Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1886-08-27

ing on rocky Rhode Island farm.
Dorothy Mallard worked late and
early. She herself took her crops
into town with a borrowed wagon
and the old blind pony which, hav-
ing been turned out into the world
to die by a heartless clam-vender,
had been led home and fed on juicy
grass by Abel and Chatty, and who
had actually developed into a sort
of Indian summer of useful
ness under the unwonted stimu-
lus of plenty of food and bedding
and kind treatment.
And the tobacco-feld won such
IenOwn throughout the neighbour
hood that a gentleman from Provi-
dence-a famous cigar manufacture
er-drovo up, one afternoon, to look
at it.
"Pretty nice hacker, sah,"
chuckled old Jubal, who in his
ragged working suit, was working
in the little plantation, with an oc-
casional pull at a clean clay pipe.
"a fine crop" said Mr.. Mayhem.
"Your own raising, my man?
"Me an Miss Dawthy," said old
Jubal. "Ef dar's anything we under
stan, it is terbacker."
"What will you take for it, SAID
MIR. Mayhem, "as it standsf"
"Mus' ask Miss Dawthy," said
the old man, slowly shaking his
head. "Mlss Dawthy's de boss
Old Jubal dunno muffin"
"Where is this Miss Dawtby OF
yours 2"
"She's done took a load OBJ eggs
an poultry into town. said Jubal.
"Massa mus wait"
"Who owns the farm y Mr.. May
hew asked.
"NIiss Dawthy,7 said Jnbal.
"WhO works it ~
"Nliss Dawthy."
"She must be a smart woman"
observed Mr.. Mayhem, carelessly.
"Dat she jes' is y said old Jubal.
GAS smart as de best steele trap in
Providence
Mr.. Mayhem naturally prepared
himself TO behold raw boned, eld-
erly female, with hide aDd-leatber
complexion, and elbows as sharp
as the angle of a Virginia teuce.-
His surprise at the appearance Of
pretty Dorothy Mallard can easily
be imagined.
At the end of the season Dorothy
balanced her accounts.
"Well,' said Silas Green, who
had strOlled up in the frosty star.
light, with the inevitable burnt
match in his mouth, chow much
have YOU lost p
81 don't dnow that it's any of
your business" said she, with some
spirit.
81 only asked as FRIEND" re-
marked Silas, somewhat discom-
fitted.
"Oh, is that it? | thought it
sounded exactly as if you were ask
ing as an enemy dryly observed
Dorothy. "Well, Of course, if that
Is the case, | don't object to an
sweriDg. l haven't lost anything"
"Just made matters meet. eh y
"Plus one hundred dollars ~ tri-
lmphantly responded Dorothy.
"Great ScOttp shouted SiIaS.-l
There amt many farmers in Glen
COVE hev made more money than |
hat this year. | suppose it's the
;Obacco crop"
"Tbat, and other things" said |
Dorothy. "The s. awberries have |
lone splendidly. and / could have
old twice as many spring broilers
md fresh eggs if l had them. But
don't deny that the tobacco crop |
las been very fortunate-very for
innate, indeed p she added, with a
araway glitter in her gray.blue
yes.
81 swan to goodness, I'm glad of
t p said Silas Green, with an ef-
ort. eyes, l be. You've done
lmOst as we'll as if you'd been a
nan, Dorothy. And l don't mind
elm you I've made up my mind
o let bygoDes be bygODes, add mar.
y you after ALL"
"Marry me?" said Dorothy.
Silas Green nodded his head be-
evidently.
"Oh, no, don't think you will"
aid she.
"Pve decided to let you take care
{ the children just as you please
aid Silas. "Though I still think
wonld be better to bud 'em out
} trades. For there's no denying
nat you're a smart girl. Dorothy,
somehow can't get you out of my
cad. l."
"Don't 60 on, pleasew faltered
'orothy. 81 mustn't listen to it,
las. | am ever so much obliged :
you, but l am engaged to an ,
her man ~
"Hal-lO :" SAID Silas.
lie took up his hat and went pre- 9
pitately home.
81 wonder who it can be-" said :
to himself. "There amt a man
Glengowe half good enough for y