The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1883-07-03
IN MIDSUMMER.


dens, Elting.''
We were sitting in the phnton in
front Of Lavaud's Hotel at Ross, when
this sign met our eyes.
l looked from it to Baby; Baby with
laugh III her blue eyes, returned my
gaze.
We understood each other.
'Let us go'' she said, as we drove
off.
"Now?" l asked.
"Nonsensel
"Of course not; but we can drive
home, hunt up some old dresses and old
shoes, make a couple of old bonnets, and
tomorrow morning, when Harry goes
away, come and try our luck.
sIt will be great fun"
Now be it distinctly understood that
my audacous friend was "wooed an
married am a." while 1 was single
young woman, accountable only to my
self for my misdceds.
''And Harry?" l asked.
owe will tell him when we come
back.''
"But," I urged again, "what do you
imagine we will have to do?"
81 have only the Vaguest notions of
farm-work.
My knowledge has deen principally
derived from story-books, and l am
afraid their suggestion are, to say the
least, impractical.
81 wonder if it is to pare apples, Or
or - -"
s'Pick hops very likely" broke in
Baby.
"Never mind what it is, we can steal
away and 60 home. if we do not like
[it."
every WE'LL" said; and it was set
tied.
Harry took the seven o. clock train
the next morning, with an unsuspicious
heart, and his wife and l went home to
begin our adventure.
We put on two straight, plain calico
skirts, and viewed the costumes with
much conplacency.
My JAG. ..et was a loose one, borrowed
from Sarah, the cook, Baby had ripped
the ruflling off her own.
Our shoes were a miracle of hOles-I
gave fleeting thought to Baby's high
French heels.
Hop-pickers did not usually wear
them, l thought; but l said nothing.
We laughed till we were exhausted
at the figures we made.
Away we drove in high glec, amid
the laughter of the servants, who were
by this time well used to our pranks.
eve will be back for the half-past
five train" shouted Baby, as we turned
out at the gate.
"Baby," I said, when we were on
the Ammadale road, edo you know
where it is2"
"Which-the gardens or Elting?"
"The gardens"
"NO; but we can ask"
l wonder did there ever present them
selves at any place two such remarkable
little figures as turned in at Willis's
Hop Gardens.
We went past one or two fields, and
met no one.
At last we came to q man with a
spade on.his shoulder.
''Is this Willis's Hop Garden?" asked
Baby.
"Whee do ley want people to
work?" demanded I, ashamed to let
Baby do all the talking.
"Oh, you want a Job, do you?"
Baby's sun-bonnet dropped and uuiv-
cred.
l knew she was speechless.
eyes," said; "where do we go?"
'"To that red building over there.
"Just down that path, and then to
| the right"
We thanked him, and ran on till we
came to a great red building, u sort
Of barn with wide-open doors, and with
in men and women apparently hard
at work sorting and picking hops.
A few turned and stopped their work,
looking at lis curiously, but the rest
kept Oh occasionally exchanging a jest
with one another.
a young man stood in his shirt.
sleeves --marvellOuSly white they were
too-with his back towards us, giving
orders to carman who was loading
| a wagon.
In a moment he turned and regarded
us with q broad stare of establishment
"Sir," said Baby, 'can you give us
any work?"
"Will you come this way2" he
asked, leading us out of the opposite
doorway.
"What can you do?" he added.
"Anything," said as confidently as
I could.
He showed us pile of hops whicl
was to be sorted from leaves and
branches and put into baskets, and
walked away to the first comers.
Baby and fell to at once.
She knew what she was about, and
worked under her directions.
"Oh, Min," she said, in whisper
1--WE are in a nice scrape if he finds III
out