The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1872-09-04

to be, and was well aware of the
advantages which money can give.
Both her father and mother were
anxious that she should marry the
Hon. Ebenezer Wolcott, but Fanny
was high-spirited, and they seldom
advised her. The girl knew that
they were living beyond their
means for her sake, and this knowl-
edge had been bitterl y earned. She
and Olive had many conferences
over it. @z
81 think if you were, married, "
said Olive, "papa would come here
and take a small house; then busi-
ness need not press him so in his
old age.'
Ebenezer had done the proper
thing-had offered Fanny his heart,
his house, his carriage, and his
horses; and although he was known
for a pugnacious old gentleman,
terribly set in his way, he was hon
orable, and he loved beautiful
Fanny Bryson with all his heart.
And Fanny had told him that she
could not then decide-that she
was going for the summer months
to sister Olives, and at the close
of her visit she would give him his
answer.
'"And may I come out there
sometimes?'' asked Eben.
Fanny gave a reluctant consent,
and wished with all her heart that
she had refused him; SO, with the
understanding that he was to call
as a friend, the two parted.
At the depot Fanny found her
sisters carriage in waiting, and
was accosted by the handsomest as
we'll as the tallest man she had ever
seen. Six feet four and proper.
tionately majestic, he seemed like
Apollo and Hercules in one:
"Can this be the hired man p
thought Fanny; and then she look,
{ ed at his dress Not a trace o1
servitude about him; but he treated
her with extreme Difference, said
but little, drove with the precision
of a man accustomed to horses. and
J drew up before the cottage in grand
style.
Fanny was in her sisters arms.
and after her, the baby came in fol-
a fair share of kisses. #
"Well, is that your hired man p
queried Fanny, after her comforta.
bic instalment in one Of the luxuri,
Gus easy chairs.
eyes, dear; that is Mathew Dom.
How did you like him %
"IIe looks like a gentleman
said Fanny, after little pause.
Gle is gentleman, dear, in the
best sense Of the word; 1 told you
that"
"And does he speak English
we'll"
"Why, child, he isn't a foreign.
err" laughed Olive.
II mean grammatically," said
Fanny.
"Oh yes; I presume he has had
a good common school education,'
) replied Olive, "md something bet.
ter. l know there are certain clas.
sical books in his room: whether
he ever reads them or not 1 can't
say"
"Why in the world does he hire
out!" cried Fanny, dismay in he1
voice.
"Why shouldn't he?" asked Oh.
; i've, laughing heartily again. ''Hc
likes the country, is used to horses.
and-and I suppose he can't get
anything better to do.''
"But a man like him might-be
somebody" calculated Fanny, with
vehemence. "Aly patience! hashe
no ambition I'm afraid I shall
despise him.
"Perhcps, dear, he wouldn't mind
if you did," said Olive, hiding hel
face in the white neck Of her baby.
"He is so rcry independent"
; Surely, why should he care what
she thought Of him? soliloquized
Fanny, her cheeks flushing.
!, The next day she met him at the
; table. 1t seemed strange enough
to sit down with hired help, but
she was forced to confess that in
} nothing did lie give the impression
Of being menial.
"Shall we take hold Of that five.
: acre lot this mornirg?' he asked
t respectfully, of Mr.. Maynard, Oh.
ives husband.
"No; I prefer you should look
! to the drainage Of that strip east ot
: the hill," was the answer. "There'l1
be no rain yet a while, and I want
, to prepare that land for potatoes D
Fanny watched Mathew Dom
out Oh the sly, and Olive caught
t her at it. .4a
} II wanted to see what lind of q
dress he works in,'' said Fanny
} with tell-tale cheeks.
''Don't you think him little
handsomcr i'll his blouse and-heavy
: field boots?'', asked Olive.
{ Gle certainly is very handsome, >
said Fanny, frankly; "but why il
l the world-however," she added
: stopping short, cts none of my
4 I.