Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1886-07-09
THE FARM HAND.

TINE FARM HAND.
IL don't like his looks, mamma"
But your father says he is a capital work
er aud We ought not to object to him because
he's not an Adonis, ought we, dear He's
not to blame because he il so unpleasant to
look at. Don't notice him if his face isn't
agreeable to you, Matte"
The girl was very fair of face herself, and
slender and dainty as a flower. She was
Farmer Lee's only child, and had been raised
very tenderly by her parents, who, although
not exactly wealthy, could give their lovely
child a good education and Injuries. Six
months before she had graduated from Mad
anne NJ - finishing school for young la
dies and since had turned the heads of two
thirds Of the honest young farmers in her
county.
She had been speaking to her mother, and
speaking to her over her graceful shoulder,
as Mrs. Lee hustled about busy with some
preparations, while Matte stood at the win.
dow. As her mother finished speaking what
we have recorded, shutting figure slowly
crossed the open space without, going toward
tue stable. 1t was not a prepossessing fg-
ure, and the face above it was simply repul-
sive. Perhaps its ugliness was greatly due to
"A great livid scar, which crossed it from tenn
pie to chin, going down the cheek, over the
lip, terminating below the chin. 1t always
made Matte shudder to see that horrible
scar, aud she shivered now, even though the
eyes that looked up and met hers for mo.
ment, AZ the new farm hand passed outside
the window, were steady eyes, with light in
them that might have gorified another face
aud lashes dropping over them, long and silk
en- as the lashes Of girl eyes Of deep, dark,
mysterious blue, from which that hideous
scar took all beauty in the eyes of the girl,
who turned impatiently to her mother.
you will be back before night, mamma 2"
yes, Matte, you may look for us any
time after sunset
give my love to auntie, aud tell her l will
ride over to spend the day with her soon.
Are you quite ready, mammal"
Yes, my love, when | put on my hat Jim
has gone to get the horse and buggy"
IL saw him go. Let me tie your bonnet
strings. There, tying them deity, now |
am sure hear wheels. will see you of.
Don't remain out after dark, dear"
Her mother laughed as they went together
out to where Mr.. Lee was already waiting for
his wife at the door, and the farm servant
jim WAS leading around the stad chestnut
horse harnessed to light buggy. Matte
kissed her mother, then her father, and
watched them drive OF Somehow she felt
strangely lonely and depressed. She did not
notice the farm hand until he spoke to her
You look a. if all wasn't right, Miss Mat.
tie. Is there anything can do for you be.
fore | go back to the field Z"
She started little, and unconsciously
shrank from him.
mo, nothing" she answered. Nothing
is wrong, but am a little lonely"
Theu she went in, and the blue, long dashed
eyes OF the man followed her until she had
disappeared then he dropped his head and
went in his usual shutting way. on to the
field, and Matte saw no more OF him until he
came in at Il o'clock hurrying to escape the
sudden wild storm which had gathered and
burst in AN hour Matte stood at the kitch-
en- window, looking out at the heavy drops,
listening to the sharp peals of thunder, fire.
quently shrouded in the lurid flashes that
lighted the darkening world briefly and
blindingy; the stolid help" WAS preparing
supper, but glancing occasionally toward the
window at which Matte stood.
They'll not come home to night" she
said at length; nobody would let them come
out in such a storm this, Miss Matte"
They must have started before it broke,
Matte answered, shrinking vaguely from the
thought of being alone in that great house on
a stormy night, with these two then q
sharp, fierce peal of thunder crashed from
the sky above, so sudden as to make her give
a cry of startled terror, and, rs the lightning
followed it, bright, binding fantastical, she
found a strong hand on her arm, drawing her
back from the window.
You are in danger there !" The voice was
strange to her, rich, clear, commanding, and
with ring of education in it. She looked
up suddenly, and met those blue, peculiar
eyes, her own dllating as she did 80, for in
them she read something something strange,
and pitiful, and weird it seemed to her.
moment later he had turned away the
figure that had been straight as a sApling
dropped once more, the hand that had lain
sternly on her arm now falling listlessly at
the side of Jim, the farm hand but Mattie's
heart was throbbing wildly, fearfully, as
might the heart of newly Gagged linnet.
The storm continued fierce as one of those
that sweep the southern flowers, but not 80
brief, for when Matte went with the "help"
to bar the doors and fasten the windows Sc
curely it was still raging, aud they knew that
Mr. Lee and his wife would remain with the
latters sister for the night.
IF ye're afraid, Miss Matte, I'll sit up
with YOU" the servant said, when bed time
had come, but she said it with yawn, and
Matte thanked her aud declined.
81 am not afraid, she said, and then again
meeting those strange blue eyes, which fell
as she met them, tremor went over her.
Was it of fearY
She went to her room aud tried to read,
but the thunder, the binding glares OF light,
the wild rush of the Winds drew her thoughts
constantly from her book. At last, feeling
lonely and depressed, and unaccountably
alarmed, she left her seat and began walk
ing up and down the room, sobbing like the
petted child she was. 1t was when she at
length prepared for bed, extinguished the
light, and after a brief prayer, in which she
commended her spirit and all she loved to
Gods care she lay down. and while the thun-
der rumbled of in the distance and the wind
lost its fierce, hungry howl she went of to
sleep.
Her dreams were not pleasant, and from
one she started up, cold and shivering and
listening for a sound. Was ali dream
Hark A light football under her window a
stealthy tread unwilling to be heard All at
once strong aud fearless, although growing
very pale, she noiselessly left her couch, and,
going to the window, opened it without
sound. The storm had cleared away, the
night was calm and starlit now, a faint wind
just stirred the wet leaves of the maple tree
without, aud she saw, or fancied she saw,
two stealthily moving figures trying to open
the door; moment and muttered bias
phemy reached her then she drew in her
head, and stood with beating, bounding heart
in her room. What would or should she do
Jim. She flung on a loose wrapper over her
night-dress and fairly flew up to the little at
tic chamber occupied by the farm hand.
With trembling fingers she raped on the
door. No answer, no sound from within.
Jim !" she called, softly. No reply. She
raped again Still silence. Then a sudden
fear smote her, and she turned faint under it.
Was Jim there, or was he below making it
easy for the burglars-his friends-to enter
On an impulse she tried the knob, having
found It by cropping. II turned readily and
the door swung open. BY the light which
came in at the little window directly over it
she saw that the bed was unoecupied, and
she flew back down the stairs, into her faith.
er's chamber.
Mr.. Lee always kept a sum of money in
the house, and always kept a revolver within
his reach, should he be awakened by burg
lars at night. She knew where, and she