Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes Co., O. [Ohio]) 1870-1895, 1874-07-02

eat, and that she had no money to buy
'anything with. At first she thought oi
going to the store and begging for a
little more credit: but when she re-
fused, only week before, she abandon
e,I the idea in despair.
Suddenly it flashed upon her that the
wheat was being cur on the great Gres-
ham farms. In the old SqHire's time,
the poor had been allowed to come with
IA sickle and cut what they wished: it
was a Scriptural custom which the
Greshams had maintained from father
to son, for generations. .Theold Squire
was dead, but Ruth had no doubt but
that the privilege would stiIlbe accord
ed, 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 before she reached the har-
vest field, when she remembered that
the heirs of the old Squire, whoever
they were, were said to he abroad, and
that lawyer Dent was their agent.
"New men, new measures she said !;
stopping at the gate with u beating
heart. "What ifI am driven Off"
But the thought of her sick mother,
and the empty cupboard made her des-
perate. She lifted the latch and went
in. t
The reapers were sweeping on ahead
in long, graceful line; others, for be-
hind, were binding up sheaves, and an
everseer, or what seemed one, was on
horseback, directing operations. Ruth
began in corner near the gate, far
away from the rest. She looked fur
lively, now and then, toward the over
seer, and seeing that he had noticed her
yet did not inter fere she gathered cour-
age. If she could have seen herself
then, in mirror, though the least vain
of her sex, she would haye been startled
by her own beauty. Excitement had
given bright glow to her cheeks and
an even increased brillianey to her eyes.
Her half rustic attire, course as it was,
was admirably adapted to set OF her
fine figure; her.white arms shone daz !,
zlingly; every movement was grace.
Suddenly harsh voice behind cried,
'ssNone of that. Throw down your
sickle. Wen have no thieves here"
Ruth dropped her sickle, trembling
all over, and looked around. Lawyer
Dent stood there, also on horseback, !,
and his whip raised menancingly. Ruth
shrank back; her knees gave way un-
der her; the harvest-field swarm around
her; she grew blind; she thought she
was dying. She had but one feeling,
one thought, the man was about to
strike her. Oh. the degradation Of it,
worse even than his words Of insult.
But she did not faint. just as every
thing whirled dizzily around her, just
as she was loosing consciousness, the
quick thud of horse was heard gal
loping over the stubble, and a stern
voice addressed lawyer Dent.
"What are you saying to this girl ?"
1t cried, angrily. Not telling her to 60
away! How dare you? Didn't you
know my uncle always allowed this
aye! and the Greshams from time i'm
memorial? Thank God we have never
ground the faces of the poor. saw
yOu raise your whip threatcningly il
Pm not mistaken. By Jove. IL you
were not an older man than myself I'd
thrash you within an inch of your life."
All Of sudden the angry voice ceas-
ed, and the speaker turning to Ruth.
addressed her in tones as soft as a wo-
mans. .--.-.--.....-.
"My poor child, itsaid, "don 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 ON 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 beholder.
Young Gresham, for such was the horse
man, was one of the handsomest men
of his day, and. he was accustomed to
admiration; but Ruth's glance seemed
to say, "Surely, you are more than hui
man; you are some knight of chivalry,
come to rescue me from foul enehan-
ter" 1t was this that thrilled him with
a strange, wild feeling Of happiness,
such as no woman's glance had ever be-
fore awakened. But on the other hand
instead of finding himself In the pres
ence of village rustic, as he had ex-
pected, and as the dress led him till
this very moment to believe. he beheld,
to his amazement, face not only of
rare beauty, but one instinct with that
inherited, as well as acquired refine
ment which, for want of a better word,
is called high-bred.l This he saw at
once, was no mere village girl, but .
young princess in disguise. And lie
had offered such an one aims. He had
spoken to her as il she was menial
His usual ease of manner failed him.
He sat there dumb as if himself the
culprit.
Ruth broke the spell.
aOh, sir!" she cried with sob, clasp
ing her hands and looking up at him
imploringly. 81 meant no harm. |
used to see other people do what did.
And-and-we were starving-mother
and -
Young Mr.. Gresham turned aside for
q moment to brush away tear. Look
ing up he saw Dents eyes fastened ON
the lawyers face.
The young man colOred anyrily.
ride on, if you please, sir" he said
sternly to the lawyer. 81 have some
thing to say to this young lady alone"
The lawyer obeyed, feeling, perhaps,
that he had gone toodor, and wishing
that he had never seen Ruth. see
Then yonng Mr.. Gresham, lifting his
hat to Ruth as If she had been a prin-
cess, said,
,:sIiEag thousand pardons. shall
settle with Dent to-day, and discharge