Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1889-01-09

They aid both after Joe had gone,
and after an appreciable interval,
which Caddy had given to deciding
whether she were awake or dreaming.
1t must be because Joe was going to
marry Lyddy Stone that he gave him
self such airs as these.
She had thought but little about &c
of late, but in the background of her
consciousness had remained the i'm
preston that whatever came, he would
always be her humblest of humble serv-
ants. She had regarded her speech
and manner as being elegant to de-
gree quite beyond Joe's appreciation.
That he could find fault with her, and
on the score of grammar, was almost
too asto nishing for the mind to grasp.
As has been said, Caddy gave way to
her feelings a little-a somewhat I'M
usual proceeding for her; but she had
quite dried her eyes by the time DR..
Helmsbury, the new Pinkham doctor,
came and invited her to drive, and she
accepted his invitation with unusual
alacrity. She proposed. too, that they
should drive to Plumport and visit her
father. She had always meant that he
should see her father and her home
before she accepted his suit. He came
of an old and wealthy family, and he
was cultivated man. It was quite
likely that he might wish to draw
back, Caddy thought, when he should
see her father and her home.
She had dreaded the visit, although
she reproached herself for the I'M
worthy feeling; but now. strangely,
her mind was given to an endeavor
to recall Lyddy Stones fashion
of expressing herself, and to an I'M
hidden recollection of how hand
some Lyddy Stone looked in her green
silk dress, which just suited her COM
plexion. Her companion attributed
her absence of mind to the mortifca-
ton about her family, which he had
OWNED, and displayed on this ac-
count greater tenderness than usual,
for which Caddy promptly snubbed
him. She did not intend to snub him
altogether, at least she thought she
did not, but he was somewhat mid
dle-aged and very bald, and it
seemed to Caddy, somewhat I'M
reasonably, no doubt, that for
these reasons be would not mind
much, and could wait. Cap'n Sander
had no time to get himself into his
Sunday clothes-Caddy had sternly re-
solved that DR.. Helmsbury should
see the worst; he was worn out, too,
with unwonted burning of the mid
night oil, and his anxious vigilance
over his speech resulted in an over
whelming amount of negatives and
painful retractions. DR. Helmsbury
endeavored with polite tact to draw
him out On the subject of his sea life,
but it was all in vain. The visit was a
failure. Caddy was touched by the
distress in her fathers face. and ran
back to him as Dr.. Helmsbury was
about to help her into the carriage.
"What is the matter, father? You
look really ill.,
Il didn't say nothing very bad. did
I, Caddy?" whispered the old man,
anxiously. But you ought to waited
till long about Thanksgivin' time, as
you said, before you fetched him over.
I shall talk like the minister by that
time! He'll forgit mebbe then if I
said any thing that wa MT exactly right
to-day"
Dear old daddy, you talked beau
tifully." said Caddy, pricked by the
recollection of important words of hers
which had brought about this sensi-
tiveness-
But Cap'n Sander shook his head.
Jest wait till git it learnt by HEARTH
he repeated.
Caddy wondered somewhat vaguely
and atstractedly what he meant, but
DR.. Helmsbury's horse was impatient,
and there was no time to ask.
They met Joe Kent on horseback as
they went back to Pinkham. He was
just turning into the long. lonely road
that brought up nowhere but at Squire
Stones Joe greeted Caddy with care
less cordially; there was even q
twinkle of friendly amusement in his
eye as he glanced at her companion.
lie looked as if he would like to tease
her ''beau," in the primitive Plumport
| fashion.
It was two weeks after this, and DR..
| Helmsbury's fate was not yet decided,
although he had not been shocked out
of his ardor by the primitive and illit-
crate character Of his inamorata's rel
atives, when Caddy received a mes
sage that her father was very i'll. It
| was Joe Kent who brought the mes
sage.
We've been sitting up with him,
Uncle Laban and /, by turns, for the
last four nights. thought you ought
to be told, but he wouldn't have it SO.
Now he's out of his head, and calls for
you. He's been studying grammar.
Your aunt Miranda says he would
scarcely leave it to eat Or sleep; and
for a man Of his age"
s'Oh, I've been so wicked and salfsh