Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1890-01-24

bright Young creature. / was little too
grave for my age, and | felt she did me
good.
| soon found she resembled my mistress
in one thing; she was very unselfish, and
thought more of other peoples pleasures
II IN her own. She used to say herself
Il 1t it was only a sublime sort of selfish
ness that she liked to see everyone happy
round her. "A gloomy face binders all
endowment" was her constant remark.
But never knew anyone who eXce.led
more in little kindly acts. She would
bring me fruit or flowers almost daily;
and when she found I was fond of read
ing she selected books for me she thought
should like.
When Mrs. Markham did not use the
carriage-a very rare occasion, as she had
almost a monopoly of it-ske would take
Us for long country d ives, and she would
contrive all sorts Of / tie surprises for us.
Once when we returned from a saunter
in the lanes, we found our tea table laid
in the orchard, and Miss Cheriton presid-
ing, IN a gay little hat trimmed with corn
flowers and poppIes. There was basket
of flowers in the center of a table, and a
heap of red and yellow fruit. We had
quite little feast that evening and all
the time we were sitting there, there were
broods of chickens running over the grass,
that Gay had enticed into the orchard to
please the children, and gray rabbits. and
an old lame duck that was her pensioner,
and went by the name of Cackles.
'Oh auntie. do re another feast"
joyce would say 10 her almost daily; but
Miss Cheriton could not ALWAYS be with
US: visitors were very plentiful at Marsh
lands, and Gays company was much
courted by the young people of Netherton
and orion -On-Sea.
| knew Mr. Hawtry was constant WISH
tor. for we often met him in our walks;
and it seemed to me that his face was al
ways set in the direction of Marshlands.
When Rolf was with us he was never
allowed to pass without notice, and then
he would stop and speak to the children,
especially to Joyce. who soon got over her
shyness with him.
Mother says Mr. Hawtry comes to see
Aunt Gay" Rolf remarked once, when he
was out of hearing; 'she told grandp papa
so one day, and asked him if it would not
be good thing; and grandpapa laughed
and nodded; You know his way. What
did mother mean?"
mo doubt she meant that Mr.. Hawtry
was a kind friend" | returned, evasively.
How is one to silence a precocious child7
But of course it was easy to understand
Mrs. Markham's hint.
| wondered sometimes if Mr.. Hawtry
were a favored sutton. He and Miss
CheritOn certainly seemed on the best of
terms; she always seemed glad to see him,
but her manner was very frank with him.
| took it into nv head that Gay had
more than one admirer / deduCed this
inference from a slight occurrence that
took place one day.
| was on the terrace with the children
one morning when a young clergyman in
a soft felt hat came up the avenue. l
knew him at once as the bOyish-faced cur
ate at NethertOn Church, who had read
the service the last two Sundays. | had
liked his voice and manner, they were SO
revereDt, but | remembered that | thought
him very young. He was tall, broad
shOuldered young man, and though not
exactly handsome, had bright, pleasant
looking face.
Rolf hailed him at once as an old ac-
quaintance. "Halloo, Mr. ROssiter; it is
no use your going on to the house; mother
is not well, and cannot see you, and Aunt
Gay is with the bees"
Mr. Rossiter seemed little confused at
this. He stopped and regarded Rolf with
some perplcXity.
81 am sorry Mrs. Markham is not well,
but perhaps / can see Mr.. Cheriton."
ooh, grandpapa has gone to Orion. there
is only me at home; you see Miss FcntOn
does not count. If you want Aunt Gay |
will show you the way to the kitchen
garden" And as Mr. Rossiter accepted
this offer with alacrity, they went off to-
gether.
We were going down to the beach that
morning, and was only waiting for Han
nah to get the perambulatOr ready, but as
quarter of an hour elapsed and Rolf did
not make his appearance, Joyce and l
went in search of him.
| found him standing by the bee-hives,
talking to Miss Cheriton and Mr.. ROssi-
ter. They ail looked very happy, and Mr..
RosSitcr was laughing at something the
boy had said. such ringing. boyish laugh
it was.
When | called Rolf they all looked
round, and Miss Cheriton came forward
to speak to me. thought she looked a
little uncomfortable, and 1 never saw her
with SUCH u color.
Are you going down to the beach? |
wish | could come too, it is such Il lovely
morning, bat MIR. Rossiter wants me to
go To the schools; Miss Parsons, the school
mistress. is i'll, and they need help. 1t is
so tiresome," speaking with pettish,
spoiled-child air, turning to the young
clergyman; Miss Parsons always does
get i'll at incOnvenient times"
q know you would not fail us if it were
ever so inconveuieut,' answered Mr.. Ros
sitter, looking full mt her-he had such nice
clear eyes; you are far too kind to desert
us in such strait"
But she made no answer to this, and
went back to the beehive, and after Il mo-
ment's irresolutiou Mr. RosSiter followed
her
DO you like Mr.. Rosster?" asked Rolf,
In his blunt way. as we walked down the
avenue 81 do, awfullv; he is such a
brick He plays cricket with me some
times, and he has promised to teach me to
swim, ouly mother won't let him, in spite
of all graudpapa says about my being
brought up like a girl Grandpapa means
me to learn to swim and ride, only mother
is 50 frightened ever since the black pony
threw me. am to have a quteter one
next year"
"Have you known Mr.. Rossiter longr
| asked. carelessly.
"Oh, pretty long Mother can't bear
him coming so often to the house; she
says he is so awkward, and then he is
poor. Mother doesn't like poor people;
she always says it is their own fault; that
they might get on better. Do you know,
Fenny, Mr.. ROssiter has only two little
rooms at Mrs. Saunders, YOU know that
loW house looking on the corn-fields; quite
poky little rooms they are, because mother
and | went there. Mother asked him if
he did not find it dreadfully dull at Meth
ertOn, and he laughed and said. oh, dear,
no. he had never been more cOmfOrtable;
the people at NethertOn were so kind and
hOspitable: and though mother does not
like him, he comes just as often as though
she did" And | soon verified Rolls
words; Mr.. Rosster came very often to
MarShlands.
CHAPTER XvI.-MOLLY.
One afternoon, much to Hannah's de
light. ! took the children to Whee!er's
Farm. Rolf did not accompany us; Mrs.
Markham had sent up word to the nurs-
cry that morning that he was to drive
with her into orion. He had complied
with this order rather sulkily, after ex-
tracing from me a promise that | would
play soldiers with him in the evening.
Ii was rather hot July afternoon, but
we put Joyce in the perambulator, and
Hannah and | carried Reggie by turns;
aud inSpite of the heat we all enioved the