Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1891-07-01
SHOPPING IN SANTA CRUZ.

Don't forget the hair-oil and the
three yards of Calico"
Gall right"
Frank Winter answered cheerily
enough as he gathered up the reins
and turned his horse toward the
road which led to Santa Cruz, but
there was faint shadow of discomfort
upon his usually bright face as he
glanced back, over his shoulder, at
the ranch of which he was sole pro-
prietor. Such pretty place as it
was, with the level, carefully titled
fields around the house, and in the
background the softly undulating
hills billowing up against the fair
California sky! Frank Winter was
fond and proud of the home which he
had made for himself, but, someway,
the fat and untidy figure of Mrs. Per-
kins upon the veranda seemed blot
on the picture which was so dear to
him. He could imagine, vaguely,
that there might be woman in ex-
istance who, standing in the doorway
and smiling, "good-by' after him,
would make the whole place lovelier
and dearer by her presence.
He had not found her yet in fact
he had never had time to think about
looking her up during the past hard
working years, but he was quite sure
that, when found, she would neither
be fat, red faced, nor attired in torn
or far from clean brown calico, with
a pair of buttonless, and, consequent
ly Tapping boots upon her feet.
No, indeed Whether blond or
brunette, tall or short, plump or
slender, she would be neat and trim
from the top of her head to the soles
of the dainty slippers which it should
be his delight to choose for her. She
should be--Frank raised himself
from his selfcommuning with start,
and laughed and blushed boyishly at
his own day-dreams.
"I'm in bad fix" he said, apostro-
phizing old Sorrel's left ear, "the girls
around here that might possibly con-
sent to marry me, / don't want to
marry, and probably the mot impossi-
BILE she elsewhere, whom might be
smitten with would feel the same in
regard to me. I'm cut out for an old
bachelor, that's certain, and Mrs
Perkins will bully me into an early
grave. By jingo. but wasn't she
disguised this morning when wouldn't
bring her to town with me 1t didn't
do bit Of good to tell her was in a
hurry and that one of the hands
might drive her in tomorrow. The
way that woman can make a man
thoroughly uncomfortable without
saying word beats everything l ever
saw. When l get wife"
This soliloquy ended abruptly, for
he was passing house by the way.
side out of which came running a
buxom and smiling young woman
who had commission or two for him
to execute in "the city" las all the
country people call Santa CRUZ, that
is of course, eff he didn't mind"
SHOULD be delighted" he declared,
gallantly, although wondering a little
ruefully, how many more errands
would be added to his already lone
list as he went along the sparsely set
tied road. II would inyite you to
ride down yourself if didn't have SC
many things to bring back and SC
much to see to down there"
And then touching up old Sorrel
with his whip he left the buxom
young woman, and his reveries, far
behind, and devoted himself to driv.
ing by all dwelling-places upon hi:
route with such swiftness as would
entirely preclude the possibility Of
any onslaughter on the part of their
inmates, until, at last, the clustering
flower surrounded houses of SAINTS
Cruz came in sight, and he felt tina,
he and his faithful steed were secure
from molestation.
Then he pulled up his collar, set
tied his cravat, which manifested al
ambitious but unpleasant desire t.
climb up over the back of his head
shook the dust off his hat, and brush
ed off what little he could from hi
broad shoulders, and turned int,
Pacific Avenue, looking like jus
what he was-a sunburned, hard
working, but withal, handsome yourl
rancher, in town upon an expedition
which was strictly business"
Miss Priscilla Blanchard was tired
The ride to Santa Cruz, although ever
more beautiful than the description
there Of which had been given her
was favored (to her as yet unacclima
ed mind), with just enough of DANCE
to keep her usually strong nerves a
concert pitch" all the way down, an'
when she found herself safe ant