Sharp County record., 1879-10-02
There are not many men like


tribute to the manly excellence OF the
absent husband.
"But you seem so hard to suit, Kate, "
she argued, 81 am sure Luke Hartwell
is a very fine young man; do be a little
civil to him; and there's Squire Day,
who is as rich as a prince and owns the
finest span of horses in the county"
81 wouldn't marry man for the sake
of his horses" said Kate, setting her
lips firmly together.
+" But YOU would learn to love him for
himself, after time, Kate"
81 am afraid it would be a very long
time, Julia. The old scarecrOw wears
false teeth, red wig, and has six cross,
red-headed, uninteresting children. |
know | couldn't do my duty by
them"
"But suppose mother should die,
Kate? Luke Hartwell will have the
farm at once, aud youwill be left penni-
less"
81 will teach the district school when
that happens said Kate cheerily
s'The Squire is one of the Trustees, and
he would see that | got it if | was just
the least bit pleasant to him.
every WE'LL said Julia, now really
! flushed with anger. $50 your own
way. The doctor said last week that
mother was breaking up very fast in
deed, and you will feel sorry for your
obstinacy when you see Luke Hartwell
in possession of this place"
"Oh, my lawyer will come along be-
fore that evil day cOmes," said Kate.
at is of no use to croak yourself hoarse
Julia. The daisy has spoken, and |
have faith in its prophecy. | felt sure |
was not doomed to be the wife of Luke
Hartwell, or the second Mrs. Day"
The sisters had now crossed the
meadow, where the little daisy had been
found by Kate, and were within the
sweet old garden of Bower Farm. Julia
went at once into the house, but Kate
stood under an old, gnarled apple-tree,
and looked around her. Was this dear
old place with its wealth of fruit and
flowers to pass away from them, and be-
come the property Of Luke Hartwell?
1t seemed hard that at the mother s
death it should not become the property
of her daughters. The cottage was half
Smothered in creeping roses, white and
red, sweet hOneysuckle, and passion
flowers. Three old oak trees mounted
guard in front, and at the back stretched
out the old orchard, in which Julia and
Kate had played in childhood. The
commOdious barn, the airy stable, and
the grass-grOwn farm-yard were all dear
to Kate's heart from long association
with her life. The farm had belonged
to Mr.. Andrew Hartwell, an uncle of
Luke's. He had loved Mary PenrOse,
but she had given her heart and hand to
Arthur Morrison who had led her sad
life for twelve years, and dying,
left her penniless. Andrew Hart.
well had not married; he had
remained. an old bacheIs fOr
sake of e,earlH l9YerSnd< <nr 9T~ad
11fotnd thaE tSe had been left fOl16rn and'
poor, with two little daughters, the
younger only year old, he installed her
at once on Bower Farm, and at his
death left it to her for life; then it was
to revert to Luke, Andrews brothers
child. This decree was only just; yet it
seemed hard to Kate who had lived here
twenty-five years, and loved every stick
and stone on the place. She it was who
managed the dairy and poultry yard;
who hired men to farm the land, and
made money enough to support herself
and mother comfortably. Mrs. Nor
rison'S days of activity were long past.
She had managed the farm with great
executive ability until rheumatism Grip
pied and confined her to an easy chair,
and the farm had gone into Kate's will
ing hands Julia, who was Kate's elder
by nine years, had grown up and mar
ried; but every summer saw her at Bow
er Farm with her two children. She
found it both convenient and ecOnom-
ical to pay her mother and sister a long
visit during the hot weather.
Kate's happy disposition made her a
general fayorite in the neighborhood,
but in spite of much attention from the
Sterner sex she was still single, which
Julia seemed to think disgrace to her
self and family. But Kate only laughed
at her arguments and snubbed Luke
Hartwell on every occasion, and was
deaf to the compliments of Squire Day,
who had singled her out as the one best
fitted to minister to the wants, and un-
dertake the education, of his six auburn
headed olive branches.
The month of June was fast passing
away, and the roses were blooming more
luxuriantly than ever, and sending their
fragrance into the kitchen where Kate
was kneading bread, when Luke Hart
well came over the meadow with sham
bling gait, determined to try his fate,
and "win or lose it ALL"
Kate's sleeves were rolled up to her
shoulders, and her arms were white with
flour, but she was not at all embarrass-
ed by Luke's appearance.
sGCood n aftarnOOn - cbo go;J ,b,I-;,o -