Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1891-11-04


Advancing, therefore, with a happy
mixture Of confidence and condescen-
sion, Sol plucked the cherries and was
about to present them, when Independ-
ence in u calico frock stepped back with
a cool:
Keep them yourself, sir; I don't care
for them"
IT thought that you wanted Them"
stammered Sol.
$50 did, because they were difficult
TO obtain; had they been on your aunt's
table l would not have touched Thorn.
II Is the glow of triumph that gives
pleasure 10 its zest Eat the cherries
yourself and good evening, sir!'
"Stop a moment" said Sol, not lit
tie astonishcd; that isl mean-per.
NIT me TO accompany you"
mo; you would expect me to enter
tain you, and that would be too much
trouble"
"But IT, instead, should enter tain
your
you cannot"
"Why2"
you could tell me nothing new.
You are only cruciblc for converting
bales of cloth into the precious ore that
all the world goes mad after. No doubt
you are all very we'll ia your way, but
there arc alchemists who could trans
mute our humdrum, daily life into
golden verse or heavenly thought To
such one might listen, but you and
have nothing in common"
mot even our humanity?" asked Sol.
The stern face OF the young girl
softened a little, but only for a mo-
ment.
NO" she answered, angrily, mot
even that I, you know, am made of
the inferior clay, you of the pure por-
celain. Do you not remember how
even good, kind Aunt Hester told you
there were no young ladies with her,
only the seamstress? You are slightly
bored already and think me odd enough
to amuse you for awhile. but if some of
those gay ladies-among whom hear
you are such favorite-were to come
here, you would not even know me.
Good evening, sir!"
"What q furious little RADICAL"
thought Sol, with IN uneasy laugh, as
he watched her retreating figure.
After all, he was not quite sure that
she had not spoken the truth. If the
calico frock had been a founced silk,
for instance, how many degrees moro
deferential would have been his man
ner in presenting the cherries2
Query the second.
If the calico frock had been walking
down Broadway about four o'clock In
the afternoon, would he, Solomon
Griggs, of Griggs, Makern e. Co., as
willingly escort II as across those green
fields, where, II the robins and blue.
birds did make remarks, 1t was in their
own language
Sol couldn't answer the questions sat
isfactorily, but he went to bed and
dreamed all night of the little Diogenes
in her calico frock.
patiently for the first glimpse Of that
remarkable garment coming around
the corner, but in vain. And when, in
such a very careless manner that II was
quite remarkable, he wondered apdibly
"whercuthat odd little girl lived whom
he saw on the eve of his arrival" Aunt
Hester answered dryly:
Away up-thereabouts," pointing
with her hand.
She boarded, she believed, with some
queer sort Of folks there; though, for
that matter. she was queer enough her.
self. And this was absolutely all she
would say on the subject.
The next day Sol took II upon himself
to wander up that way, whereabouts, +"
and was rewarded with glimpse Of
the calico frock going through broken
gate, and, following 1t closely, came up
with the wearer as she was about to
enter the dilapidated front door, at
which piece Of impertinence she was SO
much incensed as to turn very red,
while tears actually started to her eyes.
What do you want?" she inquired,
sharply enough.
ITO see you," replied Sol, who, taken
by surprise, could think of nothing but
the truth.
well, you have seen me, now gol"
But it's warm day, and am Very
tired"
II can't help that It's not my fault,
is it?"
you might ask me to walk in and
sit down ify you were not as hard.henrted
as Huron"
This is not my house."
"You would, then, If it were?"
II don't say that"
"Well, then, am thirsty; give mo q
glass of water"
There is the we'll, and an iron cup
fastened to it by chain; help yourself"
you inhospitable little misan.
throper'
But she was gone; and the next time
he inquired for her, Aunt Hester told
him, with malicious twinkle of tho
eye, that she had gone to the city to
find work.
Perhaps the good soul had been
troubled with visions of future Mrs
Griggs, and was not altogether dis
pleased that an insurmountable barrier
was placed between that odd Rachel
Hart and her nephew Sol, who was q
good boy, but didn't know the ways Of
women"
Be that as it may, her Joy was short
ly turned into mourning, for Solomon
received dispatches requiring his i'm
mediate presence in the city. At least
so he said, for Aunt Hester was i'm
movable in her conviction that "that
Rachel was somehow at the bottom
of it." She even limited as much to
Sol when he babe her good-by; but he
only laughed and told her to take care
Of herself.
After all, business could not have
been so very pressing, as he spent the
greater portion of his time wandering
through lanes and back streets, not
unfrequently dashing down alleys
with the inexplicable exclamation of:
That's her. from whence he always
returned very red in the face and sheep
ish in expression.
Three months had passed away, when
he nearly ran against little woman,
who looked mp in his face with a sar
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