Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1873-07-09

"There was some mistake about that
think" said Frank. 1.-The farmer wa
speaking of his nephew Ralph Hill, no
of Ralph Strong"
"And who is Ralph Strong tl.en?n ask
ed Arabella in amazement
"Ralph Strong is farmer Hills hiret
man, said Frank, just as if the fact wer
something to be proud Of
"What!" cried Arabella sharply.
"He is farmer Hills hired man" re
peated Frank
"The impudent puppy !" exclaimed Ara
bella, completely thrown off her dignit,
by this rather startling announcement
/ "Wouldn't base impostor' be a NOR
appropriate term?" suggested Frank t',r
mentingly. III
"He certainly can not expect us to re
ceive him any longer as guest" Arabells
went on, ignoring the amendment.
eve might possibly receive him as one
of the family, though" said Frank, turn
ing to the window to hide her bushes.
dim perception of the truth began tt
dawn on Arabella.
a." 1t is not possible that. he has had the
assurance to ask you to marry hihl?n she
said freezingly.
"Why not? He loves me and | love
him. said Frank bravely
This was little too much No words
could adequately express our consterna
ton, and we all three sat and gazed at he1
in silence
" 1t is just too bad!" sighed Grace al
last, with tears in her eyes. cts going tc
| spoil all our nice times"
at is Il very pleasant mistake from be-
| ginning to end" said Arabella, with an
effort to compose herself; "but it proves
conclusively that Ralph Strong, whatever
| else he may be, is no gentleman"
W GU are wrong there!' cried Frank.
with flashing eyes and then, like the true
woman she is she bravely took up the alb
sent ones defense. 1t seems that the
nephew, Ralph Hill, whom the farmer
went to call on that memorable evening,
was absent at the time So Ralph Strong
was sent in his place. Accepting our
cordial invitation to visit us, without the
least suspicion that we were taking him
for other than he was, he had come and
gone week after week, in blissful ignor-
ance, until one evening, while confidino
to Frank some bits of personal history,
he CHANGED to discover the mistake we
were making, and was eager at once to ex-
plain; but Frank, partly from a love of
mischief and partly for fear the explana-
ton would put an end to his coming, had
begged him to keep quiet for awhile $50
the fault is all mine" she said "And now
you may call him what you like-farmer
Hllls nephew Or farmer HilPs hired man
to me he is, and has been from the first.
simply Ralph Strong, the truest and best
man | have ever known" And all
Arabella's arguments failed to convince
her that ploughing and reaping for farmer
hill had IN any way lessened his man
hood, or that in marrying farmer she
would be booming herself to a life of daily
drudgery. SO there was nothing more to
be said. She was of age, and had per-
Iect right to do as she pleased-but it
seemed so odd that Frank who had refus-
ed more offers than she could we'll remem-
per, was, after all, going to marry farmer
HIPS hired man. 1t came to light little
later that he was himself the owner of a
handsome farm, and had hired himself to
farmer Hill chiefly for the purpose of
learning how to manage it, having dis
covered, on leaving college, that he knew
lar more OF astronomy than of agriculture
but even this modifying fact could not
restore Arabella's composure.
Father and mother came home in the
fall and we all went back to town-and
at Christmas there was a wedding Ara.
bella declared that it was disgrace to the
family; but father, who is quick at read
ing men, said Ralph Strong was worthy
kOf any woman, and that Frank had shown
Fher good sense.
They have been married three wears
now, and Grace and go every summer tc
visit them. Their home is little Eden
and Frank is as happy as queen To be
sure, she has some care, as every wife and
mother must have; but can't see that she
is one bit more of a drudge" than any
city woman; and, as for her husband, ht
| grows nobler and better every day, as every
true man must who has wife to hell
him. Arabella has not yet been to see
them, but don't think her injured dign
ty can hold out much longer; for Frank
with the sweet forgiveness of her nature
has named her baby for her, and dain
tier baby Bell" was never SEEN They
are going to bring her to town soon, anC
Grace and feel sure that she will prove
little peacemaker. Speaking of Arabells
reminds me that last summer we me
farmer Hills nephew himself-the othcl
Ralph. They say he is rich; but, pool
fellow, he is greatly to be pitied, for hi
not only has weak "narves," but a weak
head as we'll; and even Arabella-worldly
minded as she is-could she once see him
would be quite willing to acknowledge
that Frank had made happy mistake il
taking the hired man instead.-He0qth unt
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