Montgomery County sentinel., 1880-12-03

men, and pay you your wages, and turn
you off,"
"oh, l see" said the young man, with
smile
at is true; you don't know him as well
as do. guess you haven't been working
for him long"
"You look smart enough to make some
thing better of yourself than hired man in
bayfield," pursued Katie. "But of course
that is your own affsir Don't let us waste
any more time talking; that rooster is get
ting all his strength back"
The young man sprang lightly over the
stone wall, and again the chase began, the
poor fowl succ1mbing to his destiny after
five minutes hard running.
"And now you had better hurry back to
the bayfield," Katie said, after thanking the
young man for his assistance cor you will
certainly lose your place. 1t isn't very
pleasant to be turned off. Oh, dear, for
got that we are to be turned off ourselves
next Monday"
" w nat 90 you mean :!
"Well, | suppose you've heard-every-
body in the neighborhood knows it--that
there is a mortgage on our farm 1t has
been due six months and now the agent
writes we must leave next Monday. Oh,
how hate that Mr. Arle " setting her small
white theeth together vindictivey.
Tho upun,r ma n cta rtnI ,ti, ,Iantl,t
"Is he the holder of the mortgageY" he
asked, biting at whisp of hay he held in
his hand, his dark eyes bent on the ground.
"Yes, and he is rich enough, if report is
true, to afford to make us present of the
old farm. But must go or Hannah will be
scolding for shirking work"
\ y Il y 4
The chicken dinner was much enjoyed by
little Paul, the only one of the family who
did not feel troubled at the impending re-
moval from the old home, and he poor
child, was too young to know what sorrow
meant
Hannah looked stern and forbidding.
Mrs. Derwent's eyes were red, and there were
traces of tears on Katie's cheeks, for she hid
not escaped a scolding from Hannah for un-
necessary delay in the catching of the fowl.
When dinner was over and she had helped
her sister tidy the kitchen, Katie took u tin
pail from the pantry and her hat from its
peg, and started out
"Where are you going" asked Hannah,
sharply.
"To the stone wall in the pasture to pick
blackberries," answered Katie 81 saw some
nice ones up there this morning when was
chasing the rooster, and | thought mother
would like some for supper"
Every well" said Hannah; "but don't
stay the whole afternoon, for you've all
these dish-towes TO hem, though there's no
telling if we'll use 'em, since we'll be in the
poorhouse after Monday"
The afternoon sun shone full on the black
berry bushes, and Katie found picking the
ripe fruit no cool task but she preferred it
to sitting in the house with Hannah, listen
ing to bitter reproaches for her refusal to
take the step which could prevent the old
home from passing into the hands of Mr..
Arle.
"Why should have nothing, and Squire
Davis all the good thingsY" she said, aloud.
"Even the cool shade is on his side of the
Wallw
She was interrupted in her rebellious rcflec-
tons by the sudden appearance Of Hannah,
almost out Of breath from running.
"Katie," she said, "come home at once,
Squire Davis is waiting to sec you"
"Oh, Hannah, | can't go! don't want TO
see him !"
"Katie Derwent, you ought 10 be ashamed
of yourself" cried Hannah, loudly esquire
Davis is rich, u member Of church, and
man any woman might be glad TO marry"
"I3ut 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 It's com
forts, 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 mortgage at once if you
would only promise 10 marry him. Come,
Katie, don't be so stubborn"
IL am not stubborn, Hannah would
do almost anything for my mother and Paul,
but, oh let me have little more time. |
will think Of it'll will indeed. Tell the
Squire to come tomorrow, and III give him
my answer"
ADO you suppose he will submit TO such
treatmentp demanded Hannah. "Told to
come and go at your fancy You promised
last Sunday TO give him an answer to-day"
"fhen III tell him / did find you" said
the willy Hannah. "If | should tell him
you had refused 10 come he would suspect
something"
Katie waited until her sisters gaunt figure
had disappeared over the rising ground and
then, throwing herself down by the black
berry bushes, burst into tears.
81 suppose must do it," she moaned.
"No, you mustn't" said very sympa-
thetic voice, and looking up Katie espied, 10
her antonishment, her acquaintance Of the
morning, sitting above her on the stone
wall He was Handsomely dressed now in
a suit Of gray tweed, and looked undeniably
a gentleman.
"Were you listeningY she demanded, sit.
ting up, the tears still lingering on her long,
curling eyelashea
ayes, | was" was the frank reply. "You
see, grew tired Of work, 80 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 / could
not then declare my proximity without en-.
barrassing you both, 70 ! waited"
"You don't seem 10 think you are embar.
rassing me now" said Katie, wondering why
his black eyes sparslcd ~ mischieyously.
"Am - very coolly. swell, am very
sorry. Still you don't look very much over.
l csfua with coufnaion