Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1899-08-23
The Lawn Mower
By Barry Pain.

But little progress this month. am
afraid.
And yet it seemed so promising at one
time. Saturday afteruoon-the first Sat
urday-was fine, and | thought it would
be good opportunity to run down and
see Mis- lIal"urr and her mother As
sidHity in courtship is a great thing. |
saw no reason for staying away in the
fact that neither Miss Haloner nor her
mother ever appeared particularly glad
to see me-
In Miss Halloner's case it is naturally
sort of Shyuess. She feels that she
must conceal her real sentiments. I'm
doubleday too, her mother has much the
same deilCaCy. She does not wish to APP
pear to be forcing her daughter on any
man, however desirable he may be as a
husband. can see through a thing of that
kind pretty well, | think. SO | said to
myself, Stick to it, Lionel; stick to it,
There was very unpleasant and noisy
crowd at Waterloo station. The railway
carriage was packed, and was not sorry
that my journey was short-a matter of
10 minutes. 1t is astonishing how much
rudeness and vulgarity there Is about.
For instance, I have a slight tendency
inherited-to what may be called embon-
point. The other clerks at the office have
in consequence given me some silly nick
name. The allusion toto that feature
is in bad enough taste in them, but for
an absolute stranger in q railway car
riage to ask me if l wouldn't put it up in
the rack is positively inexcusable. said
coldly, II have not the honor of your ac-
quaintance" at which the fool laughed
heartily. But any unpleasantness on the
journey was more than made up for by
the warmth Of my reception.
This is good of you"' said Mrs. Hal
loner. Were SO glad you've Gomez
said her daughter.
I was quite surprised. Never before
had the prospect of Miss Halloner be-
coming Mrs Hicks appeared so roseate.
We've quite a little occupation for
you"
Il am ready for anything under the
sum-" replied.
"Thats good of you," said Grace. 1.-THE
fact is that the Batesons have lent US
their lawn mower. and, as it's Saturday
afternoon, we can't get man to push it.
l thought | should have to do it myself"
II could never permit that" l said de.
cidedy.
"Thanks, so much. We must have the
lawn moved today. 1t won't take You
more than dn hour or so. You'd like 10
begin at once, wouldn't you? The ma
chine is all ready on the lawn. Come
along, and I'll show you"
Il did not at all like the looks of the
machine, and said SO.
I'm afraid there's some mistake here"
I said. This is two man machine"
1.-THE Batesons gardener is 65 and
works it easily
"Oh." l said. Hell put that strain
on himself once too often. However I'm
4 younger man. l don't suppose a three
man machine would be too much for
| me-"
mo? Well, You can't work it like
| that. Take your hat and coat off"
| took off my coat, but said that l would
retain my silk hat, as there was abso-
| lutely no shade.
| But you're ready for anything under
| the sun. You said So Considering all
| that was doing-or was about to do for
| her-that remark seemed to me a little
uncaIled for
| l got the machine along slowly for
| about Is feet and then paused to ask if
it had been oiled.
| Yes" said Miss Haloner; at will go
more easily when you have run it up and
| doWn one or twice.
l pushed it along few yards farther
and then paused to say that l could not
help admiring those peoples.
| Look here" said Miss Halloner, 81
| can see my chatterng interrupts you.
| III go up to the house. You must come
up for a cup of tea when you've fin
| ished"
| She would not listen to my protests,
| hnt nf 10, H..
work seriously.
l took the machine the whole length of
the lawn and back again, with occasional
rests. l suffered considerably from short
ness of breath. 1t was FOOLS game,
and l am no fool.
Mind, l was sorry for the Batesons.
I have always heard that they are nice
| people. Still, there was only one way
| out for u man OF tact. l took one of
those iron rods that gardeners use for ty-
Ing up their plants and put the end of it
| between the two cOgs. Then | gave the
machine three short, sharp jerks. The
| third did it. | put the iron rod back
again in its place and went up to the
house.
I'm sorry" l said, but the lawn
mower has broken down. l was running
it merrily along when something went
snap"
I'm go and look at it," said Miss Hal
| Toner. She seemed angry. She seemed
| still more angry when she came back.
In the interval her mother had limited
her conversation to telling me how an
noyed the Batesons would be.
| why" said Miss Halloner to me very
quietly. didn't you tell me that you
couldn't do it? Then l would have done
1t myself. There was no need to break
the chain of the machine and to cause a
great deal of unpleasantness.
mo one," l began, could possibly
be-
And then, somewhat rudely, as
thought. she interrupted me, However.
we must not waste the whole of your
| splendid afternoon"
| How can the afternoon be wasted
which is spent with
| 'Besides. mamma and | have visits