Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1877-09-13
The Farmers Daughter.

The Idea rs simply preposterous
Cleve Fairfax drew his tall. well-propor-
! toned figure to its utmost height; his lip
curled as he did so.
YES" SAID his elder brother, irresolute-
ly, feeling his moustache; but. you see,
| Charley Is set o. 1t, and
That makes no difference, one way or
the other" interrupted Cleve, with that
quiet frmness which made one think he
might be moulded In iron, at Is impossi-
ble-neither more or less! Your son, my
nephew, to marry a country girl-a Wis
consin farmers daugbter-simply because
| she has a pretty fece and pair OF hazel
| eyes, why. man it would be lifelong mis-
take"
Aud thus saying, Mr.. Fairfax passed
! down the broad aisle.
Mabel Thrope, sitting in the crowd under
the balcony of the Academy of Music
had heard all the brief coiloQuy with a
| singing through her veias and burning
| flush upon her cheek.
"Crue. cruel" she thought, as they
| passed on, land heedlessly 30, too did
not care for Charles Fairfax. should
never have infringed on the dignity OF
their race by marrying him. They need
| not have been afraid"
And Mabel drew herself up with pride
no less genuine than that OF the Fairfaxes.
II she was a Wisconsin farmers daughter.
Miss Thorpe went home feeling New
York had lost all its charms for her. She
had been very happy in the great metropo-
lis, with girls innocent, unsophistlcated
happiness but Il was all over now. And
when Charlie Fairfax called next day he
was as,onished to learn that Miss Thorpe
had gone home.
SO ended Charles young dream Of love
until the next pretty girl should strike its
answering chord. And Cleye Fairfax
thought no more Of the girl who had given
him m0mentary annoyance, save TO con
grttuate himself on the fact that the dan.
ger was over.
An October afternoon, with an atmo.-
phere full OF bracing yigor in the wide
chimney OF the long, low farmhouse kitcb-
en-, blaZed fire Of well seas oncd logs, and
Mabel Thorpe standing IN the level, Grim
son light, seemed the very Incarnation of
the home deity, 10 her calico dress and
rutiled white apron.
How Is he now, mother?' she asked with
q slight shadow OF anxiety Ia her ewes as
plump, matronly dame came down the
narrow winding stairway that led up from
the chimney jamb.
"Oh. he, better" said Mrs. Thorpe.
briskly. Hen DO well enough now. /
don't see how he could possibly have been
20 careless as 10 let the gun d discharge IL |
self through his own arm"
1T viii be some time before he RECEIVERS.
| suppose, mother
~ our father SAYS he wouldn't be sur !
priscd Il It was month before he got well !
around again
"A month" Mabel Thorpe drew a long I
breath. OF all men in the world. she most
dl~lited and fi>trusted Cleve Fairfax. vet
here he WAS, thrown a. 1t were. upon their |.
hand' tor the very boon OF his lite Little /
had honest old Obei Thorpe thought when \
he brought home the disabled sportsman. I
npon whom he had stumbled through the
metr>t chance in the world, whom he was
hringlng across his threshold Mabel did 4
not Judge il best To cnlightrn him
we were never Introduced d. each 9th I
a." she thought, and il j. not likely that /
Bot when C1eve began 10 or he,,1- ~ r.
o"i could not bat feel that nng cl',
was coming over the life that had ha..,,,'
cued from the grave. 'e'h res
NA3"e '-'''r' watching her. began to have
u'I rhe marvel and my,Iet ~ home god Z
.v..r non. 10 read ID, enlgm"- I
80. F.Irfax. who had run the gauntlet - :
t,,,,,,trshir New York seasons heatt
,,hoIr and unscathed. had come beneath
III. Iowly root Western farmhouse 70
IL. his heart aiter All
Mabel! .,,...-..
H.. -,.Le one night. atter long Sil"rce
A. she sat opposite. quiet and seli-cohtH'h-
ed.
..Ye.. Mr. Fairfax"
4 -. a
cided that may go away next week W
Il heard them say 50 this morning
"Shall you be sorry TO have me gone,
Mabel"
She ylaHrcd quietly toward him
..Of course II viii be lonely without you.
Mr. Fairfax
He looked wi~tfuuv at her. what made
him lnvr her 20 paS>iuuateV What charm
did .hr hold that 80 attracted his "hoIc
nature!
/ Mabel. he said suddenly. Il cannot go
away fruln here until have asked you one
Z question. cannot leave here until tell
I you how dearly | love you-how earnestly
/ long To make Yon my wife.
/ Mabel looked up, pale. but -ett'p"'''S-
sed
The idea 4 simply prep pSterun-. she
sad; the very words that had so chi He'd
her upspringing happiness year ago
when she sat under the pillars Of the bal
i cony 10 the Academy OF Music.
"Preposterous, Mabel and whyi"
"Itis possible-neither more nor less,
she went on deliberately. "Iou 10 marry
a country girl-a Wisconsin farmers daugh-
ter-simply because she has pretty face
and pair OF hazel eyes, Why, man, II
would be life long mistake!
Cleve Fairfax felt the blood rising hot
| 4 = Ila hl1 l.
lent memory, and in an instant the whole
scene in the opera house rose up before hi
minds ewes His own batteries were turn
ed against him with a vengence.
..Nsbel-you heard me thenF'
II heard you then, Mr. Fairfax.
But | meant-l didn't know"
III il not at all necessary TO tell me wha
YOU meant, or what you knew or didn1
know For am the same Mabel that
was then nor have the naughty race o
the Fairfaxes waxed less aristocrattc that
aiu aware OF. Consequently you vii
perceive the futility OF further argument.
But have learned TO know and lov'
YOU since then" pleaded Cleye. eagerly.
II an sorry you should be disappoiDte,
in ANYTHING you have set your heart upon
Mr. Fairfax. but my mind is fully made OF
and cannot be altered. Moreover, | All
engaged TO a prince among men-one 81
those who makes agriculture the royal pur
suit it is nor would exchange my destl
nv for the highest place in all your hollow
CITY life. Leave me here to be happy anC
and 90 on your way. You are answered
And Cleve Fairfax dispirited and disap
pointed. went back TO New ork and live
a bachelor to the end OF the chapter. am
all for the love OF "A wisconsin farmer
daug