The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1908-11-27
WINE

gooseberry wine. She communicated it
to the elderly lady without a husband,
who again impaired it to the lawyers
wife, a happy mother with four un-
married daughters, of whom l was
and, alas, still am the youngest.
The elderly lady with a husband pre-
vailed upon that %appendage to gather
fruit, and such was his good will that
he arose at 6 o'clock in the morning
from his comfortable couch to obey her
behest. He appeared at breakfast with
lacerated hands and a perspiring
frame, but his zeal sent him back to
the garden the moment he had salts
fed his appetite.
The elderly lady without a husband,
having lost what the elderly lady with
a husband possessed, was fain to help
her cook with her own fair fingers.
The lawyers wife's four daughters
were pressed into their mothers serv-
Ace and most unwillingly plunged their
fingers into the torturing bushes.
In due time the wine was put into
the casks, and the casks were rendered
air tight until the following spring,
NAC1A IN oBAIh "
tied and slowed in their cellars.
My mother, l remember, was the
happy possessor of six dozen. The
elderly lady without a husband had
two dozen less. But the elderly lady
with Il husband carried off the palm of
quantity, no less than twelve dozen OF
this homcly liquor.
But while the wine was yet in the
casks there came to our village a
young maj with an unmistakable air
of gentility about him. lie had no oc-
cupation, yet his attire was good in
quality and faultless in cut. His purse
appeared well lined and quickly emp
tied.
1t was whispered by some that he
was an eccentric member of a very
high family and had quarreled With
his relatives all around, so that was
how he came ito settle in our quiet
neighborhood. Others, more malicious
ly disposed, averred that he was a
first class burglar.
My sisters and l believed in the FIRST
mentioned version of the mystery per-
haps because it was romantic and suit
ed to our girlish ~imaginations.
He was invited to our village soirees
once or twice a week, and as he al
ways sought me out the moment he
entered the room l was a target for all
the envenoned darts from the bows of
the other girls.
Meanwhile the gooseberry wine had
been bottled and pronounced excellent
by the select few who had tasted it.
All the bottles were sealed until the
following winter.
The festivities of the dark season
were ushered in by a small dance.
given by the elderly lady with a hus-
band. Every IL was invited, even the
unknown, although our hostess looked
on him with anything but favor.
The entertainment seemed meant to
tnauguratc the gooseberry wine rather
than anything else, for instead of
champagne our glasses were frequent
~ filled with this home production.
Our hostess, With q beaming counte-
nance, told us that she wished the ris-
Ing generation to %patroniZe this harm
less beverage rather than it's more
potent reality.
The unknown and L after one waltz
strolled away to the conservatory.
When we We're alone he looked at me
with sparkling eyes and flushed cheeks,
gently pressing my hand at the same
time.
Dearest" he whispered, may 1
hope that some day you will allow me
to claim this dear hand as mine?"
blushed as became a surprised
maiden, although the only wonder 1
felt was that he had not asked me be-
fore.
murmured Yes" in my most dulceA
accents and Immediately received his :
reward for my acquiescence.
My heart bounded in response to q
knockat the front door soon after
breakfast.the next morning. 1 knew it .
was the unknown's hand that hh
welded the ponderous bronze ring<I
heard in my distant dormitory the door
opened and closed, and then there was
a pause, next a quick step on the stair.
a gentle tap on my own door and the
entrance Of the housemaid bearing a
card.
The piece of pasteboard bore nv
ioses nanle ana at the back in the
penc1led letters this short sentence:
VIII you spare me a few minutes?"
Not very loverlike certainly. but I
clothed it in loves w language
When entered the drawing room 1
found the unknown impatiently drum
ming his fingers Oh the window. The
face he turned toward me was grave
not to say gloomy. but still unsuspi-
ciops, 1 went toward him with a cav
welcome ON my lips. He shook hands
certainly. but very considerably.
y have sent for you,' he said, to
to. Dash it! don't know how to put
what am going to say. 1t is most
confoundedly awkward. The fact is l
had no right to ask you to be my wife
last night, for l cannot marry If
would"
Why did you, then?" asked coldly.
Wei, to tell you the truth, it was
deuced wine at supper that did it.
1t went to nv head at Onca ona +ho