The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1904-03-09

"sihS Noia . trlm form. How
long do you s'pose you could keep her
In such things as them? Don't do
| nothing rash, Burtr'
Inc dress, a pretty, blue-figured
lawn, had cost precisely one dollar and
SIX cents, buttons and Innings included: !:
the hat, rough white straw. had been
picked up at q bargain for twenty.
three cents and trimmed with a piece
OF null and few pink buds, carefully
preserved from last summer.
But how could Mrs. Marsh know
that?
And how could Burt. with his utter
inexperience of such things. do other.
wise than accept his mothers view.
ana gaze at Cora in her blue lawn as
ne might have gazed at a princess in
her silks and velvets?
Yes. they've come" he said. with n
sigh. as he leaned over the fence 70
exchange a word or two with Bradley
Harwood, his friend and neighbor.
They're very nice looking"
Don't say so?" said Bradley. smil.
ing. 'I'll be over"
ie was over tnat very evening and
the Tour sat out under the maple trees.
on shawls and footstools. and enioyed
the moonlight and the soft. warm
breeze.
Burt sat near Cora; Bradley. after
one admiring look at Della's smooth.
uark head and sweet brunette face,
sat down at her side and semeed con.
tent to remain there.
Il don't know what l shall do" said
Mrs. Marsh, anxiously, addressing her
husband from the window where she
sat watching the group under the
trees, "if Burt goes to making n fool
OF himself with that girl. What kind
OF a farmers wife would she make?
she couldn't lift a finger Shed set
down and curl up her hands and want
maid to wait on her"
Mrs. Marsh was almost in tears ms
she hnished; she was quite I'm tears
when she went to Burt in his room
later, and repeated her warnings.
i told her she needn't worry" said
Burt, when he reported this interview
10 Bradley Harwood next day. 81
know what I'm about as well as The
next one, l hope. OF course. they're
pretty girls, and bright and ladylike.
ana all that, but they wouldn't do for
plain fellows like us. with our liylncs
to make-even if they'd have u.s."
NO. OF course not" said Bradley,
promptly.
But he came over that night and sat
under the naples with Della again
with Burt and Cora not far away: and
he brought his new two-seated buggy
around the next afternoon, and tho
four went off for long drive through
the Ioafy country roads.
Della and Cora We're quite carried
away with enjoyment of their beauti.
tul surroundings, and Burt and Brad
ley We're guiltily happy in being with
them.
1t was on the third day after her
boarders arrived that Mrs. Marsh came
down with sharp attack of rheuma.
tism' rheumatism was what the doc
tor pronounced 1t; but Mrs. Marsh was
hrmly convinced that IT was the fore
runner of brain fever, brought on by
worry of mind.
1t was too much for me-" she said
TO her husband, who stood over her
bed in helpless distress. ito see that
boy getting more and more took I'M
with that goodfor-nothing, helpless
little crltter! couldn't stand II. What
with the extra work and all, it's
brought me to this! If die" she
went on, solemnly, promise me you'll
do your best TO keep him from marry
ing that girl, that would make his
life burden TO him. could die
happy If / was easy about that"
Mr.. Marsh promised
"Well, then" said his wife. coming
back to practical subjects more cheer
fully, tell Burt to harness the horse
this minute, and see il he can get n
girl TO come and stay week or two.
till I'm over this. The work can't be
let go. with them here!"
Only those unfortunates who have
Travelled and retraveled sparsely settled
rural districts in search of a .bired
girl" can appreciate the miserles Burt
endured that day.
Suffice to say that he returned. TO-
ward night, thoroughly tired out and
ravenously hungry-and alone, having
raped at the doors of a score or SO
OF houses which had been supposed to
contain rare treasures In the domestic