Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-10-02


lonely summer evening Aunt Matilda
sat by the student lamp inside absorbed
in enc OF Gyps novels and obllyiOas Of
mosquitoes, while Mary, strolling out
side, fingered on the piazza. while
sickly moon peeFsd at her between the
pine boughs. and Through the air, sweet
with the scent Of hOAeysuekle, eaae
the shrin squeak OF the cricket and tie
complaining OK = whIppoorwlL IL
was rot a silence, and yet stiller thar
any silence could be. She cried herself
10 sleep by and by.
Bat with the morning her elastic
Young spirits revived. Ia freak of mis-
chief she drew out from her boxes the
elaborate and very unsuitable toilet
which had stirred Mrs Hinkley's soul
10 It's depths, and she appeared al the
breakfast table as vision of ioveliness
and freshness. at which the shy old
farmer gazed entrsneed and al which
Aunt Matilda cried out in severe disap-
prevail. She eoaxed 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 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 q
weighty question in her mind. She
knew its truthful answer well enough,
but pride and stubbornness made her
willfully blind.
The gun beat down fiercely upon the
leghorn hat as il 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 Vatican shepherdess. Start
ing up hastily she gave a 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 a second she saw that he was fastened
to an iron stake near by and that his
orbit was limited. So she 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-
tons, 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, well
bred voice behind her broke in. Good
evening, Miss Grinnell," it said as DO
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, Rob!" she cried. "Saye me,
Where did You come from? Can't you
take me away from this dreadful beastY
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, Will.
no address, and did you suppose should
not hunt you up directly? No, Mary.
Come, which Is it to be-yes or no? /
will drive away the calf whichever II 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
up against the stake, with her white
ruffles 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
l 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 confided in Aunt NATL
da. who bestowed blessing upon them
and announced in majestic tones TO the
Hinkleys the arrival of her niece's fiance.
HE may be n fyansay," thought Mrs.
Huxley to herself, nodding sagely. but
IL he amt keeping company with her
miss my guess"
Somehow the supper did not strike
Mary as being so dreadful that second
night. Tho farmer thought he had
never seen a girl so pretty before, and
tried to make conversation.
Mother he said. what do Won
think, You know that calf Of Spotty's
that was fastened upon the hill, WAL.
vow 81 the critter hadn't contrived Il
git oBhitched somehow or other. and
there twas strollin round down the
road. Lone Briggs man fetched il
back this aft'noon. Curious. amt it"
why want You mp on the hill, Miss
Grinnell.' asked Mr. Huxley sud