Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1904-12-03
QUESTION OF
INCOME
By BELLE MARIATES
Copyright. 1904. by Belle Maniatcs

always wiped the breakfast dishes.
She was making but little progress
with that occupation now, However, by
reason of running to look out the win
dow every few minutes Although she
took Il handful of silver, Il PLATTER or
pile of plates with her on each trip,
wiping as she went, she was not keep.
ing pace with Rosie, the help, who was
washing the dishes.
Il VOW. Susie, this is TIL" tenth time
you have gone to that Window
"Oh, l can't whit to see herr. sighed
Susie 81 am so afraid the train is late"
The coming Of the city cousin. knth-
lyn Randall, was always an event. The
visit generally occurred in strawberry
or harvest time, but what could have
induced her to come to the farm in
November WAS beyond the combined
c0njecturcs of the Randall family. She
had written short note saying she
would be there that morning for a long
visit
Can hardly wait for what, Susie"
asked Il manly voice.
Susie looked up into the handsome
face of Neil Mines. one of the men
from the city who were camping down
OH the river for the shooting season.
1t WAS Ncils turn to come for the milk
and butter with which Mrs. Bradley
supplied them.
'My cousin. She is coming to visit
us, and, oh. she is 50 lovely and wears
such beautiful clothes"
Mines laughed and walked out
through the woodSllcd and across fields
of stubbe to join his companions
II can Just imagine the city cousin"
he thought. "clad in a bargain shirt
waist suit and Il picture hat from the
bazaar at Sl.39, overwhelming The coun-
try folk about here with her style. "
He heard the round of running feet
behind and turned, expecting to see
young colt but it was Susie.
"Mother said | could go down to the
home with them"
Your cousin will think she has fall
Ell in clover when she hears there are
four young men on the premises" he
suggested.
"Oh, she has lots of beaus," replied
Susie loftily.
"rhen she'll be sure to want more.
Tell her we are all married. will you?"
Susie, however, had caught the
sound of distant wheels and sped
quickly away. MilneS met them rid
ing in the light wagon, Mr.. Bradley and
the baggage on the first seat. and Susie
percheI proudly on the back seat be-
side the most stunning looking girl that
he had ever seen. Mr.. Bradley reined
up ana presented Mines to his niece,
Miss Randall, WHO acknowledged the
Introduction cordially. Then they
drove on, and Mines, recalling her
tailored travelling coat with the big
bunch of violetS fastened ut the belt,
the chic hat and correct appointments
of veil gloves and purse, also foreign
labeled steamer trunk, was amused at
his preconception of the city cousin
He went on to the camp racking his
brains for plausible errand to the
farmhouse. but his wits, usually fer
tile, refused to suggest. Finally he
resolved to go away and await an in
spiration When he reached the farm
house, Miss Randall, charmingly gown
ed, was in the kitchen with her aunt.
She hardly vouchsafed the young man
glance.
"Oh. Mr.. Mines. what can l do for
you?" asked Mrs. Bradley.
"Why eroh, we want some more
FL FOL
"What have you done with all that
you got this morning." she exclaimed.
"Well. you see, it's Johnson's turn to
cook, and he uses so much butter!'
Mrs Bradley's eyes twinlled as she
got roll of butter, while Susie giggied
outright and he could see that Miss
Randall was amused, though she was
quite ignoring his presence. Suddenly
it came to him in flash that Susie
had repeated his remarks. He turned
to go. and Mrs Bradley said good ma
turedly:
Susie go as far as the barn with
Mr. Mines and show him where to get
some cider"
On the way out he asked Susie anx
iously if she had told what he said.
"Oh. yes" she replied cheerfully.
He groaned.
"What did your cousin say?"
"She said you didn't look like such
cad"
He WINGED and was silent for mo-
Ment Then he said suddenly:
Say, Susie, is her fathers name
Wellman Randall?'
"Yes. Uncle Wellman Is her father.
He is awfully rich
OF course he was. Every one knew
of Wcllman Randall, the successful
speculator.
Il am sorry" he said half to himself.
"Why?" asked Susie Indignantly.
"Uncle Wellman is lovely"
II know he is, but l wish he were
poor"
Such n wish was beyond Susie's un-
derstanding, and she thought he was
joking All day he loAfed and smoked
by himself and thought of the vision
mt the Bradleys. At twilight he insist
ed that the milk was sour and went up
to the house for fresh supply. BY
good fortune Miss Randall was alone
in the orchard.
"NIiss Randall" he said, coming up
to her. I'VE are all prone ut times to
say utterly idle words that we don't
mean. I couldn't know that you were