The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1889-11-07
was really rich had como to forty

y
not think me a puppy, will tell yo,s
that, being a pecuniary ''catch," was
rather prosecuted. Anxious parents
with fine families of grown daughters
flung them at my head. and the girlss
themselves were not behindhand. III
could have believed that my PERSONAL
qualities made me appear in the light
OF :. prize. ! should have been battered
| and might nave succunibed; but knew
my money was tho bait which all those
pretty fish were anxious to nibbie, and
l resolved to leave the place for awhile
The wealth that seemed 50 great frore
Il local point of view w;,e not an unu.
sual amount OF money in New York.
where millionaires have grown CON-
mon, and found the great metropolis
pleasant, and made friends there
Amongst them soon numbered an old
bachelor of literary tastes. who told
me that he had taken fancy to re.
He proved it by being very confiden.
tial.
"You are twenty years younger than
l." he said; ''but still you are of an
age when men are usually married.
Perhaps you can comprehend how you
might 60 on for twenty years more,
and never find a woman who seemed
exactly what YOU wanted?'
''Perfectly.' said l.
"Now I've had wemen set their caps
for me-" said he. Handsome women,
too. Perhaps you don't believe it?'
Indeed. do" said I, out of my own
experience.
"Ah, you've been there; you've been
there" said Mr.. Groton. "Well, l
couldn't respond. My fault; not theirs.
But lately I've met a woman who actu-
ally does move me, but l have my
doubts I'm afraid sha'n't be happy.
She's blue stocking."
"Ah" said I, not knowing what else
to remark.
lin afraid of blue-stockings, said
Mr.. Groton. They are usually bad
housekeepers, l am told, and they don't
look up to one. lwish to be looked up
to. But have great faith in you. She's
to be at Mrs. Parker's on Wednesday
evening. I'll ask to bring you. And
you could do what can PUT leading
questions; discover what her domestic
qualities are-she suspects me; II
daren 't-and give me your opinion.
There Is a widow. very handsome
| Mrs. Cromlich--that may be mere suit
able. But there's charm about my
bluc-stocking. She doesn't write very
masculine books; they arc about birds
and squirrels, and bees and flowers
children books. But still you'll oblige
d friend. II you approve, III see her
home and offer myself on the way; if
not, I'll ask to be the widows escort
and propose to her. can't waste time
at my age. and want to settle down.
Cross question her, pray"
promised, and on Wednesday even
ing entered Mrs. Parker's parlors.
| There she sits at the table, whis-
! pered the bachelor. ''Pretty shoulders,
ch?"
! nodded. for Mrs. Parker advanced,
and there was no time for words. l was
introduced.
II want him! to know your literary
friend. AS astranger, he ought to know
our shining lights" said Mr.. Groton,
with great cunning.
| ''Delighted: said Mrs. Parker. "Mr.
Ashton, this way, please. Miss Doane,
Mr.. Ashton desires an introduction.
OF course you have read all Miss Deb
orah Doane's works. What my chill
dren would do without them l can not
say. They are an education by them
selves
''Debbie turned authoressr' l
thought. It could not be. Yet Miss
Deborah Doanc! Was it coincidence?
1t was not, for the lady turned as her
hostess spoke to Debbie-Debbie still
more elegant, if not quite so pretty.
She knew me at n glance; and as |
held her hand, all my old lovo awoke
afresh in my heart. And there stood
Mr.. Groton listening, and Mrs. Parker
and the children, and what could say
to her? I did not remark, Il have had
that pleasure, nor did she. We sat
and talked to each other before 4,
audience until supper time. Then old
GrotOn whispered to me ''Take her
down. And l did. And still my
audience was large and attentive.
had discovered that she like my.
self, was alone in the world. l saw
that she was ready to meet me hall
way. Yet the hour for parting ap-
preached, and if old Groton took her
home, proposed to her. and was &C.
copied, all was over. And yet while
strangers listened to my words. what
could utter to show her my inten.
tons? This is what I did say:
LAS you write about such things,
Miss Doane, did you ever take notice
of the fact that the year after forest
fire bluebaries are very plenty on the
Shaunaguh< Mountains?
20 yes.' she replied. I go to the
Shaunagunk every summer, and
made that discovery long ago"
And you have not only made dis
covcries. but pies?' ( remarked.
Many" she answered..
'Oh! do yoo make pies? ] thought
authoresscs never could COOK" cried
one of our audience.
"A lady once promised to make blue
berry pies for me-" said /. lit was
while forest fire was burning; but
she never kept her promise. you &C
to Shaunagunk next summer, l shall
call at your camp, and ask you to make
IL pic for me-
II do not camp ont, but you will
find me at q little farmhouse nearby y
said Debbie. land ( will make all
the pies you want
= 1T is solemn promise?" said.
She gave me her hand.
Il think the blueberries will be
thick on Shaunagunk next summer. fol-
the fires were fierce this autumn she