Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1886-08-13

| could only a.known she was on
the road ~ He dashed the oats in
to the .troughs, giving the old
gray blow on the nose for nipping
at him. Within the last half hour
he had become very much dissatls-
fed with himself. lie vowed for
one thing he would quit going bare
footed. lie could not help contrast
ing the name of Harry with that of
Jake. He felt indignant at his
parents for selecting such a name
for him. Why couldn't they just
as we'll have called him Harry, or
Charley, or anything but Jake. lie
leaned against the gate post sulkily,
loath to 60 in the house to meet
the father and mother who had
treated him so shabbily by bestow-
ing upon him such an appellation.
"Jaky, come to SUPPER" screamed
his little sister. When he worked
In the corner field they did not have
supper until night. Jake ground
his teeth in rage at the sound OF
his hated name, but went in. lie
looked straight at his plate during
the evening meal, answering the
questions addressed to him briefly
and gruflly. When he got up from
the table he went Immediately to
his room.
"Wonder what's the matter with
Jake 7" queried his father, as he
prepared to light his pipe for his
evening smoke. ooh, only tired,
1 reckon; he'll be all right in the
morning. answered the mother, as
she shook the crumbs from the Ia
ble-cloth.
"You must remember, pa, it's
pretty hard on boy not yet out OF
his teens to work as our Jake does.
Though, to be sure," she added
thoughtfully, "he's uncommon
stout"
"Pooh !" said the father, "it's not
that. Jakes never tired. I'd be
willing to put him agin any other
hand in the country
81 saw him and Rosa Anderson
comm down the road together be-
fore supper" chimed in the little
daughter. The father and mother
exchanged significant glances, but
were discreet enough to drop the
conversation.
And Jake did come to his break
fast apparently all right. Ills Ill
humor had vanished with his
dreams. The only thing unusual
about HIM was that lie had his
shoes on. "Whats the matter 7"
asked his mother, looking inqulr-
ingly at his feet. Jake blushed a
little for a moment. He was tempt
ed to make the excuse that his feet
were sore, but he was an honest
boy, and he blurted out the truth.
ale did not like to 90 barefooted,
and he wasn't going to any more"
The mother suspected that Rosa
Anderson was the cause of this
change in her son, and she felt that
twinge of pain and Jealousy that
all mothers feel when they first be-
come aware Of the fact that childs
heart has gone out to a stranger
But she was in the main a sensible
woman, so she said nothing more
and Jake started for the corn field.
The sun, a red ball, was just peep.
ing over the tops of the trees, the
birds were twittering softly among
the branches, for boisterous singing
was impossible. This lovely, hazy
autumn morning Jake's heart
swelled with an indefnable sense
of enjoyment as he drank in the
delights of nature, and he broke
into whistling as musical as the
songs of the birds. His parents
heard him from where they stood
on the house.steps. "Oh, JaRe's
all right" said the father, reassur-
ingly, as his son disappeared from
sight, but the mother turned into
the house with q sigh. She could
not help thinking of Rosa Ander-
son, and wondering how it would
all turn out.
A little later on, when the corn
stood in shocks and the frost had
shriveled the leaves somewhat,
Jake attended a "singing" held at
the district school.house. All the
young people OF the neighborhood
were there. Conspicuous among
them was Rosa Anderson, capt.
waiting with her radiant beauty and
coquettish ways-at least she ap
peared 80 to poor Jake.
There was a long recess, during
which games we're played out OF
doors by the light of the MOON
Once while these games were II
nrocess Jake held Rosa's hand in
his, and he was afraid she woult
hear his heart humping agains
his vest. lie forgot himself anC
crushed the little hand in his grea
powerful palm. She complained
that he was rough. Then he took
it tenderly in both Of his, but sh'
ierked it away and ran off.
When the singing had closed anC
the young people were filing slow
ly out of the house, Jake, ever i'm
pulsive, and too madly in love to b'
discreet, pushed forward, offer I'M
his arm to escort Rosa home, bu
she. with nose tilted in the air, CAV