The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1886-04-01

front door, and old Carisforde hat
gone to New York, cause Miss Hetty
told me 50 when I took pail of black
berries up there to sell this mornin!"
"Willyou stop your noise, said Mis-.
Julia imperiously, ''or will give you
something that will make you! Moth
or, why don't you 60 to the door?''
Il thought perhaps you were going
my dear, said the farmers wife, hum
bly,.
Well, I'm not" said Julia, petulant,
ly; Il should think you might know
enough for that, and one in this dress
Hurry up, why don't youp"
Mrs. Deerhaven obeyed her pretty
daughters not very dutiful injunction,
and found herself confronting tall,
slouching looking fellow, with his hat
drawn down over his eye, and both
hands in his pockets.
"Heerd as how Farmer Deerhaven
wanted a hand to help along with his
hayin'," was the explanation of the
errand that had broug ht him, "and be-
in as was out of work.
"Mr. Deerhaven isn't in," said the
farmers wife. He's after the COWS. -
"Well, now, if that amt too bad!''
said the hand; land me come all the
way from Smith 8 Forks!''
"But I expect he'll be back pres.
ently,' said Mrs. Deerhaven; ''won't
you sit down and wait spell?''
Don't care if do said the
stranger, dropping his whole weight
upon one of the fiat bottomed chairs.
'P'raps, miss, there, would give me a
| glass of water.''
Julia stared hautily at him without
deigning to notice his request, while
Mrs. Deerhaven, moving slowly and
YEARLY across the floor, brought him
gourd-shell full of clear dripping
water from the cedar pail by the
door.
'Ain't lost the use O. her limbs, nor
nothin', has she?' drawled the harvest
hand.
"WhyP" asked the mother. "No, of
course not-but why do you ask?''
'Out our way, gals don't lop do En
on sofys and let their mothers do all
the work. exclaimed the newcomer,
''unless they've got rheumatic or chills
and fever, or such-like ai]ment!''
''Mother!" interrupted Julia, sharp
ly, while the indignant color rose to
her cheek. if you don't stop those
children's racket 1 shall 60 up stairs
and stay-they're enough to drive one
crazy! AS for you, sir!'' to the man
with a slouched hat, which he had
not had the courtesy to remove, ':rll
trouble you to mind your own
business!'
"Sartinaly, ma ami answered the
farmland, with chuckle-and Julia
vented the wrath she could not reason
ably expend on him in sounding box
on the ear, bestowed on Augustus Fred
erick, her third brother, who broke in
to howl.
''Ma'' cried the promising youth,
'aint she to stop? She's all the time
knockin' me around, and my arms
are black and blue where she hit me
last night? 1t is, you cross thing! with
a grimace at Miss Deerhaven, whose
eyes shown just then with anything but
dove-likc expression, and III be glad
when old Carisforde marries you, and
takes YOU off, away from here, so
therc-e-ere, nOw!'
And Augustus Frederick fed to his
mothers skirts for protection from the
uplifted hand of his elder sister, while
Julia burst into angry tears!
ats too bad!" she sobbed. ..they re
just a pack of aggravating little
wretches and you back them up in it
mother, you know you do! l hate
them all hate home, and 1 wish
was well out of it!''
The harvest hand rose slowly to his
feet, doffing the broad-brimmed hat
that he wore, and unfastencd the folds
of a cotton pocket handkerchief that
was twisted about his throat by way of
substitute for neck-tie.
III am afraid am one too manv in
this little domestic tableau,' he said.
quietly, and Julia started as if a gal
vanic shock had stricken her at the
clear, calm sound of Mr.. Richard Carts
forde's voice. ''They say listeners
never hear any good of themselves,
and perhaps may be charged with
enacting that part; but old Carisforde
has certainly heard much that may be
productive of good to himself. l Deg
leave to wish you a very good even
ing
And Mr.. CarisfOrde bowed low and
retired, before Julia Deehaven could
summon up sufficient presence of mind
to speak single sentence.
He went back to where Hetty Nor
gan was sitting at her needle-work by
the shaded lamp.
''Hetty," he said, ''you were right
about-about Julia Deerhaven, beg
your pardon for ever doubling you
But one thing is certain-I shall never
marry now!'
Men often say this, but very seldom
keep their word. Mr.. Carisforde did
marry, before the year was out. and
his bride was Hetty Morgan, the pretty
cousin who had bravely vcntured on
such timely warning!
Nor did he ever regret his second
choice!