South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1875-04-02
She Hned the latch


and went in. ~
The reapers were sweeping on ahead.
in a long, graceful line; Others. far be.
hind. were binding up sheaves; and an
overseer, or what seemed one, was on
horseback, directing opeeafions. Rutl,
began in acorner near the gate. far a.
way from the rest. She booked fnrtiye
~ now and then 10 the owerseer, and
seeing that he had noticed her, vet did
not interfere. she gathered courage. If
she could have seen herself. then in a
mirror, though the least vain of her sex.
she would have been startled by her own
beauty. Excitement had given bright
glow TO her cheeks, and fear lent iu-
creased brilliancy TO her eyes. Her half
rustic attire, coarse IA il was. was adj
mirably adapted to set other fine figure.
her white arms shown dazzlingly; every
movement was grace. - ~
Suddenly a harsh voice behind her
cried, 'None of that. Throw down your
sickle. Wen have no tlieves hers, :
Ruth dropped her sickle, trembling all
over. and looked around. Lawyer Dent
stood there, also on horseback. and his
whip was raised menacingly. Ruth
shrank back, her knees gave way under
her; the harvest field swan around her ::
she grew blind she thought she was dy-
ing 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 rs every.
thing failed dizzily around her, Just as
she was losing consciousness, the quick
thud of horse was heard galloping o..
yer the stubble, and stern voice adj
dressed Lawyer Dent.
What are You saying TO this grip"
it cried angrily. Not telling her to 90
away How dare you? Didn't you know
my uncle always allowed this; aye and
the Greshams from time immemorial.
Thank God we have never ground the
faces of the poor. l saw you raise your
whip threateningly, If I'm not mistaken.
by Jove !! il you were not an older man
than myself, would 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 wo-
mans.
MY poor child" it said, ..dont mind
Dent, / am master here Take up your
sickle and cut rs much wheat =
lie stopped suddenly. Ruth, MP 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 oftears, and paz.
ed at the speaker.
In that look there was somethinp that
both thrilled and abashed the beholder.
Young Gresham, for such was the horse
man, was one of the haadsomest men of
his day, and he was accustomed to nd.
m'ration; bat Ruth's glance seemed to
say, surely, you are more than human:
you are some knight of chivalry, come
to rescue me from foul enchanter.''-
1t was this that thrilled him with n
strange feeling OF happiness. such rs no
woman's glance had ever before awaken
ed. But on the other hand, instead Of
finding himself in the presence Of viii
lagc rustic. IS he had expected. as the
dress led him till this very moment to
believe, he beheld, to his amazement. n
face not only OF rare beauty, but one OF
instinct with that inherited, as well as
acquired, refinement. which, for want Of
a better word, is called high bred. This
he saw ~ once, was no mere village Girl.
but young princess in disguise. And
he offered such a one aims lie had spo-
ken TO her as if she was mental His
usual ease Of manner had failed him
lie sat there dumb, rs if himself the
culprit.
Ruth broke the spell
ooh, sir" ~ she cried. with n sob
claspmg her hands and looking np at
him imploringly. II meant no HARM
/ used to sec other people do what | did.
And-and-we were both starving
mother and ="
Young Mr.. Gresham turned aside for
81 moment TO brush away n tear. Look.
ing up he saw Dents eyes fastened M.
on him, and there was q sheer on the
lawyers face.
The young man colored angrilr.
ride on. if You please, sir" he said
sternly to the lawyer Il have some
thing 30 say TO this young lady alone"
The lawyer obeyed. feeling perhaps
that he had gone too far, and wishing he
had never seen Ruth.
Then Young Gresham lifted his hat
to Ruth, rs if she had been princess.
and said:
Il beg a'thousand pardons. shall
settle with Dent to-day, and DISCHARGE
him. Believe me. / would not, for worlds
that this happened
cob, cir. don't on my account. GUAR.
rel with him." cried tender hearted
Ruth. "Ile was only doing what he
thought bis duty Besides-besides-
BESIDES what?" he said. kindly.
Besides he holds n mortgage ON our
cottage, and il might make him harder
on us than over"
Mortgage on orr cottage : Isit." nc
said, rs il n sudden light had broken in
ON him. "thc little house down in the
meadow"
\ mute nod Of assent was the rcply
Then ! nm talking 20 Miss Hunter
You don't. YOU don't mean 90 say that
the rascal has been threatening YOU a.
bout that