Alpena argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1893-1909, 1894-12-19
HOW HE SOLVED THE RIDDLE.

hOW ne oO4N GO xAG AA00AO'
Whack! Whack! Whack! The
loud ringing sound of hammer
fell on the air with a distinctness
that showed the blows were given
by vigorous and practiced hand
Forest Rutherford turned his head
in the direction of the sound, and
saw queer little house from ting
the leafy lane up which he was
slowly riding.
III must be near the place." he
soliloauized, 81 will inquire at this
house, which seems to be carpen-
ter's or blacksmith's. H,llo! and
he refined in his steed before the
open door. Shades of Minerva!
What do | see?"
What he saw was young wom-
an, with broad-brimmed hat pushed
off her face, and a pair of thick
gloves on her hands, deftly WELD
ing hammer.
II beg your pardon, miss" he
said, lifting his hat, "but will you
tell ME if | am on the right road to
Squire Snowden's?"
The young lady did not start or
blush and let fall the hammer, as
an ordinary girl would have done
on being so suddenly and directly
addressed by handsome stranger,
but simply turned pair of brown
eyes upon him and quietly said:
IF you ride on a little farther,
you will see the house at the end
of the lane"
Then she turned back to her work,
for work it evidently was, if one
Judged by the nails, saw and chisel
that lay before her, together with a
pile of rich-hued lumber in one cor
ner, and a chest of tools in another.
Thus dismissed, the young man
perforce resumed his journey, but
not without many reluctant back
ward glances.
Talk about the curiosity of wom-
en-. | don't believe the man lives
who would not give anything to
know what that girl is doing. In
the name of wonderful womanhood,
what can she be up to?"
But his future anxious musings
were cut short by the sight of the
house set in it's handsome grounds,
that now came into view.
"Ah, Mr.. Rutherford! Come in!
Come in!' and a gentleman came
out with out-stretched hands Of
welcome. II am glad to know that
one young man of the nineteenth
century can remember and fulfill a
PROMISE" and his cordial laugh
filled the room as he pulled forward
an easy chair and rang bell.
"Thank you. Congratulate my
self on having SO pleasant promise
to fulfill"
Refreshments were brought in,
and Mr.. Snowdon added:
II hope you will enjoy the sum-
mer here, but if you depend on
feminine society ] fear you will be
disappointed, for ladies, young or
old, are like angel visitants."
Forest thought of the young lady
he had just seen, but said nothing.
When he went in to dinner, a
young lady in flowing white, with
fresh pink roses in her satiny hair
and at her throat, stood at one of
the windows. She turned at their
entrance and let her wonderful
brown eyes rest on the amazed Wis
itor. She was lovely.
my daughter, Glare"
But / thought you said there
were no young ladies in the neigh
borhood" Forest could not help
exclaiming.
81 did not think of Clare" his
host laughed. Besides, she par
takes too much of the Diana-Min-
erva character to be called a young
lady, Would you believe it, she
shot and stuffed all those birds you
were admiring so much in the Ii
brary."
Papa, will you please give me
some fish," soft rich voice inter-
posed.
The riddle was solved. This was
the girl Forest had seen in her own
shop. Before the evening ended
her father had pointed out various
brackets, shelves and dainty tables
fashioned by her deft fingers
Those same deft fingers drew such
music from the piano as Forest had
rarely heard, and the voice thrilled
in song like a nightingale's.
Forest went to bed feeling ss if
in dream. here was a girl whose
| like he had never seen before.
When he arose early next morn-
ing dapple grey, saddled for q
lady, stood by the east end of the
piazza.
as that horse safe for a ladyp"
he inquired of the groom.
Dunno, sah," replied the grin
ming darkey, shut Miss Clare, she
ride him."
A soft rustic. Miss Clare in a
blue cloth, hat Of richer hue
caught up on one side with a gleam-
ing silver buckle, from which float
ed a snowy plume--Miss Clare stood
before him.
With bow he allowed her to
pass, then followed to assist her, but
with an impatient little wave of the
hand she sprang into the saddle,
and the gray dashed off.