The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1871-08-31


for tea. She had been schoolmate oi
his, and he took her hand cordially as
she stood there, with the bright western
sun half-glorifying her head and face.
"Why, Huldah, how you've grown =
was his first word of greeting. He meant
more than he said, for though she wa!
not handsome, she had grown exceeding.
ly comely as she developed into woman
Undignifed as ever y said Amanda
as she returned to the sitting-room.
The next day the ladies could get nc
good out of John Harlow. He got ur
early and milked the COW. He cut wood
and carried it in for Huldah. He rode
old Bob to the brook for water. He
did everything that he had been accus-
toned to do when a boy, finding as
much pleasure in forgetting that he wa;
a man, as he had once found in hoping
to be q man. The two boys enjoyed his
society greatly, and his father was de-
lighted 10 seeithat he had retained his
interest in farm life.
John was not insensible to Janet
Dunton's charms. She could talk fuently
about all the authors most in vogue,
and the effect Of her fuency was really
dazzling to a man. John was infatu-
ated with the idea of marrying wife OF
such attainments. How she would daz-
zle his friends How the governor
would like to talk to her ! How she
would shine in his parlors How she
would delight people as she gave them
tea and talk at the same time John
was in love with her as he would have
been in love with new tea-urn or a
rare book. During that week he talked
and walked and rode in the sleigh with
Miss Dunton, and had made up his mind
that he would carry this brilliant prize
to New York. But, with lawyer-like
caution, he thought ne would put off
the committal as long as possible. If his
heart had been i'll his attentions the
caution would not have been worth
much. Caution is a good breakwater
against vanity; but it isn't worth much
against the springtide of love, as John
Harlow soon found.
For toward the end of the week he be-
gan to feel warmer feeling for Miss
Janet. 1 do not think John was seriously
in love with Miss Dunton. If he had
been, he would have found some means
of communicating with her. A thousand
spies with sleepless eyes all round their
heads cannot keep man from telling
his love somehow, if he really has has a
love to tell.
He observed often during the week
that Huldah was depressed. He could
not exactly account for it, until he no.
ticed something in his sisters behavior
toward her that awakened his suspicion.
AS soon as opportunity offered he in
quired of Huldah, affecting at the same
time to know something about it.
IL don't want to complain of your
sister to you, Mr.. Harlow"
"Phew call me John, and as for nv
sister, I know her faults better than you
do"
"Well, it's only that she told me that
Miss Dunton wasn't used to eating at
the same table with servants, and when
one of the boys told your father, he was
mad, and came to me, and said, Huldah,
you must eat when the rest do. If you
stay away from the table on account of
these city snobs, I'll make a fuss on the
spot So to avoid fuss have kept on
going to the table"
John was greatly vexed with this. He
was a ohivalrous fellow, and he knew
how such a remark must wound per-
ION who had never learned that domestic
service had anything degrading in it.
And the result was just the opposite of
what his sister hoped. John paid more
attention to Huldah Manners because
she was the victim of oppression.
But, sitting in the old best room," in
;he dark, while the ladies were getting
'eady, and trying to devise a way by
which he might get an opportunity to
peak with Miss Dunton alone, it oc-
,urred to him that she was at that time
n the sitting-room waiting for his sis
er. TO step out to where she was and
present the case in few words would
lot be difficult, and it might all be set
led before his sister came down stairs.
The fates were against him, however.
For just as he was about to act upon his
hought, he heard Amanda Holiness
bundant dresses sweeping down the
tairway. He could not help hearing
he conversation that followed:
"You see, Janet, ] got up this trip to-
light to keep John from spending the
vening in the kitchen. He hasn't a bit
f dignity, and would spend the even
ng romping with the children and talk
ng to Huldah, if he took it into his
cad"
"Well," said Janet, one can overlook
very thing in man of your brothers
ulture. But what queer way your
ountry servants have of pushing them
elves. Wouldn't 1 make them know
heir places" .r. .sf rf
And all this was said with the kitchen
cor open, and with the intention of
Huldah.
Johns castles tumbled. The erudite
ife alongside the silver tea-urn faded
ut OF sight rapidly. If knowledge
ould not give touch of humane regard
II the feelings of poor girl toiling du-
fully and self-denyingly to support her
mily, of what account was it? .
Two minutes before he was about to
We his life to Janet Dunton. Now
Iere was a gulf wider than the world
,tween them. He slipped out of the
,st room by the outside door and came
through the kitchen. The neighbor's |
eigh that was to call for them was al
ady at the door, and John begged them
excuse him. He had set his heart on
9lping Huldah make mince-pies, as he |
'ed to help his mother when a boy. |
is sister was in despair, but she did
ot say much. She told John that it
as time he was getting over his queer
esks. And the sleigh drove off.
For an hour afterwards John romped
ith his sisters children, and told sto-