Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1890-02-28

u" tho', Euitiiiltt- llul VI
cleared this summer, free of all ex
pensesl"
But it wasn't altogether your
Idea, mother" said Zuleima. at
was Cousin Maria's."
''WelI, p'r'nps she did suggest it,
said Mrs. Mnydew; "but l carried it
out-and great deal better specu.
lation l found it than sewing OH
shirts or taking in shoes to bind;
and I've made the Durham cow s
price-and I've bought Deacon
Doubleday's secondhand wagon,
and new stair carpet, and I've got
500 to put in the bank besides all
that!"
Zuleima listened with sweet alb
stracted smile. Durham cows-sec-
ond hand wagons-bank accounts
what was that to the great happi-
ness that had come to her through
this cit -boarder experiment?
"Ought to tell mother now, or
ought | to leave it to him?" she
questioned herself and while she still
deliberated, Mrs. Maydew's sharp,
high-pitched voice broke in upon the
current of her thoughts
"And really, now l come to think
ont, | don't know but what l like
young Fairgrave the best of any
boarder we've had. Didn't you,
Zuleima?"
The soft flood ofcarmine rushed to
the girls cheek, her eyelids dropped.
eyes" she answered, almost in
audibly; IL liked him very we'll"
"And them pictures he painted
were very good" went on uncon-
scious Mrs. Maydew, though they
wasn't as bright colored as the chro-
mo of Abraham A-sacrificin' Isaac
over Miss Parker's parlor mantle,
and them views otruined castles that
Ruth Chicksey bought OF the peddler
for 81 so each, gilt frames and all.
They were sort o dim colored, you
know, and the sun didn't seem to
shine real bright in 'em. But it's
strange, amt it, about his bein' en-
gaged?"
Engaged" Zuleima started and
crimsoned more intensely than ever;
n shy smile broke out upon her lips.
Her secret, then, was out. Who
could have betrayed it? Perhaps
Vernon himself.
81 didn't believe a word of it at
first" added Mrs. Maydew, rolling
up her bills and placing them in a
discolored leather pocket-book. Zu-
lcima turned her face away, still smil-
ing. And she twice his age, at
lcast!" went on Mrs. Maydew.
"Shel" Who do you mean?"
"Maria, OF course" said Mrs. May
dew. GIVE always heard that there's
no fool like an old fool, and begin to
believe it."
Mother" cried Zulcima, "what do
you meant"
"La?" said Mrs. Maydew, "is it
possible you huin't read that letter
that came this mornin'? She's to be
married to Fairgrave in November
the poor, silly, old goose-and she
wants you to come up and help her
buy her wedding clothes. couldn't
Ia l.,l,
writ and signed and sealed under her
own name. And she's 45 if she's
dayw
Zuleima stood bewildered and
amazed. The walls seemed to be
whirling around her; the ticking. of
the old clock grew faint in her ears.
Vernon Fairgrave engaged to Miss
Maria Denham after all the sweet
words he had whispered in her ear,
all the tender hand pressures-the
Vulnerable looks of love that passed
between them! But, after all, now
that she came to look dispassionate-
ly back on the past, she could not
recall that he had ever said to her in
SO many words: "Will you be nv
wife," He had never placed a be-
trothal ring on her finger; he had
contented himself with vague words
-glnnces which could not absolute
ly be interpreted into sentences, and
a horrible sensation of shame and
anger seemed to fill her veins with
fire instead of blood as she thought
of how she had been duped.
''He has been making game ofme,"
she thought "He has enjoyed his
summer in the wilderness, and now
he is going away-to leave me with
out a pang of remorse! Oh, heavenl
and how am to endure it,"
"Aint you well, Zuleima?" Mrs.
Maydew asked, with rather n fright
ened glance at her daughter. II
knowed you hadn't ought to go out
into the hot sun to pick them last
lima beans to dry. Lay down, and
let me get you the camphor bottle to
smell"
But Zuleima recovered herself with
an effort
Tin well enough" said she.
"Where is Maria's last letter, moth
er? | want to read it. Well | never
should have suspected Mr.. Fai' grave
of being II tortune-hunter."
Its a great thing to have a little
money" shrewdly remarked Mrs.
Maydew. Though Maria amt bad
lookin'. neither, Tor n woman of her
venrs. nor sencp she pot them now