The River Falls times. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1894-1933, 1896-10-06
81 wished Miss Helen to see the gar
den at it's BEST" said the poor garden

garden they take interest. Fine clothes.
not fine flowers, are their delight; or
young gentlemen, not carnations, they
take notice"
Presently the mistress and maid
the former dispirited and dropping,
the latter erect and energetic-were to
be seen hurrying down the steep, de-
scending street into the village of Noel
combe together.
Half an hour later a carriers cart
drew up outside the garden door of
Carnation cottage The carrie, who
had been walking beside his
horse up the steep hill. addressed
some one who was seated upon
bench among a mountain of parcels
and boxes beneath the arched awning.
''This yur be the place, mum. If yer
plaZe to get out. It's an awkwardish
concern, is carriers cart, for young
lady to ride in; but it saved 'ec the
Worke, hOWSOmever: and long Worke
it be from up station down to Noel
combe''
Yes, indeed. and l am so much
obliged to you," answered a. gracious
voice, most gratefully; and Helen,
emerging from the shadow Of the avn
ing. climbed down. by aid of the shaft,
upon the road. Your cart is very COM
Portable | am glad | missed the omni-
bus now; | couldn't have seen the
country half so we'll from it"
mo, mum, sim as how you couldn't.
'Tain't niue to see, however. Twas
bit of luck my meeting Of 'ee and think
ing to ask zee if you'd have lift.
so it was; thank you very much, in
deed have brought you out of your
way, too, I'm afraid"
Lord bles zee, mum, dOrn't you
spake of it. Poppet and me don't
count an extra mOile or tn; it's all i'll
the days job
But Helen would not allow him to
pooh-hOoh his civility; she was most
thankful to him and with reason His
ready Western country courtesy had
not only saved her a walk OF deadly
length and drearineSS, but had re-
stored her Sulf-aSSurance. She had not
been compelled to resort 10 the weak
revenge of the foolish; she had not cut
off her nose to spite her face, after all.
She had certainly been born under a
lucky star If misfortune seemed to
threaten her, lucky chance interven-
ing. averted it. She was elate with
self-cOngra tulation when sudden
memory of her moneylesS and watch
less condition struck her; and, slightly
sobered by the recollection, she babe
the carrier goodnight and entered her
aunt'S domain.
The twilight had turned to dusk, and
the moon, like rick on fire. was rls-
ing over the sea before the elder Miss
Milford returned Too agitated to
speak, she leaned on BetSeys stitfiy-
crooked arm, with her eyes cast on the
I'D fn1 nVnT q ~
ing her. The slugs, tempted forth by
the falling dew, might feast undls-
turbed for once in their lives; she was
too preoccupied to remember them.
Even Betsey was perturbed; her rug
ped face was solemn, and she gave
unite as high a Jump, and gasped quite
as fast and breathlessly as did her
mistress, when a girls head was
thrust through the open spare-room
window and lively voice cried:
''Oh here you are at last I'm I'M
packing; will come down"
And the next moment Helen herself
came out of the porch door to meet
them.
my dear, my dear, how you have
frightened me! What happened!
Where have you been? There, take
me indoors, Helen; / am trembling SAD
": should like to rest
"T am so dreadfully sorry, Aunt Eliz-
abeth; but really, upon my word, II
was not my own fault.
"T<iss me, my love, now that you are
here. / mind nothiLg. Only that con-
ductor increased my alarm; know SO
little about girls; they are odd nova
DAYS: quite changed since my youth.
Betsey didn't believe it, bit then, Bet
sey never believes anything, you
know
Then Helen. her aunt and Betsey
hanging on her words and asking many
questions. gave a detailed account of
the DAVIS occurrences. She omitted all
mention of Mr.. Jones' name. however,
and slurred over the explanation Of
how she lost the omnibus
And YOU came here in the carriers
cart-how extremely uncomfortable
you must have been!'
ut was rather jolly down the hills,
Aunt"
Aunt Elizabeth and she were having
supper Betsey lowered about them,
Joining every now and then, unlimited,
in the conversation.
THE carrier IS a civil man: he adj
mired my wall-flOwerS so much in the
spring-a dark variety, Helen, and par
ticularly sweet-scented; would your
care for some seedlings, do you think p
He would love them, auntie; so
should t.
II am still thinking of the carrier,
Helen; he and Mr.. Jones are so very
unlike 1t is extraordinary that such
an intelligent person as the conductor
could have been so mistaken.
TnT q pl~
about Annanias in an impressive aside.
..Whaf mistake did the conductor