The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1907-08-29
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INTO THE
INNERMOST
BY ANNIE l.. MUZZEY
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The Harlands were just moving into
In close proximity to the Queen Anne
cottage of Mrs. Laura Mortimer Law
renee. who had watched the develop.
ment Of the unpretentious building
with chagrin and disdain.
Curious, isn't it," she remarked to
her son Hugh, with a scornful eye on
the household goods unloading at her
neighbours door. Very curious that
poor people cannot have the sense to
perceive the folly of an attempt to set
themselves up as owners of real es-
tate. when the effort to do so results
Ia an ugly blot, offensive to the refined
and cultivated taste Of the beholder."
Having returned the present eve.
ming from years absence abroad.
this was the. young mans first outlook
on neighborhood changes.
why, really, do you know that I
think that a rather picturesque affair
on the whole?" he resumed. observing
critically. for the first time. the object
Of his mothers contemptuous remark.
Hugh leaned forward. his languid
eyes opening wide with sudden inter-
est as girl with. mist of sunny
hair blowing back against the broad
black brim of the hat framing her hap
ny face. ran out and. catching some
article from the household furnishings
unladen at the door, disappeared like
flash of light within.
''Ah!" he breathed. who are these
people, mother?" he questioned, pres
emily. vafniy waiting for reappear-
ance of the figure which had attracted
acquaintance"
II? No, indeed" was the .dignified
response. Mrs Thompson, however,
has volunteered to explain to me that
they are eminently respectable. The
father is Woodworking, but imprac-
ticai sort of person, always dream
ing out inventions that never meet
with adoption; the eldest, and only
son is carpenter aspiring to become
An architect; one of the daughters is
wood carver, and the other a gradu-
ate OF the cooking school, and en-
ployed at very high prices by some of
our first families to prepare fancy
dishes for special occasions, going to
their houses like a common servant.
Think of that! And the whole family
contributing, am told, to the erection
of this uncivilized structure, which
appears to be the first property they
have ever possessed"
"A laudable enterprise" remarked
Hugh Lawrence.
1t was not long before Hugh was
On very sociable terms with his new
neighbors. whom, however, his mother
still ignored. In every member of
the family he found genial and in
teresting companion, though he was
unable to approach Miss Ethel in the
friendly relations already established
with the frank, brotherly Sibyl
True, Ethel was entertaining and re-
sponsive in matter-of-fact imperson.
al way. but while the dark-haired
Sibyl would talk of herself as frank
~ and freely as of any other interest
ing topic, Ethel would withdraw with
q touch-me. not air, and remain icily
uncommunicative whenever he ven
tured to breach the subject of per-
sonal feelings and affairs.
Even more than by this repellant
quality Lawrence was piqued by the
girls failure to recognize him outside
her own house. Time and again he
had met her upon the street and she
had given no token whatever of &C.
quaintanceship with him; though, per.
haps only the previous evening he had
by her own fireside talked with her of
art. science. literature and kindred
subjects with which she was familiar.
with a sympathetic interchange of
sentiment which had seemed to him
to constitute a bond of friendship
This fact annoyed him more than he
felt was reasonable. He was vexed
with his own chagrin.
His inward resentment of such rude
ness eliminated one day when, ap.
preaching his mothers house after a
morning walk. he saw just nearing a
side gate. the slight. erect figure of
Miss Ethel. attired in a plain stuff
gown. its straight length relieved by a
white breadth of apron, and her sunny
tendrils of hair. pushed under a de.
,mure cap that encircled her head not
exactly like the aureole of saint.
He attempted to speak to her, but she
passed on into the servants entrance
with scarcely a perceptible bow.
Discounted. Lawrence wheeled and
walked around to his usual entrance.
For what purpose is Miss Harland
Ia your kitchen?" he asked his
mother.
Bless you! to make one of her in.
Irritable desserts. She is all the rage,
don't you know; and to be in fashion
we must employ her when she will
condescend to favor us. though her
prices are as exquisite as her dishes"
Mother. the young lady is not to
come here again in such capacity"
said Hugh with authority. Don't argue
with me. mother" he added. forestall-
lug the surprised exclamation that
was coming.