Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1881-09-22
thanks. How fortunate your presencs
Was ut so critical momentp

| Was ut so critical q mOmentH
Il heard what your father said about
the money!" he replied, 'and observed
that it was overheard by suspicious
looking person passing out at the gate,
and, knowing the way you we're to
come, l thought it prudent without
alarming others,to keep watch for your
safety"
"How can | evei sufficiently thank
you?" returned Nora, earnestly, only
now remembering to dispense with the
support OF Mr.. Dyer's arm, of which.
for at least q. a.minute past, she had
ceased to have any need.
1t was at this point that Farmer Bry
son came bustling up. -,.y a...-
"Let me secure the villainp' he cried,
when Nora and George Dyer had told
their brief story. -
|. But the robber, whom Dyer's fist had
temporarily stunned, had taken advan.
tage of Nora's swoon, and her deliver
er's consequent occupation, to quietly
steal away-a fact which greatly exas-
perated the farmer, who was forced to
vent his displeasure in divers angry
mutterings and vigorous fourishes OF
his cudgel. ss a..ar .al1---rs
George Dyer grew rapidly in favor
with all the members of the farmers
family, and not least with Nora. In
deed, she and the new hand got on ia
mOusly together. Nora, though farm
er's daughter, had mind better train
ed and better stored with knowledge
than many q boarding-school gradu-
ate; aud George Dyer, though a farm
laborer, seemed to have been an exten-
sive and thoughtful reader-so that
there was a wide field of subjects for
the two to converse about, History,
fiction, poetry-they discussed them
all by turns; and, we may be sure, in
their numerous evening walks and
talks, they found time to speak Of 9th
er matters Of more immediate personal
concern.
George Dyer had been staying on the
place nearly three months when Hiram
Gooch, whose farm Joined her fathers.
came out plump and plain one day, ani
asked Nora would she be his wife-to
which Nora as plumply and plainly
answered that she wouldn't.
At the first knowledge Of this the
farmer was a little vexed. Mt that he
thought Nora and Hiram particularly
suited to each other, but then the two
farms were, and Nora was an only child.
But Farmer Bryson was far too kind 3
father to think of forcing his daugh-
ter's inclinations.
"lf Nora doesn't want you for q bus
band" he said to Hiram, when the lat
ter laid the case before him, Il don't
see how Pm TO help you"
And, when Hiram limited at the ex-
tent OF fathers authority in the mat
ter Of family government, the farmer
answered that, since the Declaration Of
Independence, he thought there were a
good many things in which family gov
ernments, like other governments, de-
rived its just powers from the consent
OF the governed. --at
1t was but little while after that
another suitor for Nora's hand present
ed himself before the farmer-no other,
his time, than George Dyer, the new
hand.
The farmer opened his eyes pretty
widely.
"Have you spoken to Nora2' he in
quired.
II have"
g.A Il
"a consent, subject to your ap-
prevail"
The farmer drew long breath and
looked grave. ii"
"Marryin's serious business" he
remarked. "Now, you bein' only a
hired hand, Is it goin' too far to ask
you how you expect to support wife?'
81 have no misgivlngs on that score"
replied the young msn, with what the
farmer thought an air of oyel-confi-
dence. s.s i
1t turned out that he wa. wealthy
young man in disguise, and referred to
Mr.. WraytoL, the banker, who wrote
letter in his favor.
What's this, you dog" exclaimed
the farmer, as the letter dropped from
his excited fingers. Med Wrayton
says you're his nephew, worth half a
million Of your own, beside what he's
goin' to leave you, and that he knows
nothin' very bad about your I'M
"Oh, Georger' cried Nora, with a
half-frightened look, show could You
deceive Us sos' a..Et
swell, my little one,you see caught
a glimpse Of you on your visit to the
city last winter, and wishing to know
if 1 would like you as well on close &C
quaintance as 1 did at Erst sight, !
took my own way Of finding out"
"And with what resultf was the
question earnestly asked by, Morals
eyes.
"Have not asked You to be my
wifeT' was the answer whispered soft
in her ear.