The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1898-06-15
N0ra';S B1undef. ~

i
since breakfast she had yawned q score
| OF times; and even pretty Eveleen was
| growing drowsy over her embroidery by the
| WINDOW. For 1t was hopelessly rainy day.
! In mid October, with the sky yelled in
dark gray mist the tinted leaves floating
down into matted layers of dim color around
the columns Of the piazza, and the tall
Gahias nearly Frustrated by the steady
| cownpour No walks. no gatherings Of
| Ierns mOsse, berries in the still, delicious
woods; no dreamy rambles to the mountain
| tops-and. worst and saddest Of ALL nothing
| to read
I And I won't be deluded into working
WorstedS," said Matty, NOR yet into crewels
and Kensington stitch. Eveleen, what is
| that delightful book that papa was reading
| aloud out of last night?"
| DO you mean the 'Recreatons of a
Country Parson?" said Eveleen, COM
| pairing two shades of rose-colored WOOL
| If that's the name of it-yes."
| HE took 1t to the city with him. said
| Eveleen. Il saw it sticking out of his coat
| pocket when he was running for the
| train"
| How provoking!" sighed Matty, clasping
| her dimpled hands above her head when
| it's the book of all books that should
| like to read on day like this.
| Mr.. Winton has a copy Of It, said Eve
| leen, threading WOrSted needle with the
| very darkest shade of garnet.
| But what good will that do me?" said
| Matty. disconsolatey
Borrow it," suggested Eveleen. Every
| body borrows everything in a place like
this; and I'm sure Mr. Winton would be
| glad to oblige you.'
But how?" urged Matty. 'The hotel is.
at least half a mile away"
! Send Nora -.-.....
| Mora, indeed! don't suppose Nora ever
| did an errand in her hfe." said Matty.
| Then It's high time she commenced,r
laughingly suggested Eveleen. Write a
| Lote!"
| "J'd rathar sand q vorh,l ,,ossooo ,,,a
Matty; and I wouldn't send at all If I
wasn't dying to read the end Of that essay
| that papa began last night"
Nora, deep in the energetic occupation Of
| backing the kitchen stoke, was summoned
| up stairs
| Nora" said Matty, impressively, II want
you to go to the hotel. You know where
| that is?"
| Sure an 1 do MISS" said Nora, with
| mouth wide open eyes of intense atten-
| ton.
| And ask for Mr.. Winton and tell him
| that Miss Matty Rice send her compliments
| and would like to borrow the Recreations of
a Country Parson.' You're sure you under
| stand?"
! "Yism. an why wouldn't II" promptly
retorted Nora, rather nettled by this i'm
| piled aspersion on her powers of compre-
| hension.
"And come back as quick as you cam"
| sure an it's me that will said Nora.
And presently the two sisters caught a
| glimpse Of her beneath the folds of a rusty
| waterproof cloak. with a mammoth UNI
| brella held over her head, disappearing be-
| hind the huge leaves Of the rhododendron
| hedge.
Il hope she won't be long," said Matty.
| why should she?" said serene Eveleen.
| And she went on composedly
with the pomegranate blossoms she
was embrodering, while Matty sat
down to the piano and tried
refrain which had haunted her ever since she
heard 1t at the opera last winter with Patti
smiling on the stage and the full orchestra
| laundering on the strains. j.
| Ana Nora plunging down the ravine like
anything but a wood nymph. FLASHED her
| way to the going Of a quarter of a mile out
| OF ner ROAD on account OF a spotted snake,
and stopped for a good chat with fellow
| H1bernian who was on his way to the post
| office
There" said Nora, as she turned away
! from Teddy OHara, An sure I've forgot
ten the name as clane as If 1 niver had
Whose name was it, Alana ?" consolingly
demanded Col Ross's coachman, whose soft
| nothings had put the message completely
| out of Morals head.
| There was somethin in it about the
| 'Rectory of Country Parson'" said Nora
| twisting herself into the letter with the
| violent attempt recollection to which she
forced herself
! There ain no rectory herabouts" said
| Teddy. 'Sure it amt built vet! But the
( parson, he's up on the hotel steps, seen
him there as I came beyant. A tall young
| gentleman with high vest-for all the
wurreld like Rockwell-an' spectacles as
gntle as We PLACE. Is 1t message you've
got for him, Nora mavourneen?"
| Pm to borrow him! said Nora. fixing
| her DULL CLASSY stare on Teddy OHara's
| astonished face.
ITO borrow him." repeated Teddy.
| Teddy uttered a whistle.
| Its the quarrest lean as liver I heard Of"
| cald he An If It's a fair question, who is
| it wants him?
| Miss Matty Rices compliments" repeat
ed Nora, with parrot-like promptitude, IAN
she wants to borrow the parson."
| Teddy exploded into laugh.
Sure, an If it was leap year" said he.
| Il should think it mean something. L niyer
| hear such a message in all me born days
| before But must make haste or the mail
| will be off,"
! Away trugged Teddy, while Nora kept
| on to the hotel all unconscious of the Gu
rous Transformation that had befallen her
luckless message.
lis the parson here?" demanded she
shaking her umbrella and stamping the
mud off her feet on the steps Of the noun
tain hotel, which was still we'll filled with
guests who had fingered to see the splen-
doris Of the October forest among the
woods.
Inc Holei clerk, VINO mad just come out
to glance at the barometer, stared at her
the young ladies on the wide veranda gig
gled; the stout old gentlemen who were
walking up and down the boards to gain
their daily two miles Of exercise stopped
short; and a specialized, grave-looking young
man. who was talking with lady just be-
yond. glanced around as If he fancied that
he was personally addressed
DO You want the-clergyman? said tho
hotel clerk, doubtful. yet polite.
Us 1t a stonemasOn or a chimney-swape
I'd be MANN, dye Think" retorted Nora,
beginning to imagine that she was being
made game of.
Il am the clergyman" said the spec
tacled gentleman, stepping forward at this
juncture. lis there anything can do for
you?"
Miss Matte Rice's compliments" said
Nora, without in the least abating the
shrillness Of her voice, IAN she wants to
borrow you"
Il beg your pardon" said Mr.. Fontaine.
'but-Im not quite sure that 1 understand
you. my good woman"
I'm speakin' the English language sure"
said Nora, somewhat affronted "She wants
to borrow you"
But what for?" said he, ignoring the
filters Of the group which was now fast
gathering on the veranda- :
ITO amuse herself wild this rainy day."
said Nora You're to come back wild me,
phase. was to bring you. Miss Matty
Rices compliments, an"
Really" said Mr.. Fontaine, "this is very
strange"
Hh0 }oAo t.