South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1879-07-11
Romney, Hampshire County, West Va july IL 1879

picking strawberries just ss fast a, aver
you can, becausa were Tn b.v. comr.n,.
at our house-Fm barbara wylde, YOU
Know. young man-and must get back
Win the berries Tor dessert as quickly
as possible
All right, said the stranger: Pm
tolerablv quick At this sort oil thing.
believe
hope you are said Barbara, intent
on extricatiDS . tiny rose .pricker from
the point or her stained fore6nger, and
at other things, too. Because. il vou'ro
not. Squire Dallas won't keep YOU
lie WON'T. chr
Barbara shook her head. srbe ,ost
man went away because he couldu'. en-.
dure the Squire's driving ways and she.
said oh. l was so sorry He was nice. He
used to lend me hooks and things over
the fence. and he taught the district
school in the winters. I used often 10
como hero and talk with him over the
stone wall, because. you see It's lone :
some up at the house, il L do have two
grown up sisters. ;Lisette 10 cross with
me when ask TO borrow any of her
books-she has dreadful temper, has
our Lisstte-and Maud is too intellectu.
al to trouble herself about slip of a girl
like me. Grown sisters are dreadful, ;
with . solemn shake Of the head.
And | suppose you arc not grown
said Squire Dallas' hired man, with a
curious CLEAN OF amusement around The
corners Of his mouth.
NO, said Barbara, L 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 mar.
ry this Captain Severn-oh, take care.
you're tipping all the berries out upon
the grass Esquire Dallas won't keep YOU
week II you are as clumsy as that.
but the hir"d man luckily succeeded
in Fighting the basket before its crimson
contents were irretrievably lost.
It's all right said he. See how
rapidly it's filling up. But suppose this
Captain forget what you said his
name was
You mustn't forget things said Bar g,
bara. Squire Dallas never will be suited
with that. He's very particular old
gentleman. | mention these things, YOU
know'--uith an AIR Of mild patronage
because you seem like n nice, respecta-
bio young man, and should like you to
keep the place
i am much obliged to YOU said the
stranger. hurricdly putting strawber-
ry into his mouth.
Now you are eating the strawber-
ries.' said Barbara, severely. You
shouldn't DO that
One or no is of no consequence. u
pologized Squire Dallas hired man
but was going TO say, suppose this
Captain
Captain Severn, his name is,' inter.
posed Barbara.
1es-suppose that Captain Severn
should not fall in love with either OF
your grown sisters?'
Then he'd be worry great disappoint-
ment', cried out Barbara. because Lii
settle is six.and-twenty. and Maud saws
she'll cut her throat sooner than be an
old maid
lie might fall in love with you sur.
gcsted the young man, regarding his
pretty companion with n sidelong Q lance
from beneath his long lashes.
With me! = repeated Bar bars. Me 1!
"a little girl that wears dresses with
out trains. and isn't out of her scales
yet! That's n likely thing, isn't il?
Now, tell you what. young man, you
are talking great deal too much and
working n great deal too little. Per-
maps, u you're very smart with the ber-
RES. I'll bring you one Of Phillis' tarts
and put II on the stone fence tonight
Phillis does make the deliciousest straw.
berry tsrts"
That would he delightful said the
stranger, promptly.
Barbars gave a scrutinizing glance into
the berry basket.
Il begin.to think we have almost C.
nough.' she said.
NO. pleaded her companion.
e Yes, nodded Barbara. And mamma
will be in hurry, and Maud will scold
dreadful If I'm not there in time to 10
back her hair.
1t strikes me- said the stranger. with
n half smile, That you're good deal
like Cinderella in the story-books
Barbara considered the matter for a
second or two.
30 am said she. Il never thought
OF 1t before but do believe am lit
tie like Cinderells. But. dear me |!
there's no glass slipper for me. And as
Tor you, young man. relapsing all at
once into the severe mentor, you had
better get back as fast ~ possible TO
your work (; and don't let Squire Dallas
catch you lettering again, IL you've any
regard for your place
Tue stranger stood With DOTTED cap and
attitude OF chiYalrous attention.
But you'll not forget the strawberry
tartY said he.
Certainly not if once can get old
PhilliS back turned long enough 10
steal it out OF the milk-rooin,' said Bar
bara
And Off sho tripped, with rosy.stained
lips. and golden hair floating recklessy
IN the wind. and light elastic fec! bow
ing down the butter cups and red clover
II.