Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1898-12-16
ave of her mistress to go

"Yes, child. aud take these of mine
at the same time" said Mevrouw. put
ting half a dozen into the girls hands
She went to the post, and just as she
was dropping the letters in. an &C.
quaintance from one of the neigh boring
houses came there on the same errand,
and IL the interesting conversation that
ensued poor Sue did not notice that
her letter to Jan fell on the ground,
and that a Vmischievous little breeze,
out for a holiday. seized it and whirled
it away round the corner of a street.
finally dropping it in a water butt
which stood in backyard.
Week followed week and there came
no sign from Jan, nor did she ever see
him coming to the house with mes
sages and letters. At first she though.
it was because Jan was busy preparing
for the orchid show, but when that WAS
long past and still she neither saw nor
heard anything of him, SUES heart be-
gan to ache at this Gpparent desertion
on the part of an old and tried friend.
''You are looking pale and i'll. Suze."
said Mevrouw Ten Bruggenkate to her
one day. "You had better pack up your
things and go home for week"
In vain Sue protested that she was
perfectly well. Her mistress was reso-
lutte, and in the end the girl had to give
way and go.
/ "Well,- child" said her mother, q
short, stout woman, with generous
waist and hips; $50 thou hast been
getting i'll up yonder. All! in towns it
is no wonder that folk are never well.
My poor head aches always with the
noise whenever l go to Rotterdam. If
only for a few days, But out here,
where it is quiet always and the air is
pure, thou wilt soon be well again"
Sue looked mournfully out on the
landscape, and thought it had never
looked SO dreary. For away, as far as
the eye could reach, spread grazing
meadows; on the canal a barge was
slowly vending itsCway, and the red
caps of the men on board made the
only bit of bright coloringi in the land
scape. A herd of black and white cows.
of which old Piet Klops, Sues father
had charge, grazed in the foreground;
pollard willows grew everywhere, and
against the horizon the sails of wind
mills whirled INCREASINGLY. The girl
shrank and shivered little.
Heaven send thou hast not the
~
ling to the cupboard and bringing out
an infallible remedy for the nalady,
"Ah these cities! They are indeed nur-
series of all evils. both of mind and
body"
Old Pet klOpS was away in AmSter-
dam whittier he had gone to buy some
cows. Mynheer Cornelius. his master,
| had large herds already, but he was
<>f in
ture, who are ever ready to increase
their stock of possessions. Pet had
various errands in the city and did not
return until Sue had been at home
three days.
Great news in Amsterdam he said.
| regarding his daughter narrowly as he
sat over his bread and cheese. Jan
Vreede is, they say. betrothed to Vrouw
Steene, the rich widow of the grocer.
! had not thought that Jan was on the
lookout for Gnoney, but soft is. The
Heer took fist prize for orchids at The.
Hague. and Jan has now higher SAL
airy, but if he marries Vrouw Steene.
he will likely give up his gardening and
take to the shop
where art thou going, Suze?" for
she was vanishing through the open
door
II forgot to feed the hens,' the girl
answered in faint voice.
AT this precise time Jan Vreede was
entering the shop of Vrouw Steene.
with q long list of articles which the
cook had desired him to order on his
way TO the sutton. Jan looked graver
| than when Sue had last seen him, and
his brown eyes had puzzled express
SION as if he were trying to solve some
| problem which was too hard for him.
Nrouw Steene. a buxom widow, with
| lively black eyes and a comedy visage.
| was serving in her shop when he en-
tered. and her face lit up with a smile
| as she saw him. for Jan was always q
| welcome caller, not only for his own
sake, but also because Mynheer Cor
neliuse was good customer and never
grumbled at her prices.
Dag. jan" she said. and Jan, taking
oft his hat, responded: Dag, Vrouw
Steene. and how goes the world with
you?'
We'll enough" answered the widow
with a sigh, but the business is too
much for me. 1t needs a stronger hand
and head than mine to keep it going as
it should. Mynheer Vreede."
"Ah! ia" said Jan, absently. "See,
Anna has given me this list to bring
you, and will be glad if you will send
the things soon as possible. am
on my way to Harlem. Any messages
or commissions. Vrouw Steene? You
have relatives there, believe.
Thanks" said theVrouw, looking at
him critically. ~ will trouble you with
a small basket to leave with my aunt
Jansen; am always glad TO send her
a few things. Are you going to call a,