Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1892-10-13


Aunt Matilda cried out in severe disap-
proval. She coaxed and smiled and
wheedled until every one grew into a
good humor, and as she started Off for
her walk even that grim spinster rela-
tive babe her goodby with a relenting
heartiness, realizing how effectively the
fin de steele figure would come into the
landscapes of the kodak.
Mary walked along with the pale dust
gathering on the little white shoes and
the pink lining of the white parasol
deepening the bloom on her dimpled
cheek. Mary was trying to settle a
weighty question in her mind. She
knew its truthful answer well enough,
but pride and stubbornness made her
willfully blind.
The sun beat down fercely upon the
leghorn hat as it neared the summit of
the little hill. A large oak tree crowned
the height, with seat beneath its
boughs, upon which Miss Grinnell seated
herself like aWatteau shepherdess. Start
ing up hastily she gave cry of surprise.
Before her. gazing with great, mournful
eyes into her own, stood a pretty calf,
apparently not at all frightened by the
intrusion of a stranger upon his feeding
place, and, like Mrs. Hinkley, regarding
Doucet's muslin with approval. At first
the city bred damsel was startled, but
in second she saw that he was fastened
to an iron stake near by and that his
orbit was limited. Soshe laid down the
white parasol and began to pat the in
truder on the head, talking to him the
sort of nonsense with which women al
ways address babies and animals.
He seemed quite won by these atten-
tions, and Mary was charmed. She rose
and walked about, calling him to her.
He followed obediently, and she began
to think seriously of buying him from
the farmer to take back with her for
pet, when suddenly something sent
him into panic. He started back and
ran around and around her, frightened
her half out of her senses, and before
she realized what was happening Mary
found herself wound up tightly with the
calf and the rope and the stake. At first
her sense of the ridiculous got the better
of her terror, and she laughed aloud at
the oddity of her position. But in mo-
ment she saw its awkwardness and hope
lessness as well, and she struggled to
free herself, while the poor calf, in blind
bewilderment, ran to and fro, drawing
the tangle tighter and making escape
less possible.
At this critical moment a cool, we'll
bred voice behind her broke in. Good
evening, Miss Grinnell," it said as po-
litely as if she had been walking down
Fifth avenue instead of in such an alb
surd plight. All, me! The pink lined
parasol was nowhere in comparison with
the blush those few words brought out.
"Oh, Robr' she cried. "Save me-
Where did you come from? Can't you
take me away from this dreadful beast?
"Not until you answer me the ques.
ton l asked you the other night. Do
you think it was right to run away and
leave me in the lurch as you did, with
no address, and did you suppose should
not hunt you up directly? No, Mary.
Come, which is it to be-yes or no? l
will drive away the calf whichever it is,
but you must answer me one way or the
other at once"
The young man had not smiled, al
though the picture was funny enough to
have sent stole into fits of laughter
poor Mary, flushed and fearful, fastened
lup against the stake, with her white
rufies crushed and ruined, and the in
nocent calf, pinioned at her side, still
fastening his big, wistful eyes upon her
face.
"Oh, Rob-" she said again, "you know
meant yes all the time. We women
always do when we say no."
| Well, they forgot all about the poor
calf. Hours later they strolled in to
supper, having confded in Aunt NATL
da, who bestowed blessing upon them
and announced in majestic tones to the
Hinkleys the arrival of her niece's fance.
He may be fyansay," thought Mrs.
HinkIey to herself, nodding sagely, "but
if he amt keeping company with her ]
miss my guess"
Somehow the supper did not strike
Mary as being so dreadful that second
night. The farmer thought he had
never seen girl so pretty before, and
tried to make conversation.
Mother" he said, "what do you
think! You know that calf of Spotty's
that was fastened upon the hillp Waal
vow eff the critter hadn't contrived to
git onhitched somehow or other, and
there twas strellin round down the
road. Lone Briggs man fetched il
back this aft'noon. Curious, amt it?"
"Why, want you up on the hill, Miss
Grinnell?' asked Mr.. Hinkley sud
denly. "You didn't see nothin Of the
calf, did you, while you was thereT
"Well, it seems to me did see one
when first reached the top, but don't
remember noticing it when I came
; down. said Mary, dimpling and laugh
ing. The young man laughed too.
II guess twas scaret. I guess then
, founces and funny diddles scaret it.
Mr.. Hinkley's great bulk shook with
amusement. He found himself rea
!, wit. Neither Horace Walpole mol
!, George Selwyn ever felt any greater
:. satisfaction in bonmot.
II guess they did," responded Mary
and the whole table laughed again
! There is something contagious in reck
less happiness.
That night Aunt Matilda finished
!, Monsieur Fred" by the student lamp
: and Mary sat out on the piazza again
> The moon peered through the pint
|, bougLs, too, but this time it wore ,
. smilG, while the cricket and the whip
poorwill had tuned their monotony to I
. major key. Yet still there hung ovel
all the stiffness which was not stiffness
= after all, and Mary cried herself to sleel
again. But this time she cried witt
!. 1appis ess.-Chicago Post.