Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1903-09-11
CHAPTER XIII

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ing increased prosperity to the Hardys
NO renewal of the Indian attacks had
occurred, and in consequence an increas.
ed How Of emigration had taken place in
their neighborhood. Settlers were now
established upon all the lots for many
miles upon either side of Mount Pleas
ant; and even beyond the twelve miles
which the estate stretched to the south
the lots had been sold Mr.. Hardy con-
sidered that all danger Of the focks and
herds being driven off had now ceased,
and had therefore added considerably to
their number, and had determined to al
low them to increase without further
sales until they had attained to the ex-
tent of the supporting power Of the i'm
mense estate.
Two hundred acres of irrigated land
were under cultivation; the dairy con-
tanned the produce of a hundred cows:
and altogether Mount Pleasant was con-
sidered one of the finest and most profit
able estancias in the province. The house
was now worthy of the estate; the inside
renee had been removed fifty yards fur
ther off, and the vegetable garden to n
greater distance, the inclosed space being
lald out entirely as a pleasure garden.
keautiful tropical trees and shrubs. gor-
geous patches of flowers, and green turf
surrounded the front and sides: while
behind was luxuriant and most produc-
tive orchard.
Ihe young Hardys had for some time
given up doing any personal labor, and
were necessarily occupied in the SUPER
vision of the estate. A year previously
Mr.. Hardy had, at one of his visits TO
buenos Ayres, purchased a piano, saving
nothing of what he had done upon his
return; and the delight of the girls and
their mother, when the instrument ar
rived IN bullock cart, was unbounded
IRON that time, the girls practiced almost
incessantiy; indeed, as Charley remark
ed, 1t was as bad as living in the house
with whole boarding school of girls
After this Mount Pleasant. which had
always been considered as the most hos
pitable and pleasant estancia in the dis
trlct, became more than ever popular.
ana many were the impromptu dances
got up. Sometimes there were more for
mai affairs, and all the ladies within
twenty miles would come in. These were
more numerous than would have been ey-
pected. The Jamesons were doing we'll.
ana IN turn going for visit to their ma
tive country, had brought out two bright
young Scotchwomen as their wives.
Their neighbors at Canterbury were
still their most intimate friends: they
were shortly, however, to lose one of
them. Mr.. Cooper had heard six
months before Of the death of his. two
elder brothers in rapid succession, and
he was now heir to his fathers property.
which was very extensive. 1t had been
supposed that he would at once return TO
England, and he was continually talking
of doing so; but he had under one ex-
cuse or other, put off his departure from
time to time. He was very frequently
over at Mount Pleasant, and was GEN
orally companion of the boys upon their
excursions.
Il think Cooper is almost as much here
as he is at Canterbury" Charley said.
laughing, one day.
Mrs. Hardy happened to glance at
Maud and noticed bright flush of color
on her cheeks. She made no remark at
the time. but spoke to Mr.. Hardy about
ii Mt night.
You see, my dear" she concluded.
I'VE are still considering Maud as n child.
but other people may look upon her as a
woman"
Il am sorry for this" Mr. Hardy said
after pause. I'VE ought to have fore
seen the possibility of such thing. Now
that 1t is mentioned, | wonder we did not
do so before. Mr.. Cooper has been here
so much that the thing would have GER
tainly struck us, had we not, as you say.
looked upon Maud as a child. Against
Mr.. Cooper l have nothing to say. We
both Ike him extremely. His principles
are good, and he would, in point of
money, be Of course an excellent match
for our little girl. At the same time. |
cannot permit anything like an engage
ment. At the end of another two years.
when .Siud is 10, If Mr.. Cooper renews
the acquaintance in England, and both
parties agree, | shall of course offer no
objection. and indeed should rejoice much
Mt match which would promise well for
her happiness"
Mrs. Hardy thoroughly agreed with
her husband. and so the matter rested
for short time. 1t was well that Mr..
Hardy had been warned by his wife. for
a week after this Mr. Cooper met him
alone when he was out riding. and after
some introduction, expressed to him that
he had long felt that he had loved his
daughter but had waited until she was
seventeen before expressing his wishes.
Mr.. Hardy heard him quietly to the end.
II can hardly say that am unprepar-
ed for what you say. Mr.. Cooper al
though | had never thought of such
thing until two days since. To yourself,
personally. l can entertain no objection.
Still. when l remember that YOU are only
and that for the last four
years you have seen no one with whom