The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1876-09-22
mR. aAYaARD-s HIRED MAN.

child is killed p cried Fanny, with
scared face, as she lifted the tiny morsel
from the floor but the pillows had pro-
tected it and the startled baby, after
one effort at curling her lips. broke into
charming smile.
"No harm doIe, and | trust I'm for
given" said Matthew Dom.
"No. you are not forgiven. / shall
never forgive you. MIR. Matthew Donn,
so please leave baby and me. | have
nothing more to say"
"Well, Pm going.'
"You can go, sir.
The young man went softly, slowly,
out, bn: he looked neither grieved nor
angry; OF. the other side of the door he
smiled.
The circumstances were these
Fanny had been amusing her sisters
child, aud the little cllerub seemed never
to tire of musical sounds, SO Fanny, who
had ssMother Goose by heart, liked
nothing better than to sit in the cosy
sitting-room, which was really the nur-
sery, and sing those old, old melodies.
Matthew Dom was the hired man,
and on this particular morning had
stolen in quietly behind Miss Fanny, and
tempted ot-what sure y not the Evil
One had beit over and kissed her on
| the forehead.
! And this he had dared to do, know
ing that Fanny was city young lady,
| living iii a fashionable quarter aud used
to the best of society.
Fainy's sister had married rich far
mer rot quite two years before. People
talked about tie tsrysolis burying them
selves alive; but both Olive and Fanny
loved the country better than the town.
Every summer Fanny was glad to leave
the ''stuffy old house" as she ca led it,
and almost by one leap on the express
train find herself in paradise, breathing
air redolent of white clover aud sweet
/ brier. During the winter the sisters
correspouded regularly, aud Olive had
sung the praises of Matthew Dom,
their hired man. so often that Fanny
found herself thinking of his acquailtt-
ance as one of the pleasant probabilities
| of her next visit
And the pleasant pen ran on and
told about planting and prospective
sweet corn and pea blossoms ard how
the grape-vines were full of the tiniest
| buncheS and the young peach trees We're
going to do Splendidly, aid adeIa had
! two ot the "cnnningeSt, mil white
teeth" and ! know not how much more
| loving nonsense.
| Now Fanny had rich lover. and
! like most rich lovers he was prepos-
SesSiug in his own personal appearance.
| In her own written language to Olive,
''hc pestered ler to DEATH" To be
! sure, 1t was pleasant to see his splendid
/ equippage Ia front of Their door, with
| the two superb grays, Tor on rare ocea-
sions Fanny yielded to his solicitations
to take ride; aid lie always cohtrived
to drive by hiS castle of a brown stone
front, perhaps 10 tempt her, for Fanny
was a< fond of beau. itul things as wo-
| man ongbt to be, and as vel aware
of the advantages which money can
give.
Both her father and mother were
anxious that she should marry the Hon.
Ebe ezer Wolcot5, bnt Fanny was high
/ spirited, and they seldom advised her
| The girl knew that they were living be-
yond their meafs tor her sake, and this
knowledge had been bitterly earned.
She and Olive had many conferences
over it.
81 think if you sere married,'' said
Olive, "papa would come here aa take
small house; then business iced not
press him in his old age.''
| Ebenezer had done the proper thing
had offered Fanny his heart, his
house, his carriage aud his horses, and
| although be was Known for a pugna.
cious old gentleman, terribly set III his
way, he was honorable, and he loved
beautiful FANNY Bryson with all his
heart. And Fanny had told him she
could not deelde-tElat she was going for
the summer months to Sister Olives,
and at the close of her visit she would
give lin his answer.
And may come out there some
times 20 asked Ebeii
Fanny gave reluctant consent, and
wished with all her heart that she had
refused him; SD with the understanding
/ that he was TO call as friend, the two
parted.
At the depot Fanny found her sisters
carriage IN waiting, and was acosted by
the handsomest as well as the fallest
man she had ever seen. Six feet four
and propogtionafely majestic, he seemed
like Apollo and Hercules ii one.
Can this be the hired man? thonght
Fanny; and then she looked at his dress.
Not trace of servitude about him; but
he treated her with extreme Difference,
said but little, drove with the precision
OF man accustomed to horses and drew
up before the cottage III grand style.
Fanny was in her sisters arms, and
after her the baby came in for fair
share of kisses
"Well, is that your hired man P''
qneried Fanny, after her comfortable In
stu lment in one of the luxurious easy
chairs.
Yes, dear; that il Matthew Dom.
How do you. like him ?''
He looks like gentleman said
Fanny, after a lite pause.
lie is q gentleman, dear, IN the best
sense Of the word; ! told yon that
And does he speak English well ?s'
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