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

iRok wv tSAOAO ohS S'Nh ~ GOsf
the rather heterogeneous and compli-
Gated round of shopping which her
aunt had before her.
ats quite relief" that good lady
had said, "to have some one to attend
to such things. l generally have to
go along myself, for your Uncle Abel,
though one of the best men in the
world, never remembers anything ex-
cept it has some bearing on stump.
ing or timber in some way, and l do
get so out patience with him some-
times l shall send you on all of my
errands while you are here, Priscilla /;
the ride will do you good and your
Uncle Abel will be glad of your
company
There was quite list of articles to
be purchased-from a package of
compressed yeast to new calico
dress and lamp chimney.
Uncle Abel, after tying his horse at
convenient post, betook himself to
the county clerks Office to look up
some deeds and titles, and Priscilla
proceeded to make Der first acquaint-
ance with the shops of Santa Cruz.
Shopping here was very different
from shopping in New England, but
when she had once mastered the
mystery of the "bits," about which
the clerks talked so glibly, she got
along very well. Her purchases,
though numerous, were, for the most
part, of small dimensions, so that she
could readily carry most of them
packed into her handbag, and the
remainder made a light, but rather
bulky armful of brown paper bundles,
which slipping about after the manner
of their kind, were much more diff
cult to carry than something heavier
and less FESTIVE would have been.
Thank you. no; the carriage is
only block below" she said, as a
deferential clerk offered vaguely to
"send them" for her. and thankful
that her task was completed, she
went cheerily along to where Tom
stood with his head meditatively low
cred, whisking off flies with his long
tail and looking the personification of
peacefulness and patience.
To dispose her numerous parcels
advantageously about. packing them
in skillfully with the three or four
large bundles, which, contrary to ex-
pectations, it seemed that Uncle Abel
had put in previously, was but few
minutes work. Then she climbed up
into the carriage and leaning back
upon the white goat.skin robe, tilted
her hat over her eyes little and
abandoned herself to rest and rever-
ing while she waited for the arrival
of her charioteer.
II beg pardon" Priscilla reused
herself suddenly from the day-dream
in which she had been indulging for
the last fifteen minutes, and found
tall, sunburned young fellow with his
arms filled with bundles standing be-
side the carriage looking in at her
with an expression of surprised amuse-
ment in his dark eyes. which made
her cheeks flush holly.
"Well ?" she said interrogatively,
calling all the New England fridigity
possible into her manner, as she re-
allied the fact that this extremely for
ward young gentleman was laboripg
under an embarrassment despite the
mischevious amusement in his eyes),
which seemed to prevent his explain
ing himself further-"what is it?
What do you want?'
IL am very sorry to disturb you,"
the young mans voice was very
pleasant, but there was suspicious
tremble there, in which betrayed an
unseemly inclination to indulge in i'm
pertinent merriment, "but really-it
is getting late, you see, and it is time
for me to start for home"
Priscilla looked into the handsome
face with sudden alarm. He certain
ly was not drunk for his eyes were
clear and bright, and there was not
the faintest indication Of anything Of
that kind about him. Poor fellow |!
he must be little bit wrong in his
mind ! At any rate he was not a
dangerous-looking lunatic, and so
Uncle Abel would be along in a
moment. She would temporize with
him and get rid of him peaceably if
she could, otherwise Uncle Abel
would manage him when he arrived.
You are quite right" she said,
consulting her watch graveIy. ut is
late, and if you live at any distance I
should certainly advise you to start
without any further delay"
The smile in the dark eyes grew
brighter and spread over the sun
burned face.
"There is little mistake here, l
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