The Press. (Stafford Springs, Conn.) 1883-1935, 1904-08-03
In the Spring
By A. S. RICHARDSON
Copyright. 1903. by 7. @. Mcclure.

OoO0OOO0OeO0CO COSOOOOOOOOO~O
North GLASGOW had never taken Ma
bel Farnham seriously nor known her
to take life seriously, yet there had
been a lingering hope In the minds OF
the gossips that when 1t came to the
question of matrimony the pretty
daughter of the big mill owner might
be sensible for once.
But, then, North GLASGOW did not I'M
derstand Mabel, and Mabel cared pre-
cious little whether 1t did or not She
did not feel called upon to detail her
daily life nor analyze her motives for
the edificatiOn Of town gOssips. That
was why the sharp tongued women OF
the manufacturing town did not know
that when Mabel went tearing through
the main street on her little mare or
trotted past in her dogcart she was
pretty sure to drop into her fathers
dingy Office with kiss and merry
greeting. Nor could they dream that
the young girl who danced when OPP
portunity offered until almost morning
tripped downstairs in the most be
witching negligees to pour her fa-
ther's coffee and smiled sleepily, but
good humOredly, across the table at
him. What they did hear was that
Mabel lay abed till IL o'clock (which
was quite true, for she went directly
back to bed when her father had driv-
en- away and sent to Boston for wrap
pers and coffee jackets Of lace and
silk, such as no respectable. hardwork-
ing woman in all North GLASGOW ever
dreamed of wearing. They did not
dream either that she wore cherry rib
bOns in those same negligees, when she
loved blue best, just because her ador-
ing father had once remarked that red
was the only color in the rainbow
worth considering.
AT regular intervals what was known
best array and as many carriages as
the town could support to be entertain
ed in state at the mill owners brick
and stone pile on the hill and came
away to discourse on the shocking
waste of electricity, the absurdly mas
sive decorations of American Beauty
roses, the dreadful expense of ca
terer from Boston when Miss Louise
Crocker could have managed the whole
thing for half the price. And MabePs
gown! The brocade had surely come
from Paris, and it was too elaborately
trimmed for SO young girl. Well. it
was a pity that Mrs. Farnham had not
lived to steady down this frolicsome
daughter and keep restraining hand
on the household expenses Of Donald
Farnham.
Little they knew how hatefui the dis
play was to Mabel, how she longed
to close down the house,
with its gilt furniture and plush hang
had met at college in their trips abroad,
where the world was old and rich in
art and book lore. But this was her
fathers life, the life for which he had
longed in those early days when her
pinafores were short and his working
hours long. He was master Of North
GLASGOW today, and he reveled in his
sense of greatness and power.
1t was just when Mabel was hunger
ing for a broader life. when North
GLASGOW seemed unbearably narrow
some particularly unconventional frOl-
les that Harold Barndt came into their
life.
For reasons not stated the elder
Barndt wished his son well out of New
York, for the winter at least. One of
them was certain pretty chorus girl
who had settled herself in little nat
Mt f1n %n orsf-
ment house wherein dwelt the Barndt
family. Mr.. Farnham was indebted
or imagined he was-to Mr.. Barndt,
and position for the younger Barndt
was made somehow on the clerical
staff at the mills. And quite as nat
urally young Barndt made for himself
a place in the Farnham home. Twas
the only fit place In the town, he ex-
planned to himself.
Mabel had always been accustomed
to admiration, but now she woke up
to the fact that there was keen rivalry
for her hand. Young Barndt fretted
a week or SO for the pretty actress,
and then decided that, averaging up
points, Mabel had trife the best of
1t, to say nothing Of ber financial pros
poets, as the only child of the mill
owner. Jimmy Crawford had loved
her ever since the first day he had
opened the big mill gate for Mabel.
a dainty vision in white and a cherry
sash. Jimmy had been a bobbin boy
that day. Now he was superintendent,
and a better superintendent did not
boss mill In all New England, said
Mr.. Farnham. which went to show
that the owner of the mill judged the
young superintendent by his ability to
get work out of employees and not by
the state Of his affections The latter
would certainly have given the self
made man, much concern. He meant,
when he had accumulated money
enough, to marry Mabel into a family
with blood. .
Mabel had never taken Jimmy's de-
votion seriously until young Barndt ap-
peared on the scene. Then something
in the misery which she read in the
face Of her long devoted and much
tried admirer appealed to her more
womanly nature, and, though North
GLASGOW never dreamed Of it, Mabel
was really thinking deeply of the fu-
ture.
Matters came to a head on Hallow-
cen night With young Barndt at her
side, Mabel had driven through the
crisp autumn aid to the Halloween
frolic at Myrtle Graham's home.
Barndts roses were fastened under her
cloak. and on the table at home the
such bore, don't you know. / suppose
we shall bob for apples and ruin our
clothes, and come home deucedly tired.
I'd much rather have the evening at
home, with you at the piano and the
lamplight falling on your hair."
Mabel smiled in the dark. Would
he always be satisfied with that do
mestic picture? she wondered.
- -
"Now, each girl must walk down to