her
normal accent. "n'ye see the RaOund
Tower out to sea? Wal, that Tower, and
all the land raound for eight mile be-
longed to the Bartletts when | married
Simon. We was genteel folks in them
days, and now we're pOOrer'n Jobs
turkey, and all through Simon's indorsin'
Squire Tugbee's paper an havin' to pay
no end O money for squire's folks"
Mrs. Bartlett had Just come in from
gathering strawberries for dessert. Her
green gingham sun bonnet tapped over
her face lie a flag at haif mast, and
faint smell of the growing sage and cat
nip, through which she had dragged her
skirts, surrounded her like an atmosphere
as she drOned on.
But the two young ladies' who were
idly swinging in the hammock on the
piazza did not pay much attention to this
resume of the family history of the Part
let's. They were talking between them
selves in low voice
che came this morning." said Della
Bryce.
'Isn't it strange that he should have
happened to come here" observed
Miriam Wayland, smelling at her
bouquet of deep pink roses
''For the sket.hing, L suppose" said
Della. Il saw portable easel among
the luggage. And that Mr.. Stonebridge
is with him. Do you think Mr.. Stone
bridge is handsome, NIiriam2"
''le s, rather. Do you suppose they
will stay long, Della"
They'll please themselves, [ suppose"
Miss Bryce answered, rather CURLY.
Miss Wayland lea ed forward until her
cheeks, pinker and more satin-soft than
the roses in her bosom, touched Della's
crimps Of blonde hair
CECILIA" said she, with sparkling eyes
and dimpies all a-play.
Eyes, Mir am
''Where's the use in you and me play
ing hide-and seek with each O. her in this
sort of way"
Il don't understand you, Miriam
''Della, you're a naughty little story
teller. You do understand me. You
know perfectly we'll and 1 know per-
fectly well-that Frank Stonebrldge and
Jay Folsom have come here Just because
we are herer'
Then said relIa, with spirit,
''they'N have their trouble for their
pains"
''Della, do you really mean it,"
"Do you really suppose, Miriam, that
/ am going to marry a poor young
artist?"
''Is-is it so very dreadful to be poor,
Della9" murmured Miriam, intent on
picking the pinkest and fullest blossomed
rose of all to pieces.
"Dreadful." repeated Della. 'It's
worse than being dead and buried out
right"
"Then, if we don't really mean to en-
courage them" whispered Miriam, I'VE
ought to be very, very cold to them,
oughtn't we?"
That's precisely what intend,' Miss
Bryce answered, picking up the book
which had slipped from the hammock to
the ground, and pretending to be i'm
5mersed in its contents
And Miriam sighed and went back to
her roses.
Strangely enough-or, at least, it would
be strange if we did not know, by long
experiences, that the world is full of
just such condolences Mr. Stonebridge
and his friend Jay Folsom were, just at
that moment, discoursing on a similar
topic, as they climbed up Black Rock in
the sunshine, vainly searching for some
particular view which had been en-
Enthusiastically described to them by one
of the Bartlett boarders''
"Jolly old place this-eh, Frank"
said Folsom, letting himself sink on
shelving ledge of rock. "Hold on! Do
let fellow breathe! If we don't manage
to get some capital sea effects here"
"Drop that old fellow !" roared Stone
bridge, who had paused a few PAGES
further down. Don't try that game on
mel"
"Eh!" said Folsom.
"You don't care straw for all the
=sea-efects between here and Sandy Hook,
severely uttered Stonebridge. ''You
came here simply to sun yourself in
Della Bryce's blue eyes. And 1 came
here m 'ly because am too supreme an
idiot to accept the hundred and-one
snubs that Miss Wayland has seen fit to
lnflict upon me. | am like the moth
futterng around the candle flame. 1
can't be satisfied until I've got my wings
hopelo ssIy scorched.
'In the meantime, however" remarked
Folsom, "a her sulkily. ''there's no law
to prevent our doing little sketching
is there?"
81 ertainly notw