Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1893-12-23
NO. 89,

"Hetty is made of the right sort of
stuff" he commented to himself
aAn' il she don't take a prize on
them ERE pickles, I'll lose my guess,
that's ALL
The Sweet Water County Fair
came off in due season, attended by
all the country population frsm far
and near.
The agricultural exhibit, with its
mammoth pumpkins and potatoes, its
monster squashes and beets and ears
of yellow corn, attracted squads Of
admiring visitors.
Sturdy farmers 10 homespun wand
cred among the stalls of prize cattle
and swine, while their wives and
daughters gathered in the textile
fabric hall to gaze with admiring
eye, upon the patch work quilts, en-
bloidered lambrequins and beaded
pin cushions, arranged to make as
much display as possible.
The refreshment booths were we'll
patronized by the rustic SWANS and
their buxom sweethearts, and the
"wheel of fortune " was surrounded
with motley crowd of old and
young each eager to risk nickel or
a dime on its precarious revolu-
tions.
Estelle and Dianthe were raised to
the seventh heaven of delight by a
stroll through the buildings with
Duncan Estecourt, a handsome and
wealthy young bachelor of promi-
hence in Sweet Water ''best society,""
He expressed q favorable opinion
of the table.scarf and water color
sketch, and presented the two sisters
| to his mother, a sweetfaced elderly
lady, who was a member of halt a
dozen committees, and had only time
to nod and smile, when she was call
ed away by her onerous duties
Hetty was made happy, later in
the day by seeing the blue ribbon
announcing "6rst prize" attached to
her jar of pickles.
But, alas for the hopes of Estelle
and Dianthe. The table-scarf, with
its lilies. of-the-valley, was excelled
by more snowy one, embroidered
in crimson and old.gold.
And the Oriental landscape was
eolipsed by a bit OF American land
scape, a charming sketch of moon
light on the Mississippi" showing a
white sailed boat nearing sylvan
island, with the full moon hanging
above frowning bluff on the river
side.
1t was something, however to have
taken the second prize, and with this
small grain of comfort, the disap-
pointed exhibitors were obliged to
content themselves.
They relieved their feelings some
what by making light of Hetty's
success whenever Uncle Amos was
in hearing.
"a jar of pickles., y scoffed Estelle
allow plebeian it sounds"
"Hetty always had low tastes"
chimed in Dianthe, with q toss OF
her head.
After the Fair call was made at
Hunniford farm.
"Mr. Estecourt, aud to see Uncle
Amos ?" cried Estelle, futteringly,
while Dianthe sat mute with aston
isbment. :" i do wonder what he
wants with him 20
Aunt 'Phrosyne smiled mysterious
ly.
He done axed for your uncle an
Miss Hetty," she explained, showing
her white teeth from ear to ear.
And Hetty obeyed the summons,
with flush on her checks which was
wonderfully becoming, leaving her
cousin in blank dismsy at this sud-
den unexpected turn Of affairs.
Mr.. Estecourt's errsnd was soon
| revealed.
His mother had been on the stest-
| ing committee" at the Fair and was
anxious to learn Hetty's method of
putting up mixed pickles. Might he
hope Miss Hetty would grant them
visit of week or two, and kindly
initiate Mrs. Estecourt into the art
OF pickle making
And as Uncle Amos heartily sec
onded the request, Hetty shyly &C
cepted the invitation.
The visit heightened into month
and when Hetty returned, it was on
ly to make preparations for her mar
riagc to Duncan Estecourt.
And Uncle Amos declared that
Hetty's jar of pickles had drawn q
prize in the matrimonial market as
well as the County Fsir.--Saturday
Night.