The Van Buren press., 1897-12-04

of the world of which | have heard so
much and know so little. And the
money to convey me on my journey is
even now in the house with the rest
tnat you brought home lately, is il not,
dear grandfatherP'
"Yes, chatterbox," returned the
grandfather, ioeosely, pinehing the
dimpled chin SO near at hand; but see
to it that your brains go not weol-gath-
ering, and let it slip through your fin
gers ere you can put it to use"
With little laugh, as Elizabeth drew
herself up in dignified protest against
his insinuation. the grandfather waved
/ farewell to his wife in the doorway, and
jumping upon his saddle the active old
man rode away, muttering 10 himself;
~ hank of blossoms, yarn pelisse and
a pattern of erab-apples," Perhaps the
good grandfather was slightly absent
minded himself on some occasions.
Elizabeth stood gazing after the
/ horse and its rider until they vanished
round the curve in the road by the great
oak tree. Then she turned and glanced
across the stream toward the mill. The
miller was leaning out of the upper half
of the mill door, his arms resting on
the lower half.
"The top Of the morning 10 YOU, Miss
Elizabeth, he called ont, DO you know
I've found the nest of the old goose
I've been hunting so long2 Il was in
/ the crotch of n willow at the lower end
of the dam. Step over and take look
at it."
/ Elizabeth was about to trip lightly
across the bridge that led 10 the mill,
when she was hailed by voice from the
kitchen, reminding her that life is not
all play, even on n merry May morn
/ ing.
elizabeth Elizabeth cried the
grandmother, there is large ironing
to do, and we are late at setting about
it. Come, little idler, to your task"
But it's such lovely day!' sighed
the girl slowly entering the room, and
casting many a longing glance back
ward, silently wishing that she were
a bird or leaf that could let the rain
do its washing and leave the smoothing
process to the wind and the sunshine.
But If / am diligent this morning,
grandmother, suppose that | may go
into town this afternoon to see Mary
Anne"
"Yes, yes, child: but now we must
make haste, or else noon will be here
before we have finished all that we have
s -. b,,3 ras,.Npda1 tho ,r,.a >, 4 ~, "a . u or
laying generous patches of dough into
+ the bread baskets TO rise and make
ready for baking.
+ When the clock struck u the last
+ piece Of snowy linen was hung up to air
+ on the line stretched across the kitchen,
and when the traces of the midday
meal were cleared away Elizabeth tied
On her sunonnet and started for the
village. OF course she had to pause for
moment at the spring, for she could
never pass il BY unheeded; but little
later she was with her cousins in an old
garden, sleepy with sunshine and
fragrant with blossoms.
What with gossiping over Elizabeth's
coming flight from the home nest and
the relating Of stories by Mary Anne
from delightfully."- fascinating book
that she had eome acroSs-hut which
her mother had withdrawn from her
ere she had fathomed half of its fasci-
uations-the afternoon skipped by all
too quickly.
Elizabeth suddenly realized the late
ness OF the hour. and FASTENED away.
bu; it was growing dark as she pressed
into the shade of the pine woods beyond
the spring, and she was considerably
startled when she observed in the path
ahead of her the figure of an unknown
man, who, when he heard the approach
ing footsteps. lodged behind the trunk
of tree, as though fearful of diSccs-
cry.
Dear me-" thought Elizabeth. "who
is that2 1t must be a beggar or 4
tramp, unless il is a king or q lord in
disguise. Anyway. It's best 10 avoid
him. There, he has turned off TO the
right, so III hurry along as fast as
can"
In another moment she saw her
grandmother coming TO meet her. Eliz-
abeth threw her arms round the old
lady's neck in an ecstasy of JOY and
relief, and confided the story Of her
vision and her fright. Grandmother
looked little worried.
a almost wish that You had brough'
William home with Yen to spend the
night" she said. as she latehed the gar
den gate behind herself and Elizabeth.
"Noolly says that there is a fox prOwl-
ing round, also. You must shut IN the
chickens with more than usual caution.
David went away for the afternoon. too.
and WI no; Is back until late this even
ing Do YOU run over, Elizabeth. and
see that the geese are in the pen uea~
the house, lest they be in peril. aud
drop a word to his wife. poor lame Su-
san, TO charge David 10 keep his ears
open for anyone who may be abroad to-
night However, I think that we have
really little to fear. The stranger was
probably a traveller, going through the
country on foot"
Elizabeth few away 10 her grand
mothers bidding: but. while securing
the fowls from surprise. she fell 20
wondering about the man that she had
encountered, and 10 weaving romauces
in her customary fashion. and not once
did she recall 10 memory the orders
about the miller's geese. The moon was
climbing the skies when she went up
stairs 10 90 t0 bed. and ~ hen she walked