South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1881-12-02

instant after a man in gray, muscu.
larry framed and handsome as Appel
10, with wide sombrero shading his
face, appeared in sight. How propi-
tious tie f;ltes we're! What she had
devouily wished was yonder-a man,
Mr. Denver-s hired man without a
doubt. She susI ended operations,
and with her hoe raised aloft, cried
OUT.
Here, young man, come here.
want you to help III digging few
bushels of potatoes, / will see that
you do not incur censure. And in
deed for that matter, you might as
well. be working for me as to be idliny
Your TIME away in killing harmless
crSatures. e Come what do you say?
..All right miss I'll be with YOU
as soon as | can exchange my gun
for hoe. for suppose you intend to
keep on digging?'
Certainly. Now don't be long a.
bout it. That's good maur
She was earnestly digging away
when he vaultcd over the fence an /
stood by her, hoe in hand, his hat
lower down over his face than ever.
But widow Darley's niece paid no at :.
tention to his personal appearance.
He was nothing but hired man, so
whether ugly or comely what matter.
ed it to her? Old Sol, an inilamed
ball of heat, glowed upon them saw
agely, and the Precipitation stood in
beaded drops upon their faces as they
to!led on, Mr.. Denver's hired man ma.
king no better progress with his row of
potatoes than Garnet with hers. The
girl glanced at him contemptuously.
You don't succeed any better than
|, a girl. You are the greenest hand at
digging potatoes l ever saw. Mr..
Denver will not keep you long
know
Perhaps not he said, in nonchal-
ant way. 4 am green hand at it,
acknowledge. but l guess / can learn
after awhile. See. miss, if lave
done my work we'll
ooh, my?' she cried out vexatiously,
how stupid-how very stupid YOU
are! You have not got the potatoes
half out OF the hill, and those you
have hauled out are well nigh chop
ped To pieces by the hoe. You WELD
that instrument as if it were your in.
tention to mutilate, to destroy. You
need dig no more 7
well leaning contentedly against
the hoe handle, and wlping the pers-
piration Oft his torehe II with tho dain.
test of white handkerchiefs, from
Which emanated the perfume otviolets,
what next shall 10? Issue your
commands, Miss Miss =
'Embers, young man, an especial
friend of Your Mr.. Denver. We'll, as
you do not manage the hoe adroitly
enough TO be anything but detrimen-
Ia! TO auntie's potatoes, you may as
well take the half bushel basket, ga.
Their them up and put them in the
bags. They are peach blows and are
sure to bring an excellent price in the
market, Mr.. >
She stopped ard eyed him narrow
y for the first time, styling him "A re.
markably handsome and distinguished
looking person for hired man.
You may call me Bob he said
with comical glance. Mr.. Denver
calls me that
well, Bob, to work Don't lag,
and when noon comes YOU may share
my lunch under the apple tree.
Quite an inducement. A feeling OF
righteousness came over him, and he
fairly shook with laughter. Was he
laughing at her? Glrne; drew herself
mp proudly spark OF fire in her biz
dark eyes.
What makes Won laugh so immod.
eratcly, Bob? 1t is not polite of you,
and | shall certainly report your mis-
behavior to Mr Denver
Pray don't Miss Embers,' with an
affected humility. | couldn't help it.
Indeed couldn't. Ii you had seen
that ill-favored hop.toad leap over
that potato, you'd have laughed too. II
was so funny. The toad was 80 small.
whereas the potato has grown to an
enormous size--a regular whupper !
Look, Miss Embers, there goes the
fellow now under that Struggling
vine =
'Humphl was all the answer she
vouch-satcd as she went on with her
digging, but she doubted the existence
of the toad aud believed he was max
ing sport of her.
The minutes crept up. II o'clocl,
came, and Bob was waxing savagely
hungry. As he emptiel tho fourth
basket Of potatoes he said
1T is noon now. Miss Embers. I am
sure. See Old Sol is directly over
us. Come, let's have our lunch un.
der the apple tree. I'm as hungry as
cannibal'
i too, Acknowledged Garnet. Get
that parcel yonder, Bob. aud don't