Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1891-10-23
A COUNTRY GIRL.
BY GENEVA MARCH.

"There are lots of pretty girls around
here. You've come just in time"
The speaker was jerome Wallace. He
and his friend Clinton Munroe. sat smok-
ing in the room of the former, at the St.
Nicholas Hotel, a fashionable resort
among the picturesque hills of Colorado.
"You ought to know, as you came a
week ago., - replied Munroe. care any
of our set here?"
"None, except Miss Fortesque. re-
ferred to the girls of the neighbor-
hood"
''The country girls! Bah! Milkmaids
and farmers daughters, and the like.
Blowsy creatures, with waists like bar
rels, great red hands, and feet as big and
heavy as sledge- hammers. Thanks, none
of them for me-"
"Sh." said his friend, speaking in a
whisper. mot SO loud. The partitions
between these Western hotel rooms are
very thin. Miss Fortesque's room is next
to this, and, if I'm not mistaken, I saw
some of those very girls go in there
while ago"
Munroe was gentleman notwith-
standing his coxcombry, so he lowered
his voice also as he replied:
"sorry, pom honor, if they heard.
Wouldn't do anything to hurt their feel
ings for the world. suppose they have
feelings, you know"
''Wait till you become acquainted with
Gome of these girls before you speak so
1mpudently of them," said Wallace, Sc
verely. ''There's Judge Horizons
IL e.,
several years, and she spent her winters
in Washington. She's as fresh as
pink, and bright as a diamond; rides
superbly; rows like a Harvard or Yale
stroke oar dances divinely; sings"
"Sparc me, spare mew cried Munroe,
affecting to stop his ears. 81 know just
the sort of thing you mean. Goes
clustering about in mans hat and
jacket, apes all sorts of mems sports,
talks III a mans voice, and has a mus
tache almost as thick as a toothbrush.
A woman has no business with physical
exercise. It's the fad of the age. A
Fifth avenue belle is the only woman fit
for our class"
"You don't mean what you say"
answered Wallace, half angrily. "You're
not such IN absolute fool"
The next day the two friends returning
from walk up the mountain side found
themselves in the valley, where a clear,
crystal stream here and there starred
with water lilies flowed between wooded
banks. Suddenly they heard the quick
sound of cars, and the next moment there
shot into sight around bend a small
va
lady, beautiful one, too, who sent her
fairy sk:tf Swimming along with a grace
and ease that made it seem really alive.
She remained in sight only few minutes,
then disappeared around another bend,
coming and going like a swallow in its
fight. Wallace, however, during that
brief space, recognized an acquaintance,
and removed his hat deferentially with a
low bow. She answered with a brief
smile and a nod, then was gone.
ga modern water nymph, by Jove!"
cried Munroe. ''Beats the old Greek
ones all hollow. Who is shea Some
Eastern girl, suppose"
"That returned Wallace, gravely, "is
one of the girls of the neighborhood
of whom you made fun yesterday, you
remember"
Munroe gave long whistle.
ooh! Miss Horton" he exclaimed;
'if she'sa specimen your country girls
take back all said. Are there any
more like herr"
'Pleuty, replied Wallace, "but this
is not Judge Horizons daughter. This
is Miss Mamie White. Her father owns
farm in the valley. A farmers daugh-
ter, you see."
Munroe gave another long whistle, but
said nothing further.
That night there was hop at the
hotel, and Clinton Munroe, in perfect
evening costume, was to be seen dane
ing with Miss White, not once only, but
every time she would permit him.
SIT really seems one of those cases."
said Miss Fortesque, $50 rare in this
selfish world, of love at first sight, and
congratulate you, my DEAR" she said,
turning mischievously to Miss White,
who lust then came I'D. Miss Fortesque