The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1890-05-08

she determined 70 capture him With
her quick intuition she readily discover.
ed his great fondness for reading. Now
a few books from the Sunday school H.
brary, and the stories In magazines. was
the extent Of Emily's reading but by
means OF her ever ready tact she drew
him to speak of his fsvorite books and
authors. She managed to 80 agro. with
him and to 80 store up, for future u.s..
this and thst from his conversation as to
give him the impression that she was
more than ordinarily we'll read To this
one 1t was she referred when pleading,
lie is coming tonight as an excuse
for not staining her hands. lie came,
and her hands we're as white and beau
tiful as the most fastidious could desire ;
but, having no false notious about such
things; beautiful hands were TO him
those that do
Work that Is earnest, brave and true
Moment by moment the long day through"
HAD he heard her remark that morning
he would have been right speedily
cured OF his infatuation; but that
was soon to follow. With him he
had brought copy Of Pope's Essay on
Man Handing it to her, he said
Have you read this, Miss Mooref'
She believed she had not, at least not
all of it, but had for long time been
quite anxious to do 80, whereupon he
proposed leaving it for her perusal.
The next Monday morning fond
Emily busily engaged upon the weeks
washing, just outside the kitchen door.
Strolling out for walk, -'ho" had
wandered back of Mr.. Moore's house,
and there discovered Emily with her
white arms in the suds
"Heigh-ho.' said he. that hardly
accords with all she has said Where
are the colored servants she so often
speaks of? I'd as soon find her washing
as doing anything else, and respect her
the more for it, il it were necessary,
but If she's fool enough to think would
not, and Is in that way laying pipe TO
catch me, I'll find it out
Connecting some excuse for calling,
lie made detour to the front door, and
rang the bell. little girl appeared.
us Miss Moore at homer"
Yes, sab"
ASK her il | can see her moment"
Yes, sab, aud the little sable face
disappeared, to reappear In moment
or Two and ascend the front stairs.
Several minutes elapsed when she re-
turned, saying: Miss Emllyll be down
presently"
More minutes pass, and one hand Of
MS watch had made quarter of its cir
cular journey, when he heard light
tread ON the stairs and looking up, be-
held what mighty transformation q
short time can make in woman's appear
ance. The turned-up skirt, the big
checked apron, the rolled up sleeves and
tum6led hair were all things of the past,
and III their place was a trailing morning
dress, with unrumpled ruching in the
sleeves, and smooth and shining locks,
among which nestled freshly picked
rose. To be sure the hands were u tribe
puckered, but they were partially con-
cealed by book which she carried
Good morning. Mr.. Bond. | am de-
ilghted to see you. | trust you will ex-
cusc me for keeping you waiting.
was reading Pope's Easy ON Man. and
was so absorbed | delayed u moment be-
fore coming down"
The new title she gave the book caused
smile to fit across the young mans
face, which, however, she took as evil
dence that Ae was pleased with the al
legged cause of her delay.
" Is that it you have in your handf' he
said
ALLOW me to see how far you have
discovering, as he did so, that in her
haste she had picked up Il copy of the
New Testament, which very closely
resembled In size. form aut,, b5iiaat!.!!as the
Essay on Man" aud that In addition to
this she had been holding it bottom up
wards. Without betraying the mingled
amusement and disgust which he felt,
he quietly closed the book and laid 1t
down. Then pleading his excuse for
having called, which excuse did not con-
tiict with his mental resolve to never
again cross the threshold, he took his
departure.
Emily looked In vain for the return of
her city lover. She never saw him
again, but few days later heard he had
gone back to the city. Probably she
discovered the mistake she had made In
picking up the wrong book. and perhaps
she did the one she had made In its title.
Anyway the lesson cured her of duplcity
and caused her to stop and think And
as she thought she saw how foolish and
wicked she had been in trying to coerce
matter of this kind, and not cheerfully
and heartily doing the work her hands
found to do, and waiting till the one for
whom Heaven designed her sought her
out