Year: 1873




IL a certain little town whose name
would be of small moment to the reader,
among no matter what lofty mountains,
there alighted from the northward- bound
train, one pleasant September day, a young
lady who proceeded forth with to the prom
inent hotel of the place. Those who con
suited the registry-b0ok after she had
therein entered ner name found written
Miss \. Dodge" and resolution was in
stantly formed to pay all due honor to the
bearer of that name. The arrival was
deemed quite oppOrtune, for the majority
! the guests, having been stationary many
weeks as permanent summon b0arders,
were quite ready for new diversion.


The next morning Miss Dodge was
agreeably surprised at having her ac-
quaintance sought by "A number Of ladies'
md at realizing altogether an amount of
attention which was unparalleled in her
experience. She received an invitation to
walk to an attractive spot with one group
ot ladies, another invited her to drive over
to the lake, and yet third made an APP
pOintment with her to ascend the hill in
time to view the sunset.


All this was very tiattering to Miss
Dodge, nor could she avoid regarding it
as extremely promising to business pro
spects. Apparently the good ladies had
been apprised of her mission, and were
preparing TO profit by it. The comments
made by her new acquaintances when she
referred to business puzzled her, and she
was astonished to find them so convers-
ant with her views Of life Several times
she was on the point of inquiring who
had introduced her to their notice, but
something always interfered


In the course of the day Miss Dodge
stole time to call on Mr. Martin, the busi-
ness man whose inducements had brought
her to the place To her infinite relief,
She learned that he was absent from home,
and would not return for several days.
1t seemed indeed delightful that, before
settling down to her contining work, she
might consCientiously enjoy the bright
holiday vOuchsafed her.


During the evening the guests were
nearly all assembled in the party, and la
dies and gentlemen We'd with each other in
doing the stranger homage Miss Dodge
had always been considered agreeable; in
the present genial atmosphere she was be
coming truly brilliant. She was impellcd
to relate anecdotes and adventures in a
manner that astonished herself, and she
found sundry crude opinions ripening into
definite form under the detercntial ques-
toning TO which she was subjected.


The second day, like the first, contained
a series of pleasing surprises. In the morn
ing deputation of citizens called upon
Miss Dodge to request her to attend a
grand gala reception to be held in her
honor at the town hall. This was very
charming but entirely the reverse of any
thing She had anticipated.


Miss Dodge was twenty-five years of
age, and rather above the medium height
of woman. She had eNuberant masses OF
glossy brown hair, which she wore simply
coiled above the shapely head, and her
large, lustrouS eyes were of that hazel
tinted gray, which is indicative of decis-
i've temperament. Her features were not
actually handsome, vet they were too char
acteristically defined to be ever stamped
is homclv; and when illumined by the
smile which was peculiarly its own, the
face was very attractive Her carriage was
incompatible, and, moreover, she stood
well, which the Countess Hahn-Hahn, in
her FauStina, tells Us few women can do.
The reception was a success. Numerous
prominent citizens harangued the new
conner in words OF kindly welcome, and TO
each little speech She yentured upon an
appropriate reply Throughout the even
ing constant reference was made to I Ger





out of town, and whose absence was deem
ed the one drawback to the evenings en-
joynent His wife and daughters were
present, and they assured Miss Dodge
that the Judge would do himself the pleas
TIRE OF calling aS soon rs he returned.


Directly after breakfast next morning,
Judge Alden'S card was brought to our
friend, and IN no little trepidation she be
took herself To the parlor 10 meet the i'm
portant man. \ most comical-looking
little individual endowed with that sleek
complacenCy and comfortable rotundity
indicative Of luXuriant living, arose as
She entered, and Sprang forward with
ludicrous alacrity to meet her. As his
extended hand met hers, the eye
glasses. 50 foppishly pnrched upon his
nose, fell from their proud position, and
his honor was forced to readjust them be
fore mburdening himself of the speech
trembling upon his lips.


Miss Dodge" he finally began, placing
one plump little hand upon his heart,
while with the other he softly pressed the
lady's fingers, Ill affords me infinite salts
faction to have the opportunity of making
your acquaintance. | have long been
volu most ardent admirer, and NAV safe
ly assert that | first interested our towns
people in you"


Here the little man assumed a modest
Npre~sion, while Miss Dodge as she


a,ly disengaged her hand and motioned
der visitor to a seat, wondered how in the
World he had come to think of pleading
I her cause.


1au are very kind, Judge Alden" she
.ia.neo. Before coming here, school
1>gI ~ do battle with cold rebutfs,
.lls. III instead Imet with universal kindness.


l3-t from individual satisfaction, this is


e2s-aS11s TO woman who has the


interests of her sex al heart


AA, my dear lady was the suave re-