The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-07-05

ranged with my senior partner-I was
the junior partner of a law firm-for a
months vacation. Aunt Lucy had
written that her husband had gone on
q sea trip and she wished me to super
intend the business of his farm and
mills in his absence, if L could arrange
to do SO. She added that 'Gussie"
thought it was a pity to trouble me
and wanted to do the overseeing her.
self, but that she (Aunt Lucy pre-
ferred TO have man at the head of
affairs.
had never seen my step-cousin,
Augusta Ashley, but knew from Aunt
Lucy's remarks concerning her, pretty
much what sort of a person she was
just the precise kind l disliked inn
measurea.bly. l mao no idea what her
age was, but doubtless she was over 50,
tall, determined, aggressive, with
faculty for managing, a sharp prob
ing nose, and q reformation between
her eye brows. l knew the type and L
was assured that the period OF my So
journ with my respected aunt would
be one of strife between Miss Ashley
and myself.
| wrote to Aunt Lucy to expect me,
made all necessary arrangements, ana
went to bid Nellie goodbye l had
made up my mind TO marry Nellie l
had never openly avowed myself her
sutton, but we were cousins and had
grown up together. so that ] knew her
well enough TO be sure of my ground.
I liked her so well that it was easy TO
persuade myself that l was in love
with her She more nearly fulfilled the
requirements Of my ideal wife thah
anyone l knew. She was pleasant to
look upon, without being distractlngly
pretty. small and fair and womanly.
She dressed nicely, sang and played
agreeably, danced well. and mad
cheerful, affectionate disposition. she
was not alarmingly clever, mad no
hobbies" and looked up to me as helr
to all the wisdom of the ages-What
man does not like to be thought clever
and brilliant? 1 had no tormld-
able rival and our families were anN-
ious for the match. l considered my
self a very lucky fellow. l had felt l
would be very lonely without Nellie,
when l was away, and she admitted
frankly that she would miss me aW-
fully. She looked SO sweet that l was
on the point of asking her then and
there to marry me. Well, fate inter
fered in the guise of a small brother,
so I said goodbye and left, mentally
comparing her TO my idea of Miss Au-
susta Ashley, much to the EATERS dis
advantage.
When / stepped from the train at
sleepy country station next day L was
promptly waylaid by black-eyed ur-
chin who informed me that Mrs. Ash
! !, a
gon for my luggage and that Miss
Gussie' was waiting with the carriage
at the store, pointing down TO small
building before whose door d girl was
trying to soothe her frightened horsA.
AS | went down the slope towards
her 7 noticed she was tall-quite too
tall for my taste. 1 dislike women who
can look into my eyes on a level-5ut
/ had to admit that her form was re-
markably symmetrical and graceful
She put out her hand-it was ungloVed
and large, but white and nrm, WIN d
cool pleasant touch-and said. with
composure unflatteringlv akin to in
difference, Mr.. Carlslake, l pre-
20 meet you, so she sent me.
VIII you be kind enough to
hold my horses for q few minutes? l
want to get something in the store"
Whereupon she calmly transferred
the reins to me and disappeared.
At the time, she certainly did not
impress me as pretty. yet neither could
! call her plain. Taken separately her
features were good. The nose was
large and straight the mouth also a
trifie large bur firm and red. the brow
wide and white. swallowed by a stray
ing dash of brown curl or two. She
fo.7 n ct a.
ness, accentuated by straight, fine
black brows, and her eyes were blue
ish gray, but the pupils. as ] after
wards found out, had a trick Of dilat-
ing into wells Of blackness. which, adj
ded TO a long fringe of very dark
lashes. made her eyes quite the most
striking feature of her face. Her ex-
preston was open and frank, and her
voice clear and musical without being
sweet. She looked about twenty-five.
At the time l did not fancy her APP
pearance. and made a mental note TO
The effect that ] would never like Miss
Ashley. ] had no use for cool, business
like women-women should have no
concern with business. Nellie would
never have troubled her dear, curly
head over it.
Miss Ashley came out with her arms
full of packa ges, slowed them away in
the carriage, got in, told me which
road TO take and did not again speak
until we were out of the village and
driving along a pretty country lane,
arched over with crimson NAPLES and
golden-brown beeches. The purplish
haze Of a sunny autumn day mellowed
over the fields and the bunch of golden
rod at my companions belt was akin
to the plumed ranks along the fences.
] hazarded the remark that it was a
fine day; Miss Ashley gravely admitted
that il was. Then deep smile seemed
TO rise somewhere in her eyes and
creep over her face. discovering a dim
pie here and there as it proceeded.
Don't let's talk about the weather
the subject is rather stale she said.
II suppose you are wondering why on
earth mother has to drag you away
out here. ] tried to show her how
foolish it was, but 1 didn't succeed.
Mother thinks there must be a man at
the head of affairs or they'll never so
right l could have taken full charge
easily enough; 1 haven't been fathers
hoy all my life for nothing There
was no need TO take you away from
your business"
l protested. L said I was going to
take a vacation anyway, and business
was not pressing just then. l also
limited that while had no doubt of her
capacity. she might have found the
duties of experimenting rather ardu-
Gus. Not at all" she said, with sim
cerity that made me groan inwardly;
Il like it. Father always said l was a
born business manager. You'll find
Ashley's Mills very quiet, I'm afraid.
Its sort of charmed Sleepy Hollow.
See, there's home" as we turned a
maple blaZoned corner and looked from
the crest Of one hill across TO that of
another. Home was big, white,
reen-shuttered house, buried amid a
1.int Of altrnan color with hicr srrn,-e