Daily Republican., 1884-10-21

BY CLYDE RAYMOND.

The farmyard gate closed with .
sharp click that caused Sara Downing
to raise her head quickly from her
work 10 rte who WAS coming 1t was
her father, leisurely approaching the
houte, acct mpanied by gen tleman Of
middle age, we'll dressed and OF aristo-
cratic appearance, who was steadily re-
garding her with a look OF undise uised
admiration.
The farmers daughter set down the
large glass bowl of berries which she
WAS hulliug, and arose from her seat On
the upper step Of the wide, old
fashioned porch to receive her fathers
of-hapd introduction to the stranger.
She was not at all unconscious OF the
striking picture she made In doing 30,
for her tall, slender figure was grace
itself, and her dark, clear-cut features
and heavy coils OF lustrous black hair
showed 10 the best advantage In the
golden glow Of the setting sun.
"What lovely creature your
daughter Ia I" WAS the gontleman's sur.
prised comm emit, ss Sara presently ~
them seated In the porch and went IN
side to assist In the preparation Of sup.
per. Z" had no idea that country
damsels could boast such beauty and
refinement. Why my dear sir, that
girl Of yours would grace any society"
Farmer Downing chuckltd softly
over his pipe, we'll pleased at the city
mans compliment 70 his daughter.
siven with such unmistakable sin.
cerity.
W.a-a.l y.e s." he said slowly, re.
moving his pipe for moment TO knock
the ashes down on the clearly scrubbed,
'spotless floor Of the porch. "Sara ia O
pretty fair.lookiDg girl, l allow. Not
many OF the girls hereabouts can come
up to her, though ! say 1t as / shouldn' t
p 'raps. Aud Jest as good as she's
pretty, that's the best Of it,
Then he placldly resumed his
smoking, as II that settled the matter,
and turned the conversation into other
channels, in which the condition of the
crops, and the total depravity Of the
"other side" politically speaking, took
q leading part, and Sara was appa-
rently forgotten.
But at the teatable, where she as.
sisted her mother in doing the honors,
and helped him with tuch charming
grace TO the fisky biscuits, the tempting
broiled chicken, and the delicious
berries and cream. Mr.. Golden's
thoughts and eyes, too, paid many a
iattering, II unspoken. tribute to her
beauty.
"Sary, jest let me put flea In yer
ear, "said farmer Downing, as he passed
through the big airy kitchen where his
pretty daughter was washing up the
supper dishes. " That city chaps fell
In love with ye, sure rs guns. and II he
don't give ye the chance of say in Yes
or No to him atore he leaves here, it |
be nobody's fault but yourn. He's M
humbug I've took keer to find tina
out ; he's Q rich man, sound as dollar
You re alters wishin' to be a grand cit!
lady. Now's yer chance"
| :" Nonsense, father" returned Sara
Laughing, but coloring d little, too. Sh'
Idih not doubt the truth or wisdom o
b er fathers very broad hints. If b.
" as ambitious for her, she WAS no les
am bilious TOR herself.
Mr.Golden would be splendid catch
and If he should act upon her father
suggestion, fortune favoring her, no
only would she be tho envy Of ever,
woman of heracq uaintance, but she coul'
reside In great city, and mingle In til
very life for which she had always 9
passionately longed.
i Notwithstanding this, however, sh
slipped quietly away from the tamil
lcircle, including MIR. Golden, At til
familiar sight OF q fiery spark CLOWN
through the dusk In the vicinity of til
gate. The next moment the CLOWN
spark had suddenly gone out In darl
ness. and the CT devant smoker, q YER
handsome young man, WIS leaning oyt
. the gate, talking with her In those Low
!, halt. whispered tones which betrayed
very tender feeling, II not actual low,
between them.
Yet the Interview, pleasant as
seemed to be, wxs not very long one
not as long, evidently, as the youn
man would have liked, for he chide
her qlite reproachtully when sh
left him much sooner than was hs
wont.
" can't stay longer. They will mil
me, and then father will soold," ws
. her reply.
"Oh, by the way, Frank" she Q,
claimed, looking back after she ha
said good night" and speaking I
. If the fact had but just occurred to he
1--WE have taken gentleman frol
the city to board for q mouth or 81
Father brought him home this ever
!; ing. He is quito fine looking-for h
age l mean - and what is bette
: rich. Won't all the girls for mil
!, laround be Jealous of me-" and 81
= laughed lightly, rs II expecting him
, enjoy the prospect before her as niue
as she did herself. But he did n,
J. appear to look at it quite in tn
. light.
: "Come back one moment, Sara"
entreated, turning back to the Ga
al and speaking very earnestly
! knew something had occurred, "
were 80 impatient to leave me just no
u But you won't let this stranger COZ
3 between as, will you? You won't i;
low yourself 10 dazzled by his wealt
,,I-if he il wealthy,-or your pretty he
= to be turned just through a desire
IN AXE other women envious? You W
promise this for my sake, Sara ?"
D. ended, his manly tones actually trel
u bling with anxiety and feeling.
i But the girl seemed not to mind tn
In the least.
oh she answered, with light, tn
talizing laugh, 81 can't premise
that. I'm q very ambitious girl, y
know. Goodnight once more, Frank
And her tall, graceful figure fiitt
away through the dusk, leaving hi
standing there alone, anxiously VIC
dering how much Of those last wor
she really meant.
But the next few weeks solved th
riddle for him, though SO skillfully d
+ Sara play the coquette, dividing b
|, smiles between him-Frank Burtis
+" and his wealthy rival, that he new
dreamed how utterly he had be
n. trified with until he saw Mr.. Colder
~ diamond actually flashing upon Sar'
hand Then followed stormy, p'
sionate scene which Sara was destin
never to forget.
III She loved Frank Burtis with all I