Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1886-05-01
'Doan you fret, Miss Dawthy; I'll guar

the barn chamber, where he smoked him
self into semi-stupefaction of an even
ing, and told ghost stories that made
little Abel's flaxen hair stand on end,
between the pipe-lightings.
can old man of seventy and child of
sevenP' jeered Silas Green. "We'll see
what sort of farming that is!
Dorothy turned short around upon him.
II believe" said she, with glittering eyes,
"that you would be pleased, Silas--yes,
actually pleased-if was to fail in this
enterprise of mine"
"Well, calculate it would teach YOU
a pretty good lesson" said he, disagree
ably
But as time went on, the young chick
ems grew as fat as if they had been in
Dorothy's confidence, and were secretly
preparing themselves for the gridiron
and the spit; the ripening Strawberries
crimsoned all the field; the young grape
roots stretched their green tendrils sun
ward, and the tobacco waved it's monster
leaves, as if it fancied itself in old Vir-
ginia instead of growing on a rocky
Rhode Island farm
Dorothy Mallard worked late and carly
She herself took her crops into town with
borrowed wagon and the old bin d pony,
which, having been turned out into the
world to die by heartless clam vender,
had been led home and fell on juicy
grass by Abel and Chatty, and who had
actually developed into sort of Indian
summer of usefulness under the unwonted
stimulus of plenty of food and bedding
and kind treatment
And the tobacco field won such renown
throughout the neighborhood that gen.
tleman from Providence--a famous cigar
manufacturer-drove up, one afternoon,
to look at it.
"Pretty nice 'backer, sah," chuckled
old Jubal, who, in his "a gged working
suit, was working in the Ii tile plantation,
with an occasional pull at clay pipe
ga fine crop" said Mr.. Mayhem.
'Your own raising. my m,an2'
''Me an Miss Dawthy," said old .Jubal.
"Ef dar's anything we understan,' it is to-
hacker"
"What will you take for it," said Mr.
Mayhem, 'as it stands?"
man, slowly shaking his head. ''Miss
Dawthy's de boss. Ole Ju5al dunno
nuffin'.'
"Where is this Miss Dawthv of yours?"
s'She done took load oh eggs an
poultry into town." said Jubal. 'Massa
mus wait"
"Who owns the farm?" Mr.. Mayhem
asked
"Miss Dawthy," said Jubal.
"Who works it?"
"Miss Dawthy."
''She must be smart woman" OBJ,
served Mr.. Mayhem, carel essly
''Dat she jcs' isl" said old Jubal. Gas
smart as de best steel-trap in Provi-
dence'
Mr.. Mayhem naturally prepared him
self to behold a raw boned, elderly fe-
male, with hide-and- leather complex
ion, and elbows as sharp as. the angle OF
Virginia fence. His surprise at the APP
pearance of pretty Dorothy Mallard can
easily be imagined.
At the end of the season Dorothy bal.
anced her accounts.
"Well." said Silas Green, who had
strolled up in the frosty starlight, with
the inevitable burnt match in his mouth,
Chow much have You LOST"
~ don't know Chat it's any of your
business" said she, with some spirit.
OILY dSkelt IT'S u lIlClu, lClIldl hcu
Silas, somewhat discounted.
"Oh, is that 1t? I thought it sounded
exactly as if you were asking as an en-
emy," dryly observed Dorothy. "Well,
of course, if that is the case, don't OBJ
ject to answering. haven't lost any
thing"
"Just made matters meet, eh?"
"Plus one hundred dolfars!" trium-
phantly responded Dorothy.
"Great Scott" shouted Silas. "There
amt many farmers in Glengowe hev
made more money than that this year.
suppose it's the tobacco crop"
"That, and other things" said Doro-
thy. "The Strawberries have done SPLEEN
didly, and I could have sold twice as
many spring broilers and fresh eggs if
had had them. But 1 don't deny that
the tobacc, crop has been very fortunate
very fortunate, indeedr' she added,
with a PARKWAY glitter in her gray-hlue
eyes.
Il swan to goodness, I'm glad of it"
said Silas Green, with an effort. "'Yes I
be- You've done Almost as we'll as if
you'd been man, Dorothy. And don't
mind tellin' you I've made up my mind
W leI uNSoiioS po uySoIioS, 'tio 'aaiiy you
after ALL"
'Marry me?" said Dorothy.
Silas Green nodded his head benevo-
lently.
''Oh, no, don't think you will" said
She
''I've decided to let you take care of
the children just as you pie ase," said
Sias "Though l still think it would be
better to bind 'em out to trades. For
there's no denying that yorl're smart
girl, Dorothy, and I somehow can't get
you out of my head. /"
Don't go on. please." faltered Doro-
thy. 81 mustn't listen to it, Sias. I am
ever SO much obliged to you, but am
engaged to another mann'
"Hal-lo!" said Silas.
He took up his hat and went precipi-
lately home.
/ 81 wonder who it can be-" said he to
himself. There amt a man in Glengowe
half good enough for Dorothy Mallard!"
But the next Sunday, with all the roads
covered with the first pearl white snow
of the season, cutter dashed by him as
he plodded along toward the old stone
church.
'It's Dorothy" said he. stopping to
stare after it. "And that's Mr.. Mayhem,
the cigar manufacturer from Providence
+bo+ bourht in bor foIoo,o crnn ,oo