Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1873-05-29


| we'll see"
''I'n ask her to object" said Jenny to
herself, triumphantly.
| Meantime, Jenny was as cold as ice to-
| ward the new conner. If he asked her a
question, she answered him frigidly. In
( no way could he make friends with her.
| His admiration for her sweet face and
pretty household ways was quite thrown
away When he was present Jenny reso-
lutefy declined to play or sing. 1t was
really very unladylike of her, but she did
not look at it in that light 1t hurt her
dignity to eat and sit with a servant, and
she took no pains to inform herself with
regard to his conversation or his manners;
| so that the evenings when he was present
were spent in silence Mrs Darrow was
a great reader, and at last young Moulton
THAT was the lads name) took book Or
paper as soon as the evening meal was
over. 1t was very unsocial, and Jenny
felt it sometimes, and really did try once
or twice to overcome her prejudice, but
perhaps he thought his time had come
he was silent, or answered only in mono
syllables.
At last Miss Margaret arrived. She was
a beautiful woman, past thirty, accustom-
| ed, as Jenny had expressed it, to the ele-
l
Margaret was very fond and proud of her
cousin, and Jenny repaid her by a strict
| Difference to all her wishes, an implicit
belief and confidence in everything she
did and said. Jenny always gave up her
own pretty little room to her cousin, as
sisted her at her toilet if desired, and was
ready to chat, or sew by her side, read to
her, sing to her, and make the moments
| fly pleasantly while she remained in their
smaller and more humble home.
! There is one thing that you will think
dreadful, am sure" said Jenny, few
| hours after the arrival, as they were talk
ing together little while before tea
| at must be something very serious"
| responded her cousin, 'judging from your
| dOleful countenance'
1T IS serious. Father has farm hand
"a green boy, under twenty-and he sits
| at the table with u.s.
"He does?" echoed Miss Margaret, with
mild surprise.
"Yes. l do wish papa had more pride ~
He is old-fashioned in his ideas, you
| know"
'Of course he is; but he ought to res
| pect the prciudices of the times; he ought
to think more of me than to allow such Il
| thing. Don't you think so?''
- W
person the farm hand is, dear" said Miss
Margaret placidly shaping pink bow at
her neck. IF he is uncouth, and dresses
! badly, and talks coarsely, and eats with
| his knife, | should certainly wish him to
| learn better manners before he sat down
with me-
why, he's not exactly uncouth,' said
Jenny, recalling the plain but keen face E;
''he dresses well enough, | suppose. |
never noticed very closely. AS to talking,
he hardly ever opens his mouth to speak,
| and he never eats with his knife-Of that
| | am certain.''
Jenny was a little nervous as tea-time
| drew on. She felt that she might have
been unjust, that her prejudice had car
ried her too far. She was not therefore,
at all prepared for what did happen.
Enter Mr.. DawoW and young Moulton,
both quietly taking seats. Presently the
tea bell rings, and enter Miss Margaret,
peering round, as was her custom, for she
was little ncar-sighted.
Niece Margaret, said Mr. barrow, as
they gathered at the table, "allOw me to
introdCce"-
why, Harry MouIton.' exclaimed
haven't seen YOU since last Commence
Jenny looked Oh, with burning checks,
as the two met and shook hands like old
| friends. What to make of the situation
she could not tell. Her hand trembled,
and she felt like crying. Surely, this was
the farm hand" Surely, that was her re-
| fined and aristocratic cousin, Miss Mar
garct She looked from one to the other
How do you get on in Greek? and
when do YOU graduate?'' asked Miss Mar
garct, laughing
Il shall not graduate for a year yet" was
the reply. And as for Greek, why, Prof
Tyson seems pleased with my progress"
"Well, I'd like to know who we've got
here?" said Farmer barrow, his eyes
twinkling. "A chap from college | rather
reckon. | knew he was a grcenhOrn-in
farming matters | mean-by the looks Of
his hands; but | didn't take him for a uni
versity student. Come, now, that's pretty
WE'LL
4 had the old trouble in my chest this
spring" said the hand as he turned to
Miss Margaret, land the doctor advised
me to try Il little farming. He said in
order that [ might have the full benefit
of the labor that | ought to hire out. He
said it half in sport, | suppose, but the
notion pleased me, and [ acted upon the
hint. So here | am"
And there's work in him." added
Farmer barrow, with an admiring glance
you ought 10 have seen how he laid on
| reckon his hands amt so tender as they
were. Well, admire education. Didn't
have much myself but | admire it; and
don't think it does any harm to put little
muscle along of it."
That evening there was music. At the
request Of Miss Margaret, the young man
played and sang, and, as the farmer said,
deIightedly, made the piano talk like a
human
Poor Jenny, to describe her mortifica-
ton would be impossible. Her pride
helped her to struggle through the even
ing and conceal it; but once in her room
she cried like the silly schoolgirl she was.
TO think" laughed Cousin Margaret,
the next day, that you couldn't see the
gentleman in him. That was the TN
kindest cut of all. She was too generous
a girl. however, not to acknowledge her
mistake and put it down to senseless preju-
dice, and she never needed another lesson.
I0uth's Companion.
A Brave Little Girl.