The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1880-07-21
would not give him scolding for shirk-
ing work.

were traces of tears on Katie's cheeks
for she had not escaped scolding from
Hannah for unnecessary delay in tn
catching of the fowl,
When dinner was over, and she hat
helped her sister tidy the kitchen, Kati
took a tin pail from the pantry and be-
hat from its peg, and started out.
Where are you goingp" asked Han
nah, sharply.
"To the stone wall in the pasture t
pick blackberries," answered Katie
Il saw some nice ones up there thi
morning when I was chasing tht
rooster, and l thought mother woule
like some for supper"
Every well," said Hannah; "bu
don't stay the whole afternoon, fol
you've all these dish-towels 10 hem
though there's no telling if We'll ust
'em, since we'll be in the poorhoust
after Monday.
The afternoon sun shone full on the
blackberry bushes, and Katie found
picking the ripe fruit no cool task; but
she preferred it to sitting in the house
with Hannah, listening to bitter re-
proaches for her refusal to take the steE
which could prevent the old home from
passing into the hands of Mr.. Arle.
"Why should I have nothing, and
Squire Davis all the good things?" she
said, aloud. "Even the cool shade is
on his side of the wall!'
She was interrupted in her rebellious
reflections by the sudden appearance OF
Hannah, almost out OF breath from run.
ming.
"Katie," she said, "come home at
once, Squire Davis is waiting to see
you" :.
"Oh, Hannah, I can't go! I don't
Want to see him!"
Katie Derwent, you ought to be
ashamed of YOURSELF" cried Hannah,
loudly. esquire Davis is rich, a men,
Der of the church, and man any woman
might be glad to marry"
"But he is so old, Hannah, and am
only seventeen"
"Pshaw! what does that matter?
You will see us thrown on the charity OF
our friends, robbed of our home and its
comforts, rather than make trihing
sacrifice. You can't have much love for
your poor, sick mother or little brother.
Squire Davis would pay off the mort
gage at once you would only promise to
marry him. Come, Katie, don't be so
stubborn"
"T'm not stubborn, Hannah. would
do almost anything for mother and Paul,
but, oh! let me have little more time.
I will think of i'll will indeed. Tell
the squire to come tomorrow, and I'll
give him my answer"
"Do you suppose he will submit to
such treatmentp" demanded Hannah:
Told to come and 60 at your fancy!
You promised last Sunday to give him
an answer to-day"
"But l can't, Hannah; no, l can't to-
day. You can fell him anything you
like, but ] won't see him to-day"
"Then I'll tell him couldn't find
.you,,asaid the willy Ham ah. eff [
should tell him you had refused to come
he would suspect something"
figure had disappeared over the rising
ground, and then, throwing herself
down by the blackberry bushes, burst
into tears.
II suppose I must do it," she
moaned.
mo, you mustn't" said very SYM
pathetic voice, and looking up Katie es-
pied, to her astonishment, her acquaint-
ance OF the morning, sitting above her
on the stone wall. He was handsomely
dressed now in suit Of gray tweed, and
looked undeniably gentleman.
"Were you hstening2" she demanded.
sitting up, the tears still lingering on her
long, curling eyelashes.
"Yes, was" was the frank reply.
You see, / grew tired Of work, SO left
the squire's employ, put on my Sunday
clothes and Strolled out. / was lying
down in the shade of the wall, doing,
and had just become aware OF your
presence on the other side when your
sister came. OF course I could not then
declare my proximity without embar-
RAISING you both, so l waited"
you don't seem to think you are en-
barrassing me now," said Katie, Won
dering why his black eyes sparkled so
mischievously.
Am I?" very cody. "Well, I am
sorry. Still you don't look very much
overcome with confusion"
Appearances are deceitful some
times" said Katie, rising to her feet.
True; you will have cause to re-
member that later. Now, take little
advice in return for that you gave me
this morning. Don't let your sister per-
suade you to marry the squire. You are
far too young to take the position Of
stepmother to his FIVE children.
but if I don't marry him we can't
keep the farm. No one else will lend us
the money to pay off the mortgage. Oh,
how hate hat Mr.. Ariel"
The young man smiled.
Something tells me that all will
come out right in the end" he said.
"Wait little while and see if l am
not correct in my prophecy"
"You are very kind, I'm sure, to take
such interest in me-" said Katie. Il
thank you very much; and now good
bye-T feel too badly to stay out in this
hot sun any longer" and picking up her
pail of berries she walked away, the
young man watching her until she was
lost to sight over the rising ground OF
clover field.
Katie's heart felt lighter, though she
could scarcely tell why, and she crept
up the backstairs to her own room un-
noticed by Hannah, and bathed her
red eyes. Then, feeling much refreshed,
she threw herself on her bed and was
soon asleep, completely worn out by the
excitement of the day.
She was awakened by the sound of
voices in the parlor below, and curious
to know who the visitor could be, she
smoothed her hair and went down
stairs.
The parlor door stood half open, and
she advanced as far Us the threshold,
out no further, for to her infinite amaze
ment she saw, seated on the sofa in easy
conversation with her mother, the
young man whom she had left two hours
previously by the stone wall in the
clover-feld.
Katie, this is Mr.. Arle," said Mrs.
Derwent; land he has been 80 kind as
to offer to let US keep the farm at small
rent. Come and thank him."
But Katie did not stir in obedience to
her mothers command. She gazed at
MIR. Arle moment as if petritied with
amazement, and then turning, fed,
slamming the door behind her.
Forgive her rudeness, Mr.. Arle,
murmured the proper Hannah. "She
is only a child, and does not know
how to behave"
George Arle smiled, but said nothing
understanding better than Hannah
Katie's strange conduct.
Katie was standing under the apple
tree by the gate in the front garder
when George Arle came out Of tht
house and she waited for him.
Forgive me-" she said, as be came
close to her. Il did not know.