Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1875-07-22
THE FARMERS DAUGHTER.

| 1U6 ! SsiHt6u ~ SHSOit I'll
They were seated side by side unds
the limbs where they had so often me
Lucie Western, the farmers daughte
and Claud Percival, the artist.
! The clock struck six. L must e
Lucie,' said Claud Percival, risins
The walk to the station is fully tW
miles, and the train starts in half a
| hour
And when will you return?'
| Il cannot before two months, dearest
Then you shall see me. Farewell b
continued, taking her to his heart. s
60 without fear, Lucie trusting in you
truth as my own. No other, whOeve
lie be, could win you from me. No
even,' he laughed, the master O
HoIme Manor
Not even he, dear Claud,' she smiled
She watched him until turn in tn,
Edenshire lane hid him from view; Of
forwards she went back to her father
farm, one of the best on the estate.
AS she entered the sitting-room, tn,
! farmer, who was there, exclaimed:
Here's news for you lass. Tn,
squire takes possession at last. He il
coming down this evening withou
hardly word of warning, and all thu
servants, I'l warrant, are in an awfu
hurry and fiuster; while he has already
sent word that tomorrow he visits hi.
tenants, and, lass, it's here he come.
first; so it's high busy We must be t(
have all spice and span, so that he may
renew my lease, which is shortly out.
There is no fear about the place
father smiled his daughter. You see
to outdoors, and leave the house and
the dairy under my direction
They couldn't be under better, ,Lucie
He'll be fortunate young farmer who
gets you for housewife
Lucie kept her word. The house
and dairy were perfect by the time Mr.
Cortland Massin arrived. He was 8
tall, aristocratic-looking man, with
dark hair and eyes, red lips, but rather
with the air of man performing du.
ty than pleasure. His manner chang.
ed wholly, however, when the dairy,
with its bright, glittering utensils, and
clean, red-tiled floor, came under his
observation.
Il have seen many foreign dairies,
he remarked, even those of the proven
bially clean Dutch, but none could
compete with this. 1t makes one al
most foreswear everything save butter,
cheese and eggs
you might eat your dinner off the floor
here, as the saying is, better than of
some folks table-cloth on a Saturday.
It's all owing to my daughter, Lucie,
Mr.. Mason. The maids would be
here, there and everywhere, and the
butter and cheese everywhere, if it
weren't for her directing them. 1 gave
her the best education a lass can have,
but she is too good and clever to let it
interfere with her work.
May have the pleasure of seeing
one to whom my eyes owe so much"
asked Gerald Massin, looking around.
'Eh surely. She's somewhere near,
I'll warrant replied the farmer, going
to the the door, and making the air
ring with his daughters name.
A moment after, Lucie, dressed SIM
ply but prettily in light muslin en-
tered.
In rather supercillious manner, Ger
aid Massip turned. AS, however, his
eyes rested on the girl, the farmer saw
him start, and his dark brows rise in
as he bowed low.
He treats her as he might duch-
ess,' he thought, approvingly; and
bless her-she behaves quite like one,
too. I'll warrant he has seen few pret-
tier lasses than Lucie.'
Gerald Massin evidently was of the
same opinion. His dark eyes rarely
from her face. The tones in
which he addressed her were low and
and the encomiumS end
less that he passed on the dairy, which
he appeared in no hurry to leave, but
slipped the cream he had received from
her hands 80 slowly that Lucie strong
ly suspected no didn't like it, but, be-
ing well-bred, only drank it out of
to the place.
When, finally the farmer carried him
off, Gerald Massin displayed more in
difference to the live stock and the
acres of arabic land than before, and
soon, pleading time, mounted his
horse at the gate to leave.
Il will come another day, if you will
permit me- he said. 1T is fine farm
and profitable-a fortune in itself. By
the way, the stewart tells me your lease
is nearly expired
1T is, Mr.. Massin; but trust you'll
find no objection to renew it, a
Il see none at present, certainly. We
will talk it over when l come again.
Gerald Massin came over very often,
and always at those times when Lucie
was sure to be at home; but never men,
TONED the lease, and always changed
the subject if the farmer spoke Oft
The farmer, however, experienced
40 dread; for with much satisfaction he
had begun to read the cause Of Gerald
Massin's frequent visits, even as had
Lucie, with pain, sorrow, and mOrtii-
,ation.
The Squire loved the farmers daugh-
.er.
One morning, nearly month after
Mr.. Massin's first visit, a footman
brought word that Farmer Western was
wanted up at the manor on business re-
'pecting the lease.
Il know it; it's all right remarked
John Western. thank goodness, the
weight will soon be off my mind
His honest face the picture of con-
ent, he rode off; but it was nothing in
to how it beamed when, an
hour later, he galloped home.
Flinging himself from his horse, he
hurried into the sitting-roem where
Lucie sat at work.
News. lassie-newsn he cried; what
will you give for it-eh?'
'The usual payment, she smiled, put
ing her arms ABOUT him, and kissing
lis cheek.
From a bank where the account cam
lot be overdrawn,' he proceeded cheer
ly. well, ,I've been up to the 'Squire's,
Lucie, and if you were to guess a hun
lred years, you'd never guess what he
aid.'
But Lucie, though steadily she in
luired what he did say, had already
guessed, as her pale cheeks end her
lrms abruptly dropping from the farm
,r's neck proved.
He loves you, Lucie, and wants to
N oh a Won his WIFE