Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1897-10-09

small carpet for us?'
The young man looked at the pretty
girl and said he thought he could
Its just this way, said the older
lady: "Our hired girl has been called
home by a sick mother, and our hired
man sprained his wrist so badly in try
ing to stop runaway horse that he's
gone into town to have it doctored, and
so Stella and l are left alone to finish
up the housecleaning. But if you'll
clean the rugs it will be great help to
u.s.. Stella will show you where every
thing is"
And so under Stella's guidance the
clothesline was put up, and tho rugs
We're brought out, and pretty soon the
sound of a stout stick we'll applied was
heard. Every time the young man
paused he looked toward the young
| girl, who, with her skirts tucked up,
was fitting in and out of the doorway
or pausing-a very pretty picture in
deed-on the top step of the vine COW
Sred porch. She was a demure1girl, the
young man noted, and not inclined to
talk to the help, but once in awhile
when he CHANGED to catch her eye he
fancied he detected most mischievous
twinkle. After awhile she came toward
him.
II don't believe you ever beat any
rugs BEFORE" she said
"And why not?' he cried.
because you work too hard at it,
she laughed.
''Well, to tell you the truth" he
said, "I'm working hard in hopes that
your mother will give me little lunch
con. I'm hungrier than a starved bear.
'I'll see what mother thinks about
it, she said and ran into the house.
Then the older lady came forth and
carefully inspected the rugs.
'You do your work very conscien-
tiously," she said.
81 try to, ma am" he remarked.
She looked at him curiously.
It's pity to see such a fine young
man tramping," she said. "Why don't
you give it up?"
"I'm thinking of it, ma 'am,' he an
swered.
"a sober, industrious man like you,"
she continued, "should marry and settle
down."
"Tm thinking of that, too, ma'am,"
| he said, and somehow he looked toward
Stella as he said it, and Stella, who
was in the doorway, caught his glance
and cried abruptly:
''Your luncheon is ready.'
The young man soused his head in a
tin wash basin few times and then
pronounced himself also ready.
1t was a nice midday spread, and
Stella waited on him. AS his eye took
in the details of the painfully clean
kitchen he suddenly cried cut:
"Do you ride wheel?"
''Why, yes" she answered calmly.
Don't you?''
He stopped short and slipped at his
glass of milk.
"A tramp on a bicycle! Ha, ha!' he
laughed, but it was a forced laugh.
After luncheon the young man an
nounced that he was obliged to go to
town, but he would come back at )
O'Clock that afternoon, and perhaps he
could be of further service. The older
lady offered him his pay.
Keep it for mo until get back from
town." he said. II never have any
money in my pocket without wanting
to spend it
"Poor young man!' said Stellas
mother.
Then with lifted hat the poor young
man strobe down the path and vanished
behind the hedge that bordered the
highway.
| 81 wonder if he will ever como
| back?" quoth Stella's mother.
eyes, he'll come back" said Stella.
1t was nearly 3 o'clock that after
noon when a natty young man in an
exceedingly becoming bicycle suit came
wheeling down the road from Center
vile. Presently he was aware that
rider was approaching, rider in a
charming gray suit and hat and with
the daintiest russet shoes He turned
aside to give the newcomer the best of
the road when merry voice cried out:
Coming back for your money!"
He stared around in astonishment
"Why, it's Stella!' he cried 81 beg
your pardon, Miss
''Stella Gorham," she called as she
turned about and pedaled to his side.
81 am John Trenholm" he said,
"the treasurer of the new Centerville
mills
Eyes" she said demurely, 81 could
have told you that"
"You knew me?''
81 guessed it. I knew you We're COM
| ing to Centerville, and had heard of
you before. Your sister and 1 were at
Wellesley together. Why, Mabel gave
me one of your photographs-there, I
shouldn't have told you that
why" he said, "I've heard of you
too. Valedictorian of your class, pride
| off,
"There, there" said Stella "that
will be quite sufficient" She pushed
her wheel ahead and left him little
behind.
''Do you know" she said as he
caught up, "mother will almost die
from modification.
''Not if she pays me what she owes,'
laughed the youth. Then he added
with mischievous glance at the girl,
81 anu going to try and coax another
meal out of her, -
''I've attended to that said Stella.
And so side by side they rode down
the road and up the pathway to the cot
tage.-Cleveland Plain Dealer.
=,