Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1874-12-31

would be sold.
The day before this notice was served,
Ruth had gone in person to lawyer Dent.
hoping to touch his heart. But he was dead
to her tears and representations. He had
the reputation of being merciless, and
Ruth saw now that the character was de-
served. "It's 10 use your coming here,' he
said, rudely. al am acting for others, and
not for myself; you'd better spend your
time in getting together the interest you
owe. l can't interfere. Bring me the mon-
ey. or the law must take its course.
When Mrs. Hunter heard the result of
this Interview, and when aiterward the
formal notice was served, she moaned
feebly and turned her face to the wall.
I'VE shall have to beg, or go to the poor
house. or die on the road" she said. ION.
that should ever have lived TO SEE this
day"
Ruth herself was at the end of her re-
sources. For awhile she lay PROSTATE on
the bed. where she had flung herself be-
side her mother. the TWO mingling their
tears. But the brave girl rallied at last.
She remembered that there was nothing In
the house to eat, and that she had no mon
ey to buy anythn. with. AT first she
thought OF going to the store and begging
Tor "A little more credit; but when she re-
called how curty this had been refused,
idea in despair.
Suddenly It flashed upon her that the
wheat was being cut on the great Gresham
farms. In the old Squire's time. the poor
had been allowed TO come with a sickle
aud cut what they whsbed; 1t was II Scrip
tural custom, which the Greshams had
maintained from father 10 sou for genera
tons. The old Squire was dead, but Ruth
had no doubt but that the privilege would
still be accorded, and looping up her skirt
to look as much like one of her rustic
neighbors as possible. she took sickle.
and went forth, like her namesake OF old.
Her heart did not begin TO fail her until
just .lore she reached the harvest field,
when she remembered that the heirs of the
old Squire, whoever they were, were said
to be abroad. aud that lawyer Dent WAS
their agent. New men new measures"
she said, and stopped at the gate. with a
beating heart. What If am driven or?"
But the thought OF her sick mother, and of
the empty cupboard, made her desperate.
She lifted the latch and went In.
The rcapers were sweeping on ahead.
in long. graceful line; others far behind
were binding up sheavcs and an overeecr.
or what seemed one. was on horseback.
directing operations. Ruth began in a corn
er. near the gate. far away from the rest.
She looked iurtiyely, now aud then, to-
ward the overseer. and seeing that he had
noticed her. yet did not interfere. she gath
cred courage. III she could have seen her
self then. i'll mirror. the least vain of her
sex, would have been startled by her own
beauty. Excitement had given bright
glow 10 her cheeks and AN even increased
briliiancy 10 her eyes. Her half rustic at
tire, coarse As II was admirably adapte To
set of her fine figure; her white arms
|
grace.
suddenly a harsh voice behind her cried.
None OF that. Throw down youi sick
ie. Well have no thieves here
| Ruth dropped her sickle, trembling all
over, and looked around. Lawyer Dent
stood there, also on hsrs cback. and hi,
whip was raised menacingy, Ruth shrauk
back her knees gave way under her; the
harvest field swan arouLd her; she grew
blind; she thought she was diving. She
had but one feeling. one thought, the man
was about 10 strike her. Oh. the indgnity
OF IL, worse even than his words OF insult.
| But she did not faint. just As everything
whrled dIzzy around her. just a. she was
losing consciousness. the quick thud of a
horse WAS heard galloping over the stubble
aud a stern voice addressed lawyer Dent
Nv hat are you saying 10 this girl? il
cried. angrily. Not telling her to 20
that my uncle always allowed this. ah
and the Greshams from time immemorial:
Thank God, we have never ground the
fdces OF the poor. | saw you raise your
whip thrcateningly. If I'm not mistaken.
BY Jove! ifyou were not an older man
than myself, I'd thrash you within an inch
OF your life"
All OF a sudden the angry voice ceased.
and the speaker, turning TO Ruth. address
ed her in tones soft as woman's.
My poor child" it said. don't mind
Dent. am master here. Take up your
sickle and cut as much wheat
He stopped suddenly. Ruth, up to this
point. had stood with bowed figure half
unconscious. her gaze bent in shame to
the ground. But touched by these kind
words, and even more by the tone. she
lifted her eyes, full of tears, and gazed at
, the speaker.
In that look there was something that
both thrilled and abashed the beholler
Young Gresham, for such was the horse
man. was one of the han,tsomest men of
J his day, and he was accustomed TO admira-
! ton; but Ruth's glance seemed 10 say
surrey you are more than human.-you
are some knight of chivalry, come t. res
cue me from foul enchanter." Ii was
this that thrilled him with strange, wild
. feeling OF happiness, such rs no womans
glance had ever before awakened. But
J on the other hand, instead of finding him
! self In the presence OF village rustic. rs
he had expected, and as. the dress led him
, till this very moment to believe, he be-
held to his amaZement a face not only of
rare beauty, but one instinct with that in
I herited AS well as acquired, refinement,
which. for the want OF "A better word. is
called high bred. This, he saw at once.
was no mere village girl, but young
princess in disguise. Aud he had offered
: such one aims, He had spoken to her
as ii she was a menial. His usual ease of
manner failed him. He sat there dumb
as ii himself the culprt. 49,.
5 Ruth broke the spelA-
oh sir" she cried. with sob, clasp
y ing her hands and looking up at him. inn
ploriDgly. Il mean no harm. | used to
see other people do what / did. And
!, and we were starving.-mother and l."
r Young Gresham turned aside for mo-
J. ment to brush away a tear.-Iooking up
he saw Dents eye fastened on him, and
l there was sneer on the lawyers face
d The young man colored angrily.
"Ride on, IL you please. SIR" he said
n sternly to the lawyer. 81 have something
J. to say to this young lady alone"
d The lawyer obeyed, feeling perhaps that
he had gone too far, and wishing he had
|
h ham, lifting his hat to Ruth, as if she had
e been princess, said:
z Il beg thousand pardons. l shall set
tie with Dent too day and discharge him.
d Believe me. | wOuld not for worlds that
}. this mad happened"
t 'Oh. sir. don't on my account quarrel
}, with him. ."cried the tender-hearted Ruth.
: He was only doing what he thought his
, duty. Besides, besides
It ''Besides what?''
+, "Besides, he holds a mortgage on our
!. cottage. and it might make him harder on
+ us than ever,
=; Mortgage on your cottage! Is it." he
said, as II sudden light had broken on
e him, ''the little house down in the mead.
c ow?'
IS mute nod Of assent was the reply.
u "fhen l am talking to Miss Hunter
p You don't. you don't mean that the ras
d cal has been threatening you about that p