The Somerset reporter., 1889-01-17
SELECTED.
APLuCKY GIRLS RUSE

APLuCkY GIRLS RUsE
Something allied Nettic Wilder. Her
mother, Who gave to this onl, child all
her strong maternal love, knew some
thing of the cause of the change, and her
thinking 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 hand, stalwart young
farmer of %, who owned a well-conduct-
ed farm, was as honest and true a man as
the wide world could produce, and fully
his own master. And both were court
! ing pretty No:sie- " ff!!tt!!er.
And poor little Nettc was growing
grave and womanly, thinking of the
choice she must make. 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 whie-
pers til t "Mitchell's son was little
Wild had ever reached her; yet she was
conscious of a certain shrinking from his
most tender spe' ches.
She was bordering over all this one
pleasant October afternoons; and, as n
shadow crossed the window, she looked
up to see Harry Lane carrying a large
covered basket.
1--WE are gathering the pippins," lac
said, coming to the window sill, land
! brought over "A 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
to your grandfather, Nettie? Harry can
90 to the crossroads with you"
Half reluctantly Ncttie put on her hat
and sacquc and selected some of the
finest pippins for "A smaller basket
With nod and smile Nette left ITar-
ry at the cross roads (where he promised
to meet her at five o'clock) to cross the
lot that saved nearly half a mile of the
distance to her grandfather'S On enter
ing the kitchen she frightened Katie, the
old servant, by the ashy pallor of her
as she said sharply:
"Where is grandfather"
"He's not come in from town yet, ="
was the reply. "Whatcver's come to
you, Miss Nettie? Are you going to
faint?'
mo, | am tired | must watch for
grandfather or he may drive past"
Then she ran across the garden to the
! gate, for there was Il 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 81
must speak to you, grandfather, 1t is
| important"
Her pale agtated face and her earnest
ness half frightened the old man, aud he
| tied the horse and followed her into the
house
What is it. DEAR" 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
himl
"Yes, all the quarterly rents, Folks
all paid up to-day"
You must not take it over, grandfath-
err There are three men over in Higgins
old barn waiting to rob you"
Nonsense.
II Is NOT nonsense, grandfather. l
came across lots with Harry, but when |
got to 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
know you have been collecting the rents.
They mean to stop you and take the mon
ey. And, oh grandfather, if You don't
go on they will come over here and rob
you. SO you must let me tell you what
| have planned Let me take the money
on and you stay here. If they stop me |
will tell them that you sent the money to
Mr.. Mitchell"
You can say | met MtChell's man,
Wilson, in town, if you choose, often
send it out by him, but met him to-day
before it was paid But, Nettie, | can't
let you run into danger"
There will be no danger to me They
will never think | have the money
But they NAV look to see"
For answer, Nettie took down a coil
of superb brown hair, that had been neat
ly twisted up under her hat. Shaking it
out she said
"Give me the notes, grandfather"
He took big roll from his wallet, and
looked on in mute admiration while Net
TIC twisted IL INTO her haii' PIni''iS anu
pa.t,os tne ehiarse" col UNI, 1t Wa
nhaiiy III oroer anu hha'ly perchins '"'
DAINTY i,a' over All
ION ~olly ABOUT me- nv, rhe N"n,, ms,
'nS .pe Wv, man tenuei ~ iV"' ~ W.
''oihehe nesi'a''on' sue SAUL very very
vel sialei, ., ain ,..,., .,......,.,
:. ,iH you VIII N''p SVO'''
II i.v Sen you o,e'
..Tso, oe cal ooo,ot,,,,o , va,
ro nn n.n, WINE ~" az sna '"a, rhanI
'nnr No.. ' th u w. ,ono',s "u s pu ,
na r.''' qua ,na"" 49, wv, w., iJs Ero,t
Ni,oh.,, :, Va '''''0 NV"
Sba tis..a him ard ,os roro b.for. M,
had sn,,icion,lr recovered from his amaze
mani ~ ans,,.ar har