The Northern Pacific farmer., 1885-03-05

UIl0 VIII ICUtSs- OOu6 Ou0 uau d1r6dQY
cleared a way by: letting down
fences on the roadside; but Miss Scam:
per did not go around with the rest.
She faced the trunk, the horse went
over, and then trotted on. Didymus
faced it too. His brute got over, but
half stumbled. Didymus was country
bred, had ridden horses to mill bare
backed, and was half centaur when a
boy; so he brought his horse up.
Miss Scamper smiled approvingly.
Everybody admired the ease and grace
with which Miss Scamper managed her
horse, and Didymus more than every
body.
When they arrived at their destina-
tion the party dispersed in the house
and over the grounds. They found
old Scamper there. He had gone over
before in carryall. Almont was
the property of Colonel Almont, and
was for sale, with it's fine blooded stock
of horses and cattle, it's furniture, its
library and everything in the house and
around it. The Colonel and his family
were in Europe, and intended to stay
there while he educated his sons at
Heidelberg. So he offered the whole
"a house that cost hundred and thir-
ty thousand dollars, with all it's offices
OF all kinds, stables, palmery, grapery
and greenhouses, furniture made to
order, and over twelve hundred acres of
land in a high state of cultivation
"for," as he said in his letter, "a mere
song" So it was; but, as it. was set to
the tune of three hundred thousand
dollars, there were few who could rem
der the music.
They all admired the place: The
agent, who was there, seized on the
Scampers and Didymus, to whom he
showed everything and explained
everything. Didymus was amused at
this, and whispered to Miss Scamper,
"He has picked out the only three who
could certainly not buy it," Miss Scam
~ appreciated the fun of the situation.
Then the agent seized old Scamper, and
begged him off to look at the blood hor-
ses and imported cattle, leaving Didy-
mus and the girl together.
"How do you like the place, Mr..
Dodd ?" inquired she.
"Like it, Miss Scamper! Why, it is
garden OF Eden that IS, it would be
so to me, if / had an Eve in it."
The young lady smiled, and said,
"You like country life, then, Mr..
Dodd?"
Naturally" replied Didymus. '1
lived in the country until I was twenty
two. I was born and bred there. [
would have been there yet but for the
death Of both my parents. 1 went to
the city in search of fortune. I have
done very we'll for the last seven years
and have put little by; but to covet a
place like this is like wishing for the
MOON"
"The country is the place to live in
and the city to work in" said Miss
Scamper, sententiously.
"To live in, I grant you, if you have
the means-a good farm and money to
work it. Otherwise you toll harder in
the country than in town, with less
comfort and less profit"
They then discoursed on rural top
les, with a marvellous unity of senti-
ment, until the venerable Scamper
and the agent got back, which was at
the time the whole party, each with a
nosegay furnished by the gardener
from the green houses, was ready for a
return to the Springs.
There were yet two days of the young
mans vacation left, when he determin-
ed to place his fate at Miss Scamper's
disposal at the first opportunity. The
chance came that very night. That
evening a number were seated on the
veranda enjoying the moonlight. Miss
Scamper sat apart from the rest in
heavy shadow, with her grandfather.
Tie old gentleman rose when Dodd
came and left. Miss Scamper made
room for Didymus at her side, and the
two began to talk of the days doings.
"By-the-by," said Didymus, have you
heard that Almont has been sold?"
Eyes"
"And to the great heiress, Miss Boil
sover. I wonder if she will keep old
maids hall there?"
Miss Scamper laughed low, silvery
laugh. II presume she will, she said ,
unless she chance to marry. Wasn't
that sad accident at the mill to-day ?"
"Very. The man has wife and four
children. I went over to see how they
were-to see if they were in pressing
need you know; but that part is all
right. This Miss Bolsover, who must
be staying somewhere near, had been
there and provided for all their wants.
I suppose, as she has bought Almont,
she means to play the Lady Bountiful
here, which is all the better for Micky
and his family"
II believe, Mr.. Dodd,"' said the
lady, "that you play the part Of Lord
Bountiful sometimes, especially If some
poor woman left with four children
should rouse your sympathies.
''How did you know?" he asked.
"a little bird toll me," she said.
''You not only paid Mrs. Grants rent,
but got her eldest boy employment, and
fairl ran away to avoid her thanks.
She was full of your praises"
"But she did not know my name,
said Didymus.
"True. But don't you remember
that ve1led- lady sat there the last
time you came? That Was I. I was
in Philadelphia on a visit and looked
up Mrs. Grant, who had been SER
want in our family before she married.
She told me of her troubles,
and how stranger had helped her.
I looked at you we'll, and when you
came here knew you in an instant. "
Didymus felt his heart futter. Now
was the time; but his tongue refused it's
Office. After little pause Miss Scam
per said, II have had very pleasant
time here, and am almost sorry that I
leave tomorrow"
"To-morrow!" cried Didymus in des-
peration, Selling her hand, which was
not withdrawn. ooh, Ruth-Miss
Scamper-you must have seem"
Here he stopped, but the fingers of
the lady frightened little in his grasp.
A friendly cloud passed over the moon,
and the recess grew darker.
II love you, Ruth, darling" he mur-
INJURED, and drew her INCREASINGLY to-
1uor5 hin,