Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1889-08-07
From the Milwaukee Wisconsin.
TOO LATE.
BY DELLA A. HAYWOOD.


brown farm house = furnished stiffly
with straightforward wooden chairs
a secretary with drawers, plain table
and sewing machine. Green paper
shades curtained the windows, and a
few family portraits hung on the walls.
No pretty ornaments, no flowers, no bit
of color anywhere to relieve the
apartment of its air of severe utility.
Its occupants were two mlddle-aged
women, young matron with Sleep
ing baby on her lap, and a red-cheeked
boy who was knitting his brows over a
hard problem in algebra.
Where's Rachel?" asked young
Mrs. Burr I haven't seen her since [
came in"
RACHEL [ don't know-trapesing
through the woods or mebby up In her
room porin' over them books"
Il sh'd think you'd make her help
with the SEWN, Calline," said Mrs.
King, looking up from her knitting
work.
Help l spent On hour this morn
ing takin' out the SEWN she done yes
teTday on Miss Grants dress. The girl
don't seem to have a mite of faculty"
She's dreadful trial p sighed Mrs
Burr, II don't see how you get along
with her at all, ma. When | was OF her
age | could turn my hand to anything.
Seems as If Rachel takes no interest in
anything but those books"
Cpd burn 'em, every one - eXclaim-
ed Mrs. King. "There amt no earthly
use in that girls readin' so much-goes
about like one dazed half the time. But,
was good deal so, an her father, too,
for that matter. A dredful shifless
couple, | called 'em."
''I dun no." said her sister-in-law, a
little nettled by the allusion to her dead
brother. Alfred gave good satisfaction
when be kept the 'cademy, an Helen
was a real good teacher. They warn't
very free-handed, [ know, but for all
that they was looked up to. An
Rachel might keep school this summer.
I 'spose, providin' there's one to be
got.'
Great teacher she'll make Little
mite of thing that darsen't say her
souls her own! Good deal O. govern
ment she'd have ~
Il don't think Ray'll ever make
much of teacher, and | don't believe
she'll ever get married. The young men
hardly notice her, and she's afraid to
look at one almost" said Mrs. Burr,
who could boast of a dozen admirers at
Rachels age.
There's time enough for that, Ruby. Z"
said her mother. '.To be sure she's in
her 18th year, but that's young, and [
dunno how she could manage home of
her own. Here she comes now" as a
young girl stole shylv into the room.
You're all rugged out to go somewhere,
it seems"
Il would like to go down to the vii
lage, Aunt Caroline" said the girl,
timidly.
"WeE, don't care; you amt no par
ticular use here. only / don't know
what errand you can have"
1--WE a letter TO post" said Rachel,
blushing so wildly that her cousin,
Ruby, suspected that she really had
found a beau in some clandestine way
and had opened a correspondence with
him.
'sOh / spose you're writin' to Miss
sense enough into your head when she
boarded here, thout writin' back and
forth to keep it up"
Your hat isn't on straight and your
collars comm unpinned," said Mrs.
Burr. you'll not be likely to catch a
beau very soon if you're so careless"
Rachel colored again She did wish
Ruby would not tease her about beaux.
"Id shove them bangs back off'n nv
forward if | was you," said Mrs King.
They're dreadful unbecomin' to dark
Completed girls"
Rachel passed out of the room fol-
lowed by the red-cheeked boy. AS she
reached the hall door she paused and
nervously began to push back the offend
ing rings of soft, dark hair from her
forehead.
Don't do that Ray, you little goose !''
said the boy. What do YOU care for
Aunt Jane? Sizes a hateful old thing and
is mad because you're go much better
looking than Bess }nd Jennie, if they are
light complicated. Won needn't shake
your head, Ray. You're real pretty
sometimes-3specially when your cheeks
are red and your eyes shine as they do
now. But have you finished the story,
flee. amt you ?"
Eyes, BERTHE, but I'm so afraid it will
be re jected. l never would have dared
to send it to q magazine it it hadn been
for Miss Gilbert's encouragement"
"Of course they'll accept it," said
BERTHE, Its a splendid story. You'll
get your name up as great writer and
earn lots Of money. Won't mother and
Ruby and Aunt Jane be surprised
though The boys eyes sparkled at
the pleasing prospect.
Il don't know, Bert, perhaps it will
not amount TO anything after all. May
he | am destined to be a faiiure-some
body's trial. always"
But the boys sturdy faith buoyed up
RachePs spirits and gave her fresh
courage. She walked away under the
shadows of the tall trees whose tops al
most interlaced, with a happy, hopeful
heart. II her poor little story should
prove a success Ii would be to her
eyerything-Oh she dared hardly
dream Of what life might be in case
Berries bright prediction should be full
filed.
1t was but short walk to the post-o,-
fee. She crossed the wooden bridge
that spanned the river at the foot of the
hill, and turned at once into the one