Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1885-03-22


even though Stephens plan should sue
ceed to the uttermost, the burden on
the land would not be wiped off, but
simply transferred from Enoch Marrish
to the land-agents and surveyors whom
Stephen served. Still, it is no doubt
better to be indebted to far-away. i'm
personal creditors than to neighbor
under whose eyes one has to live and
look ashamed, and who knows the se-
crets Of ones affairs; and then, in his
heart he did not like Marrish over
much, while Stephens only fault was
that he had not sprung from land. For
. yeoman of the Blackthorn caste would
have looked upon marriage with an
Earl As q neSaiiidnce if the Peer in
question could not find the root of his
pedigree somewhere under hereditary
field.
Nor ESQ inconsistent is human na-
ture) was this feeling on the part of
Farmer Blackthorn whit the less
strong because he had himself COM
mitted a mesalliance; his dead wife
having been not SO much as country
woman. but the daughter of a London
tradesman with wharf somewhere
down the Thames. Moreover. the mar
riage under circumstances which,
though discreditable to neither side,
had brought about a lasting breach be-
tween the then wealthy yeoman and
tho Weather wharfinger, which had
never been healed. Till his unsuccess-
full attempt at begging by deputy. no
word had ever passed between the two;
there had clashed together equal OBJ
stinacy and equal pride. Not even
Mrs. Blackthorn's death had made
them 80 much as formal friends. 1t
was the Cockney strain, no doubt,
Farmer Blackthorn thought, bitterly,
which had come out in his son Dick,
whose name he had ceased to name,
and who had gone away, his father
and he knew why, and nobody else
knew where. Whereas Patience was
her fathers child.
All such things had Stephen Harlow
ample leisure to observe and to reflect
upon, for his holiday had grown. The
first post enabled him, after trip to
Manchester, to transfer all his savings
to his future father-in-law; not that no
confessed that the very fairly consider
able sum was his all, making light of
the gift as loan in the way of busi-
ness, out of which he saw his own ad-
vantage; so that the farmer felt as if he
were conferring favor by taking the
money instead of receiving one. Pres
entity came letter from Prestons', au-
thorizing him to report on the land,
the title, and so forth. with view TO
their favorably considering what he
had proposed. As that business could
not be disposed of in hurry, his holi-
day became a holiday, indeed, with
pleasure enough to make the days
well-nigh too short to crowd it all in.
In the first place. he had to busy
himself with surveys, plans. title-deeds,
estimates, and a hundred other delight
full things Of that nature. Then. these
being not half enough, he threw him
self zealou.ly into the heavier work OF
bringing the farm back again into work
ing order; and this alone took up the
whole of one mans time. But whole
man of him seemed still to remain; and
this he gave to the personal service OF
his old patron, doing his best to cheer
him up, and to restore the farmer even
as he had restored the farm. Then
what time was left for his love-making?
just all just as much as if he had
nothing else in the world to do.
Under such circumstances Patience
could not find it in her heart to play
the coquette, even for fun. She felt as
if she had Just shaved the edge of
precipice; a. if she had missed misery
and found happiness by miracle; and.
moreover, being used to such different
ways, she regarded all this energy with
wondering awe. Stephen going to be
q great man indeed! Why, he was
already great man; there could be
nobody like him in the world. She had
always liked him. and had easily learn
ed to love him; but who had looked fer
this from the drunken blacksmith
boy? 1t was a. if their charity to
Stephen, when he was a forlorn little
waif. was being repaid them thousand
fold; and she could only thank God for
him on her knees, and then sit at his
feet in admiration, and thank him for
loving her. If poor Dick had only been
halt like Stephen! She did her best to
help him. begging for sums to work
and papers to copy; and though she
hindered him a good deal by her blum
ders, there was the pleasure of setting
them right again. What days those
were: And if only poor Dick had been
right now. Had not Stephen taken
everything in hand-so how could any
thing fail to come right or go wrorg2
: One evening she had delightful sur
prise. Stephen, having been over on
law business to Hunche ter, asked her
to come out for stroll before supper.
They passed through the yard gate, and
were going. at snairs pace, along the
quiet path that leads across the fields
to the village. when Patience suddenly
stopped and pointed.
''Stephen, look! If somebody's cows
haven't got to our grass again!"
Nonsense, Patience. Why, there
isn't q broken hedge or loose gate all
round. Somebody's cows, indeed!
Where?"
why, where are your eyes? No
they're not on my nose, Stephen.
They're out there
"Yes; l see some cows. Naturally,
on farm one does expect to see cows"
Not on ours"
"Let's 60 bit nearer. and see. Yes;
see them plain enough now. But
fancy farmers daughter not knowing
her own cows hundred yards away!n
"Stephen, please don joke about
cows"
Heaven forbid; they're much too
serious things, know. Never mind,
Patience, I'll never tell"
"Tell?'
That Patience Blackthorn didn't
know her fathers cows"
"Stephen"
"Why, darling, you look at me as if
were talking treason. Don't you like
the look of the beasts? Is there any
thing wrong?"
AZ