River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1878-07-11
you know who / wasea he questioned, in


hired man; AID if you're not he, who
are your
That's the question, said the stranger
gravely.
:" But we mustn't stand talking here
went ON Barbara, in business like SOFT
of way. ''Take the basket and go to
picking strawberries just as fast as ever
you can, because we're to have company
at our house-l'm Barbara Wylde, you
! know, young man-and | must get back
with the berries for desert as quickly as
possible"
"All right, said the stranger; I'm
tolerbly quick at this sort of thiLg, | be-
| lieve."
II hope you are" said Barbara in
tent on extracting tiny rose-pricker
from the point of her stained forefnger
-" and at other things too. Because, if
you're not, Squire Dallas won't keep
you"
"Me won't ehgn
Barbara shook her head. The last
man went away because he couldn't en-
dure the squire's driving ways said she.
"Oh, / was so sorry He was nice. He
nsed to lend me books and things over
the fence, and he taught the district school
| in the winters. used often to come here
| and talk with him over the stone wall,
because, you see, it's lonesome up at the
house if | do have two grown sisters.
Lisette is cross with me if ask to Dor
| row any of her books she has dreadful
temper, has our Lisette-and Maude is
too intellectual to trouble herself about a
slip of girl like me. Grown sisters are
| dreadful" with solemn shake of the
| head.
"And suppose you are not grown
| said Squire Dallas's hired man, with
curious CLEAN of amusement around the
corners of his mouth.
NO." said Barbara, II am only sixteen,
and haven't got trains to my dresses yet.
But perhaps when the girls get married,
and one of them is sure to marry this Cap
tain Severn-Oh, take care, you're tipping
all the berries out on upon the grass
Squire Dallas won't keep you week if
you're as clumsy as that"
| But the hired man luckily succeeded in
righting the basket before its crimson
contents were irretrievably lost.
'It's all right" said be, see how rapid
| ly it is filling up. But suppose this Cap
tain-I forget what you said his name
wasG'
"You mustn't forget things" said
Barbara esquire Dallas never will be
suited with that. He's very particu-
lar old gentleman. / mention these
things you know"-with an air of mild
| patronage-"because you seem like a
nice, respectable young man, and l
should like you to keep the place"
81 am much obliged to YOU" said the
stranger, hurriedly putting strawberry
into his mouth.
"Now you are eating the strawberries,
said Bal bara, severely. "You shouldn't
| do that"
| "One or two is of no consequence"
apologized Squire Dallas's hired man.
But l was going to say, suppose this
company gentleman--"
"Captain Severn, his name is" inter-
| posed Barbara.
"Yes-suppose that Captain Severn
shouldn't fall in love with either of your
grown sisters2"
"Then he'd be very great disappont-
ment," cried out Barbara, 'becaus
Lisette is six and-twenty, and Maude
says she'll cut her throat sooner than be
an old maid"
"He might fall in love with yon," sug
| gested the young man, regarding his
pretty companion with a sidelong glance
| from beneath bis long ashes.
"With me-" repeated Barbar. Me!
"a little girl that wears dresses without
| trains, and isn't out of hel scales yet now
tell you what, young man, you are talking
| a great deal too much and working a
! great deal to little Perhaps, if you're
very smart with berries, I'll bring you one
| of Phillis's tarts. and put it on The stone
encc tonight. Phillis does make the
| deliciousest strawberry tartsr
g That would be delightful" said the
stranger, promptly.
| Barbara gave scrutinizing glance into
the berry basket.
81 begin to think we've got almos.
enough" said she.
+" Not yet pleaded her companion.
8 Yes nodded Barbara. And man.
ma will be in hurry, end Maude will
scold dreadfuIly if I'm not there in time
to do her back hair.
f." 1t strokes me" said the stranger, with
half smile, that you're a good deal
| like Cinderella in the story books.
Barbara considered the matter for
second or two.
/. SO | am" said She 81 never
thought about it before; but do believe
am little like Cinderella. But dear
me there is no glass slipper for me. And
as for you young man. relapsiGg all at
once irte the severe Mentor again." you
had better get back as fast as possible to
your work; and don't let Squire Dallas
catch you lettering again, if you've
any REGARD for your place.
The stranger stood with dotted cap and
attitude Of chivalrous attention.
"But you'll not forget the strawberry
tart2" said he.
1 "Certainly not: If once get old
Phillis's back turned long enough to
steal it out of the milk-room," said Bar
bara
''And off she tripped, with rosy stained
lips, golden hair floating recklessly in
the wind, and light elastic feet bowling
down the buttercups and red clover as
she went.
.sDear me, chile" said Phillis, as she
came into the kitchen, rosy and breath
less with the haste she had made, 'swhat
time you's benz
Not half an hour" cried Barbara,
fllnging away her hat, and splashing her
face with cool water out of the bucket
! Has he come, Pl.illis?"
ode company young man, miss?" said
Ph;llis. ANo, he amt. An Miss Lisette
she's a-scoldln' cause you amt ben to ar
range de roses for de big bokay in the
middle oh de table, an; Miss Maude she
done can't fix her hair to suit her; an
dar's de missRs calm now Run, Miss
Barby, run !"
There, mamma, told you SOP said
Miss Maude Wylde, the intellectual
member of the family. "Itwill be an in
convenient crowd if Barbara comes to the
table,