Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1878-01-17
LANCASTER. WISCONSIN. THURSDAY JANUARY H. 1878


beating heart. What if l am driven
off p
But the thought of her sick moth
or and the empty cupboard, made
her desperate She opened the gate
and went in. M
The reapers were sweeping on
ahead. in long graceful line, others
far behind were binding up shesves,
and an overseer, or what seemed
one, was on horseback, directing OPP
erations.
Edith began in corner, near the
gate, far away from the rest. She
looked furtively now and then, to-
ward the overseer, and seeing that
be had noticed her, yet did not in-
terfere, she gathered courage. If
she could have seen herself then 10 q
mirror, through the least vain of her
sex, she would have beea startled by
her own beauty. Excitement had
given bright glow to her cheek 8
and even an increased brilliancy to
her eyes. Her half rustic attire,
coarse as it was, was admirably
adapted to set off her symmetrical
figure, her white arms shown dazz-
lingly. every movement was grace.
Suddenly, harsh voice behind
her cried, None Of thatl Throw
down your sickIe! Wen have no
thieves here =
Edith dropped her sickle, tremb-
ling ell over, and looked around, Mr..
Jupp stood there, also on horseback
and his whip was raised menacingly.
Edith shrank back, her knees gave
away under her, the harvest,f field
swan around her, she grew blind,
she thought she was dying. She
had but one feeling, one thought
the man was about to strike her.
Oh, the degration of it, worse even
than his words of insult
But she did not faint. Just as
everything whirled dizzily around
her, just as she was losing con scious.
ness, the quick thud of horse was
heard galloping over the stubble,
and stern voice addressed Jupp.
what were you saying to this
girl p it cried, angrily. Not telling
her to 60 away How dare you
Didn't you know that my uncle al .
ways allowed this-ay, and the
Whcatlands from time immemorial
We have never ground the face OF
the poor. saw you raise your whip
threatuingly, if Pm not mistaken. By
Jove if you were not an older man
than myself I'd thrash you within
an inch of your life 7
All of q sudden the angry voice
ceased, and the speaker, turning to
Edith, addressed her 10 tones as soft
asa woman's.
My poor child il said, don't
mind Jupp--l am master here. Take
up your sickle and cut as much
wheat
He stopped suddenly. Edith up to
this point had stood wi b bowed
figure, half unconscious, her gaze
bent 10 shame on the ground, but
touched by those 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
beholder. Young Wheatland, for
such was the horseman, was one of the
handsomest men of his day, end be
was accustomed to admiration but
Edith's glance seemed to say, surely
you are more than human you are
some knight of chivsIry come to res.
cue me from foul enchanter.'
1t was this that thrilled him with
a strange, wild feeling of happi'
ness, such as no wOman's glance had
ever before awakened. But on the
other hand instead of finding himself
in the presence of a village rustic, al
he had expected, as the dress leo
him 10 this very moment to believe
he beheld to his amszement, face
not only of rare beauty, but one in.
stinct with that inherited as well al
acquired refinement, which for want
of better word. is called high-bred
This be saw at once, was no village
girl, but young princess in disguise
And he had offered such one aims
He had spoken to her as if she wal
a mental His usual ease of mann
failed him. He sat there dumb, al
if himself the culprit.
Edith broke The spell.
ooh, STRIP she cried, with a sob
clasping her hands, and looking uE
at him imploripgly. Il meant nc
harm. I used to see other people
do what l did. And-and-we were
starving-motber and -
Young Mr.. Wheatland turned
aside for moment to brush away Q
tear. Looking up. he saw Jupp's
gaze fastened on him aud there wat
sneer on the lawyers face.
The young man colored angrily
ride on, if you please, sir,' be
said sternly to the lawyer, Il wish
to say something to this young lady
alone
The lawyer obeyed, feeling per.
haps, that he had gone too far, and
wishing that he had never seen
Edith. +.
Then young Mr.. Wheatland, lift
ing his hat to Edith, as if che had
been a princess, said, i beg a
thousand pardons, l shall settle with
Jupp to-day and discharge him. Be.
lieve me | would not, for worlds, that
this had happened
oh. sir, don't on my account,