The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1903-09-24

her eye glasses, II was time to smile.
"Of course, Of course" he made haste
to say. ''But, my dear, you see how
1t affects me-"
"And do more work than | like to, v
went on Mrs. Heron, taking advant'
age. "If Fancy cared for hOusework
we should get along nicely. get ev'
cry bit l can out of Lucretia. She
isn't a regular domestic, you know.
Her father has a farm of his own,
and wants her to come home Nothing
but my entreaties Induced the girl to
help us out. wish she wouldn't
treat matters so lightly, though. She
doesn't mind anything and"
But Mr.. Heron had wisely resumed
the perusal Of his paper, while the
clatter of dishes In the nearby kitchen
and the hearty strains of song in ac-
compartment beset his abused ears.
Then help one another, boys,
Do 1t with WILL
sang Lucretia, and 1t was plainly evil
dent that the vocalist was doing things
with a will.
Twenty years before Davis Heron,
then a clerk In the savings bank at
Riverton, had decided that his dream
of repose lay in tiny farm two miles
from the village. This idea had never
left him. Now the village was large
and fourlshing town, and he was treas
urer Of the bank with a good
salary, and the savings of years. The
farm was his at last, and that very
Spring he had taken possession with
his wife and daughter, to enjoy his
dream, driving to and from his place
of business with the air of a landed
proprietor.
Alas the dream at times was Of
the nightmarish description. An ideal
spot was this little farm of a few
acres, with It's pretty comfortable
dwelling and the old-fashioned barn;
the brook singing through the meadow
and the beautiful background Of hills.
They all loved 1t. Davis, Cornelia, and
even Fancy, their only and much spoil
ed daughter, a pretty INDECENT girl of
twenty -one, whose particular admirer,
Albert Melton, suddenly developed an
inordinate interest in farm affairs and
taste for the exercise of walking.
Albert was a comparatively new star
on the Heron horizon, but a bright
one, being a young man of industry
and prospects. So he was made well
come and appear d with regul T ty AMI
very high collars, but as yet had made
no especial sign Of matrimonial in
terest. For the rest of him, he was of
a rather serious mien and good looking,
a fascinating combination.
Sympathizing deaply with the agrI-
cultural woes of the now arous d Her
ron, he also lent a kindly ear to the
domestic snarls which began with the
almost immediate departure of the old
and tried Bridget, to be succeeded by
two incompentents, and at present
ending in the tolls of Lucretia, a late
and hustling mixture of noise and
ability.
Melton" Davis had said confident
ly, I'D rather run a bank than a
farm. declare would. OF course |
know all about it. have studied those
subjects for years, and yet everything
depends upon conditions. Wh,n we
need rain, 1t shines; when We need
sun, 1t rains. instruct my farmer,
he disagrees; | command him, he tells
me to go run the bank. Says things
will come up when they get ready. An
excellent man and laborious, but not
respectful What would you do?"
I'D let him alone" replied Albert,
laughing.
But it's my farm. Well, then
drive out the afternoon for rest and a
pleasant reposeful evening. and my
wife says, OH dear, this has been
q hard day. That isn't pleasant, and
the girl we have now doesn't do thing
but bang so that can't read. Nice
girl, you understand, only terribly
noisy. I'm a nervous man, Melton.
What would you adviser"
ia let them alone" said Albert
again. You'll get some noise where
ever you go. One would think, though,
with three women, household AFFAIRS
In so small an establishment might
be cleared up by night and give you
. chance to read in peace"
II should think SO. Mrs. Heron is
q splendid housekeeper; that is she lays
out work finely and keeps the girls
right at IT. Can't do much herself. She
Is sort of mild but keeps pecking at
'em. We have two in the Winter, but
out in this bit Of a Summer home there
is nothing to DO"
Melton looked at him as he sat smok-
ing eomplacently. "Enough| he
thought. $50 the old lady is the peck
ing kind, ehi l shouldn't have sus-
pected It,"
Fancy feeds her birds and has her
music. besides much reading and some
correspondence. She never has time for
these household matters; hates such
things. anyway, and We don't care to
have her do that sort Of work" went
on Davis, pleasantly. "Lucretia tried
to break her in, but no. I overheard
them and had to smile. Said the girl;
Miss Fancy, feeding birds won't bring
you a husband. You ought to learn to
feed men Maybe you won't get one