The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1886-08-04


Mr. Jupp was their agent
I" New men, new measures, " she said,
and stopped at the gate, with beating
heart. "What if | am driven Off"
But the thought of her sick mother
and of the empty cupboard made her
! desperate.
She opened the gate and went in.
The reapers were sweeping on ahead,
in long, graceful line; others, far be-
hind, were binding up their sheaves,
and an overseer, or what seemed one,
was on horseback, directing operations.
Edith began in a corner, near the
! gate, far away from the rest. She
looked furtively, now and then, toward
the overseer, and seeing that he had
noticed her, yet did not Interfere. she
gathered courage. If she could have
seen herself then in mirror, though
the least vain of her sex, she would
have been startled at her own beauty.
Excitement had given bright glow to
her cheeks and even an increased bril-
lancy to her eyes. Her half-rustic at
tire, coarse as it was, was admirably
adapted to set off her symmetrical fig
ure; her white arms shone dazzlingly;
every movement was graceful
Suddenly a harsh voice behind her
cried, None of that. Throw down
your sicklel Wen have no thieves
herel"
Edith dropped her sickle, trembling
all over, and looked around. Mr.. Jupp
stood there, also horseback, and his
whip was raised menacingly. Edith
shrank back; her knees gave way un-
der her; she grew blind; she thought
she was dying She had but one feel
ing, one thought-the man was about
to strike her. Oh! the degradation of
it, worse even than his words of insult.
But she did not faint. Just as every
thing whirled dizzily around her, just
as she was losing consciousness, the
quick thud of horse was heard gal
Looping over the stubbe, and stern
voice addressed Jupp:
What are you saying to this grip"
it cried, angrily. mot telling her to
90 away? How dare you? Didn't you
know that my uncle always allowed
this-ay. and the Wheatlands from
time immemorial? We have never
ground the faces of the poor. | saw
you raise your whip threateningly, if
I'm not mistaken. BY Jove, if you
were not an older man than myself I'd
thrash you within an inch of your
life!n
All of a sudden the angry voice
ceased, and the speaker, turning to
Edith. addressed her in tones as soft as
woman's:
My poor child" it said, "don't
mind Jupp-I am master here. Take
up your sickle and cut as much
wheat"
He stopped suddenly. Edith up to
this point had stood with bowed figure,
half unconscious, her gaze bent in
shame on the ground; but touched by
these kind words, and even more by
the tone, she lifted her eyes, full of
tears, and gazed at the speaker.
In that look there was something
that both thrilled and abashed the be-
holder. Young Wheatands, for such
was the horseman, was one of the
} handsomest men of his day; and he
was accustomed to admiration; but
you are more than human; you are
some knight of chivalry come to rescue
me from foul enchanter."
1t was this that thrilled him with a
strange, wild feeling of happiness, such
as no woman's glance had ever before
awakened. But on the other hand, in
stead of finding himself in the presence
of village rustic, as he had expected,
, and as the dress led him till this very
moment to believe, he beheld to his
amazement, a face not only of rare
beauty, but one instinct with that in
, herited as well as acquired refinement
= which, for want of better word, il
= called high-bred. This, he saw at once
was no mere village girl, but young
=, princess in disguise. And he had of
= fered such one aims! He had spoken
q to her as if she were a mental. His
usual ease of manner failed him. He
, sat there dumb, as if himself the culprit
. Edith broke the spell.
= " Oh, sir.'' she cried, with a sob
: clasping her hands and looking up a
him imploringly, " | meant no harm
. | used to see other people do what did
- And-and-we were starving-mothel
and /"
3, Young Mr.. Wheatlands turned aside
q for a moment to brush away tear
i Looking up, he saw Jupp's gaze fas
tened on him, and there was sheer OIL
the lawyers face.
!, The young man colored angrily.
e Ride on, if you please, sir" h
g said sternly to the lawyer. g wisl
to say something to this young lad,
Il alone"
: The lawyer obeyed, feeling, perhaps
Il that he had gone too far, and wishing
! he had never seen Edith.
q Then young Mr.. Wheatlands, liftin
3 his hat to Edith, as if she had been
princess, said, " l beg thousand pan
o dons. l shall settle with Jupp to-da
s and discharge him. Believe me,
d would not for worlds that this ha
= happened"
o ooh, sir, don't on my account qual
3 rel with him. cried tender-hearte
Edith. " He was doing what he though
# his duty. Besdes-beides-"
/ Besides what?' he asked, kindly.
e Besides, he holds the mortgage o
o our cottage, and it might make hir
harder on us than ever"
e Mortgage on your cottage! Is it,,
q he said, as if certain light had broke
e on him, the little house down in tn
meadow"
,r A mute nod of assent was the reply.
i "Then / am talking to Miss Mile
O You don't-you don't mean to say tha
- the rascal has been threatening yo