The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1923-11-02
ALL AT THE FAIR
BY MOLLIE MATHER


MISS FAITH lifted the cookies
AVA from the oven with almost ten
der touch. Seems" she remarked
timidly, las if these cookies might take
a fair prize. Got 'em down to a sci
ence, Ebert Toll says, when l give
him one to taste.
Wont you have a cookie, Miss
Meredith?" Marta leaned forward in
the old rocker that was part of the
kitchen furnishings. She liked to sit
here companionably, while her coun-
try hostess cooked and talked.
"Why," asked the girl wonderingly,
"have you not exhibited your choice
cookies, Miss Faith? You might take
the first prize"
Speaking of the county fair, now,
wouldn't you like to go? Be a real
change for you and entertainin'. Eb.
Toll, is going to drive over in his big
car; going to exhibit his dogs. He's
got lots of money, Miss Meredith, an
it want all left by his pa. He's
good lawyer"
Miss Faith tinted faint pink, with
the embarrassment of her next sugges-
ton: Eb. has taken an awful fancy
to you-please, Miss Marta, don't be
offended. He was telling me yester-
day, when you was getting on your
hat to ride with him, what a fine
young lady you were. The old Toll
place is the incest one in town"
Marta came forward to look into
the elder woman's face. Dear" said
Marta, impulsively, put the very
incest cookies in your prettiest basket.
I'm going to call up Mr.. Toll and ask
him to let me ride with him to the
county fair-and your cookies are to
be placed there on exhibition"
"You just must influence those
judges to give the bluest-blue ribbon
to Miss Faith" Marta smilingly told
him. you know they deserve the
prize"
"Ill see what can do" the big man
promised.
'I will amuse myself" Marta told
Eb. Toll, "and find my way later to
the car, where you have parked 1t.
And if I should not be here at five,
when you are ready to return, be sure
that I have found some other Hill
towner, who has consented to take me
home beforehand"
II will take the cookies to the
BOOTH" Mr.. Toll offered.
The petted dogs proved to be averse
to exhibition; their master stood trou-
bled before their bowls Of indignation.
1--WE will have to take them home"
he said to Marta. II have an impor-
tant committee meeting to attend for
a time, in the main building. Would
you mind placing the dogs in the car?
They will wait there content"
Near the hour Of five, when a cold
fall of rain made warm shelter invit-
ing, Marta sought again the blue car,
and settled herself among it's cushions,
the now joyous dogs beside her.
John Roberts, bored with his hours
of attendance upon three old, happy
relatives, thought that he would rest
in his car until the ladies might be
ready to join him for the homeward
ride to Hilltown village.
Upon attempting to open the door
of his car he was confronted by two
growing dogs who forbade him en-
trance. John stared; then he stared
some more, though not aggressively,
for a strange young woman gaZed at
him through the window of his own car
car and asked coldly what he wanted
Johns lips curled humorously. This
being my car" he mildly explained, Il
thought I'd like to drive it,"
The young woman sat up and en-
deavored to quiet the angry animals.
Mercy she cried, do you suppose
I've made a mistake in the car! 1t
is so exactly like the one I drove over
i'm from Hilltown-I thought l had the
right location
John Roberts looked about. II fancy
I see your car a bit farther down.
No occupant. Mistake quite natural,
under the circumstances
1t also seemed natural that the lone
ly young man in strange place should
linger to talk with young woman
from the village which he had been
visiting; natural that when Marta
learned the name of his aunts that she
should decide to wait to speak with
them.
John Roberts talked of mis- happy
boyhood days there talked of his
business in New York city-how he
had grudged this days idleness, how
now he was repaid and recompensed
for all the dullness. He had not ex-
pected to say the last-Marta's blue
ewes some way compelled him. And she
told of Miss Faith, and her joyless
life, Of the cookies, and the prize that
she was certain must come to make
her friend happy. And when three
quaint old ladies came walking toward
the blue car they found two smiling
young persons to welcome them.
"Why, it's Miss Meredith" the old
est aunt exclaimed Nov, we must
all ride home together"
So the blue car moved out through
the gateway fine looking young
man on the front seat, pretty girl
beside him; three old ladies chatting
together behind; at either window
dogs watching eager face.
Poor Eb. Toll! Faiths matchmaking
scheme was to be frustrated. She was
caressing prize blue ribbon some time
later when pretty young woman bent
over her shoulder. Miss Faith" said
the young woman softly, you will
have to teach me your skill in cook
ing. John and are to be married"