The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1904-01-21
I The Girl of the
! Orchard ~, u;,.,,,,.,,
Copyright. 1901. by Charles w. Hooke
~ 4 :, i i. j. i 5.
s Z : = j. = j


IT'S way OF over there" she replied,
waving her hand in an indefinite fash
ion toward the upper end Of the lake.
"About how far?' inquired
She gave me quick, keen glance.
why do you want to know" she
queried.
1.-THE day that I arrived said I,
your aunt came in from the garden
with pan Of peas. AS botanist, you
understand, not as boarder, l would
like to see the warm corner of Michi-
gan where peas attain that size in the
middle of june"
Lucy Ann bent forward so that her
face was hidden by the edge of the
gray sunbonhet: I observed that her
Hands, which were clothed in the re-
markable gloves that she had worn
the first time I saw her, were some
what tightly clinched. I began to
laugh.
"You won't say anything about this,'
she said, looking up. promise me you
won't"
Il cross my heart" said I.
"Well, then," she whispered. leaning
forward, my aunt hasn't any garden.
WHAT'S the use? It doesn't make any
difference how nice stuff one can raise
in a garden, there's always somebody
who can raise better-somebody who
makes profession of it. My aunt
says that this is the age of specialists.
Her boarders are very select; they
wouldn't stand amateur vegetables.
That's the way she puts it,
"But they stand amateur cake" said
I, "and I will fight any three men in
Michigan who dare to assert that it
isn't the best in the world
"Bless your hearth exclaimed Lucy
Ann. I'm not an amateur. I've stud
led at the best cooking schools in Chi
cago. can show you my diplomas"
Nothing could add weight to your
Word,' said I, mot even the cake it.
self, for that's too light But about this
garden
you'd have guessed anyway" she
said. II had to tell you. My aunt goes
across to the other road and meets a
market wagon. 1t comes out from the
best market in st. 10, and the man who
keeps it buys an extra fine quality Of
everything for her. He knows just
where to send for things. Our boarders
don't understand botany; they're city
people. Why, my aunt went out the
other day into that strip of woods and
came back with some cantaloupes from
North Carolina, and Miss What's-her-
~name-l've forgotten; the blue eyed
girl who went out few minutes ago
put one Of them up to her face and
said: How lovely! It is still cool with
the dew I suppose the marketman
had had it on ice. But it was a good
cantaloupe just the same''
Your aunt Is genius" said l, with
deep feeling; Il knew it as soon as I
saw the most approved modern springs
on the antique bedstead in my ROOM"
II doubt if the bedstead's any older
than the SPRINGS said Lucy Ann. "We
try to be up to date in everything."
"Your aunt's business principles are
up to date; I'll make oath to that said
1. And now for the flowers. Have
you any wild rose bushes with jacque-
minots spliced on to the branches?"
Il thought you were going to give
them to a lady," said Lucy Ann after
thoughtful pause.
"Such was my intention.'
"Then they must be honest roses
said she, "and you must do some honest
work to get them for her,
Il was thinking of getting them
with the work that my father has
done,' said I. THAT was surely hon
est, as you'd say in minute if you
knew him. But if you think the lady
would appreciate my own efforts, tel
me where the roses grow"
There's place on the east end OF
the lake, she said, "but I'm afraid yor
couldn't find it. It's queer
And the best posies grow there?"
you'll say they are the prettiest wilG
roses you ever saw" she cried, with
enthusiasm - triple leaved and sc
sweet that if the wind blew off thai
shore today you could find them by
their scent In the air.
unfortunately, the wind is west
said I. perhaps Jimmy could pilot
me.''
Il don't believe he knows where they
are,' answered Lucy Ann. Then afte,
moment Of silence she said, 'sI'd &C
myself if my aunt would let me-"
"Why shouldn't she?'' demanded
Il am a great stickler for propriety
myself, and YETI
"Goodness!'' cried Lucy Ann, with a
laugh. 1T isn't question of proprie
y; it's the work. There's such lot tc
do.''
somehow ta.s SD :. i.le rs very hard
lines and reinforced my suspicion that
the genial Mrs. Witherspoon was q
slave driver in disguise.
Mr.. Trask is always wanting me to
go here or there with him and Miss
JONES' said Lucy Ann "Talk about
a stickler for propriety-there's one"
''Trask" I cried "Well, he doesn't
look it,
g.,