Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1878-05-30

much like one other rustic neighbors as
possible, she took sickle and went forth
ike Ruth of old.
Her heart did not begin to fail her un-
til just before she reached the harvest
fields, when she remembered that the
heirs of the squire, whoever they were,
were said to be abroad, and that Mr..
Jupp was their agent
New men, new measures" said she,
and stopped at the gate with beating
heart. "What if / am driven Off"
But the thought of her sick mother
and the empty cupboard made her des-
perate. She opened the gate and went
In.
The reapers were sweeping on ahead
in long, graceful line; others, far be-
hind, were binding up sheaves, and an
overseer, or what seemed one. was on
horseback, directing operations.
Edith began In corner, near the gate,
far away from the rest. She looked fur
lively now and then toward the overseer,
and seeing that he had noticed her. yet
did not interfere, she gathered up more
courage.
If she could have seen herself then, in
mirror, though the least vain of her sex,
she would have been startled at her
own beauty. Excitement had given a
bright glow to her cheek and an even
increased brilliancy to her eyes. Her
halfrustic attire, coarse as it was, was
admirably adapted to set off her beauti-
full figure; her white arms shOne daz-
lingly; every movement was grace.
Suddenly harsh voice behind her
cried
"None of that! Throw down your
sickle! Well have no thieves here"
Edith dropped her sickle, trembling
all over, and looked around. Mr.. Jupp
stood there, also on horseback, and his
whip was raised menacingly. Edith
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 as every
thing whirled dizzily around her, just as
she was losing consciousness, the quick
thud Of horse was heard galloping over
the stubble, and a stern voice addressed
Jupp.
"What are you saying to this girl p"
it cried angrily. Not telling her to go
away? How dare you Didn't you
know that my uncle always allowed
this-aye. and the Wheatlands from
time immemorial? We have never
ground the faces of the poor. | saw
you raise your whip menacingly, if [
am not mistaken. By Jove, if you were
not an older man than myself | would
thrash you within an inch of your
life p
All of u sudden the angry voice
ceased, and the speaker, turning to
Edith, addressed her in tones, soft as q
woman's;
"My poor child" it said, don't
mind Jupp-Tm master here. Take
up your sickle and cut as much
wheat"
He stopped suddenly. Edith. up to
this point, had stood with bowed figure,
halsunconscious, 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 be-
holder Young Wheatlands, for such
was the horseman, was one of the
handsomest men Of his day, and he
was accustomed to admiration; but
Edith'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 a
strange, wild feeling of happiness, such
as no woman'S glance, had ever before
awakened. But on the other hand, in
stead of finding himself in the presence
of village rustic, as he had expected,
and as the dress led him until this very
moment to believe, he beheld, to his
amazement, not only a face of rare
beauty, but one instinct with that in
herited and acquired refinement, which
for want of better word, is called
highbred. This, he saw at once, was
no mere village girl, but young
princess in disguise. And he had offered
such one aims He had spoken to
her as if she were mental. He sat
there dumb, as if himself the culprit.
Edith broke the spell.
ooh, sir" she cried with Il sob, clasp
ing her hands and looking up at him
imploringly, az meant no harm. [
used to see other people do what did,
and-and-we were starving-mOther
and L"
Young Mr.. Wheatlands turned aside
for q moment to brush away Il tear.
Looking up, he saw Jupp's gaze fasten-
ed on him, and there was a sneer on the
lawyers face.
The young man colored angrily.
Ride on, if you please, sir" he said
sternly to the lawyer. 81 wish to say
something to this young lady alone"
The lawyer obeyed, feeling. perhaps,
that he had gone too far, ana wishing
he had never seen Edith.
The young Mr.. Wheatlands, lifting
his hat to Edith as if she had been a
princess, said:
Il beg thousand pardons. I shall
settle with Jupp to-day and discharge
him. Believe me, [ would not for
worlds have had this happen"
ooh, sir, don't on my account quar-
rel with him." cried the tender-hearted
Edith: He was only doing what he
thought his duty. Besides-besides-"
Besides what?"
Besides he holds the mortgage on
our cottage, and he might be harder on
us than ever"
Mortgage on your cottage, is it, he
said, as if sudden light had broken
upon him, the little house down IN the
meadow?
A mute nod of assent was the reply.
''Then [ am talking to Miss Miller