Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1890-01-31


eyes to see her skim the cream in those
great yellow pans in the dairy"
We sat talking in this way for some
time. and then Mr.. Morton and Mrs
Markham Joined US. Thought she looked
a little taken aback when he came up to
me and frankly shook hands He had
never done so before, but l had noticed
lately a growing interest and cordially in
his manner to me. He was a cautious
man, who never let enthusiasm run away
with him. He would sift person thor
oughly before he manifested any degree of
liking; neither would he indorse his wife's
opinion of me until L had proven myself
worthy OF his respect.
1t was pleasant to hear him address me
as Miss Fenton, and praise the children's
looks. He stood talking TO me apart for
some minutes, much to Mrs. Markham's
chagrin. No doubt she had armed herself
with list of grievances, and was highly
dfspleased to find that stood so high in
my employers favor. Prejudice is al
ways hard to overcome, and Mrs. Mark
ham was strongly prejudiced against my
humble self: but when | remembered I'm
Gle Keith and my girlish distaste for him,
was ready to admit that | deserved some
sort of punishment.
We had a delightful afternoon on the
beach My dear mistress accompanied
us. and shortly afterward Miss Cheriton
and Mr. Morton made their appearance,
accompanied by Mr.. Hawtry. He had
ridden up to Marshlands on business,
and had been decoyed into an hours idle
ness
What pleasant time we had.
Mrs Morton and l sat under the break
water, watching the children help their
father as he built up mighty sand fort
ress. To our great amusement, Mr.. Haw-
try worked too, while Gay assisted Reggie
to fill his bucket with smooth white peb-
bles for the ramparts.
isn't Alick ridiculOusly busy" laughed
Gay, as she passed. Il do believe he is
quite happy to find spade in his hand
again. And do look at Farmer Roger"
for she sometimes naughtily called him
by that name; che is working as hard as
though he were among his haymakers."
wonder if Mr.. Hawtry heard her, for
he threw down his spade and came up to
US with droll ashamed sort of look.
81 believe / am half child STILL" he
said, throwing himself down on the sand.
81 have often envied the little rogues dig
ging their trenches; they do seem to be-
lieve in their own work. You are laugh
ing at me, Mrs. Morton, but your own hus-
band is just as bad"
eff you knew how glad am to see him
with the childrenr' she returned, with a
sort of misty smile. II do not think
grOwnup peoples play half 50 sensible. [
know Miss Fenton agrees with me, do you
not, Merle?"
it was nice of her to draw me into the
conversation.
] saw Mr. Hawtry looking at me inquir
ingly. and l said, quietly; 81 think tie
best people are those who never outgr wv
| their childhood. We are apt to laugh at
children" went on, for my mistress vas
near me. and | was talking to her ore
| than to Mr.. Hawtry, land yet their )er-
| feet faith teaches us many lessons; hey
have to contend with so great dif1icr Ity."
What special difficulty do you mean,
Miss Fenton?"
THE difficulty of expression. Their
| language does not allow of full express
sion; their wonder bubbles over, but
| they find no word to convey their wonder
! ment."
! Miss FentOn is a philosopher" OBJ
! served my mistress, softly. I'VE often talk
| about these things, Roger" (she called
! him Roger quite rs a matter of cOurse);
| thinking aloud is very pleasant in COM
| pany, sometimes"
Miss Fenton seems to think to some
| purpose" interposed Mr. Hawtry. [
thought he seemed little amused at
would be good thing if she could teach
other young ladies to be as unconvention-
| al and useful"
| found this speech a little embarrassing
| He evidently knew all about my theory,
and his words seemed to imply perfect ap.
prevail of it, but was not sufficiently at
my ease to meet his meaning halfway; on
the contrary, | was rather provoked at
his breaking in on our conversation. |
made an excuse, and went down to the
margin of the water, where Miss Cheriton
and Reggie were PLAYING touch-last with
| the waves and there we stayed until Mr..
| Morton looked at his watch and gave the
signal for our return, ana then we all
went home together
On our way Miss Chcriton took me by
the arm, and said, merrlly: I'VE are all
going to have a nursery tea this evening.
Alick and Mr.. Hawtcy are both coming
up. Don't YOU think you had better hurry
home to prepare for us Merle?" for she
| always called me Merle now.
| needed no second bidding. and leaving
Joyce in her care, very quickly overlook
| Hannah, and with SuSan's help we had
soon arranged the tea-table.
| think everyone enjoyed themselves;
| they would insist on crowding round the
tea-table. though it would hardly hold
| them, and Mr. Morton leased his wife
| about an incident in her childish days.
! when she had qnarreled with Adelaide
|
table.
Il do love this old nursery, Alick," she
returned, plaintively at is a treat even
to drink out Of the old blue cups again.
| Nurse Partitt used to be so proud of the
| old blue china And after tea she took
| her husband to see the cot where she and
| Gay had slept when they were tiny chill
| dren, and we could hear them laughing
| together over the prints in the little black
| frames. had to fetch something for
| Reggie, and found them standing hand
| in hand before the Five Senses" think
she was telling him something that touch
| ed him, Tor he WAS locking wonderfully
| interested, but there was sort of pain in
his face, too.
Mr.. Hawtry was on the window-seat
with Reggie, and his horse was at the
door.
Thank you for very pleasant hour,
Miss Fenton," he said, holding out his
hand. az think we are all the better for
an afternoon with the children" And
uuen T. G anu mr.. rrOrUL.. W. oway.
My dear mistress took leave of us soon
after that for they were going back to
town that evening. l could see her heart
was full as she babe the children good
bye, but she was very brave, and smiled
at us to the last.
Gay came up to us by and by. She said
her father and Adelaide were dining out,
aud she meant to spend the evening with
rs. Thought she looked just trifie dull,
as though something had gone wrong
since tea. wondered il she were sorry to
have missed Mr.. Rossiter, who we heard
had called that afternoon.
ITO be continued.)
EXODUS FROM SOUTH CAROLINA.