Mower County transcript., 1890-03-19

'At8AA4as why, Sno marr1eQ year
and a half ago. thought I wrote you.
A New York mana really low char
acter, thought"
''Too bad!' he answered, sympathet-
ically, 1nwardly groaning: zone chance
gomez" After moment he inquired:
"And Mary Crawford?''
oh, she Is still here, and very pref
ty girl; modest and sweet, as she always
was. do think she is. as nice girl as
ever knew"
A good mark went down for Mary, and
then
"Jessie Bancroft?"
'Her father is United States Con-
gresham from our district wv, you
know, and they live in Washington,
not even spending their summers here.
She's very bright and attractive, be-
ieve, though haven't seem her late
ly."
Was his list to contain but one name?
he must make one more effort.
"Aren't there any newcomers? Who
has the Bancroft placer"
THAT is closed; but there is one very
interesting new family here-the Ches-
ters-at the old Goodwin place. There
are three Of the children, Gladys, Dot
and Joe. Gladys is twenty-five or three;
Dot, perhaps, nineteen-1 don't know If
she Is, quite; and Joe fifteen. They are
all very pleasant. Mr.. Chester man.
ages the cotton mills across the river
from your uncle's-yours, I mean. They
were rich once, am told, but through
somebody or others rascality lost all
their property, and now only have his
salary. Gladys fairly leads the town in
every thing-wakes it right up."
His mother left to superintend the
evening meal, and as he smoked an in
troductory cigar he meditated, Mary
or Gladys? He rather liked the dash of
the latter, but very evidently his moth
or would prefer the former Finally he
gave it up with sigh and went in to
supper. In accordance with Louis
custom, this meal was, in all but name,
dinner, but he could not conquer village
prejudice enough to call it that, so they
had breakfast, luncheon and supper, and
Louis mischievously complained that he
had only had dinner twice since he had
been home-Sundays-when it was al
lowable to, have it late.
When the meal was done he suggested
to his mother walk over to the Ches-
ters'.
II mustn't be so unneigh borly," he
said. ''They will think I have forgot
ten my manners. 1t isn't very far
So they went. 1t was still light, for
the calling-time in Trainville was at
half-past seven, and on this July even
ing it seemed very early. AS they came
in sight of the Chesters Louis whistled
long and low with establishments
Eye gods and little fishes! Tennis in
Trainville! Didn't suppose they'd ever
heard of it. Well, haven't been down
this road before, but have about every
other here, and I'll wager it's the onl Y
sport in town-in village would, per-
haps, be better.''
eyes" answered his mother. sI like
to see them myself, but some people do
think it's little rompy for girls.''
If those ''some" had only been there
then! 1t was near the close of an ex-
citing game. Three girls and boy
made up the set, and the grace of the
former was we'll brought out by the colt
ishness of the latter, though his noise
in the game counted for more than
background.
When the Worthingtons opened the
gate the players stopped by mutual con-
sent, and then:
''Good-evening, Mrs. Worthington,"
said Gladys fresh young voice. 'sMam-
ma will be very glad to see you.''
''Good evening"" 'Good evening""
came from the other girls, while Joe
muttered "How de do??" in a sheepish
kind of way.
''Good-evening, my dears," replied the
good lady. ''Will you allow me to pre-
sent my son Louis. Miss Chester and
Miss Dorothy? Miss Crawford you
know already, Louis" And she bowed
In acknowledgment of the new acquaint-
ance and the old.
"And this is Joe Chester" she added.
Louis turned with a good-naturoS
smile.
II am glad to know Joe," b. said.
''Im going to beat you at tennis many y
time, young man."
This reused Joe from his shy silence.
''Humph" he announced. ''Guess I
can play son'e!" and they all walked to-
ward the house. Louis found himself
with Miss Chester, Miss Dorothy enter
tanning his mother, and Mary talking
with Joe.
''You must be very glad to be back
here, Mr.. Worthington," Gladys was
saying, ''even though it is stupid after
Europe"
"Stupid!" he said. II don't think I
ever put it in that light. I am very busy
in getting the hang of things at the
mills. And you see, it is years since I
could really feel I had mother to my
self"
Gladys thought it very nice in him to
prize this companionship of his mother
SO much, and decided immediately that
she should like him. Mrs. Chester met
them on the broad veranda, and Louis
found her charming. He remembered
the place as q rather shabby, big old
house, very plain outside and in, and he
was agreeably surprised to find it with
q great veranda around three sides.
being elsewhere improved in proportion.
AI~~l l. S1.