Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1886-07-03
JAKE.

Jake went whistling along the road on
his way home from work He had been
blowing In the corner field. 1t was a
glorious evening In September seeding
time. Such an autumny evening as
could be found only among the hills Of
Ohio. The sun had sunk below the
horizon, but with his expiring rays had
beautifully decorated the heavens with
blended shades of purple and gold.
Jake sat astride his old gray mare con
tented and happy. The field viii be
ready for the harrow day after to-mOr-
row." he soliloquized. ''then the next day
I viii commence drilling, and finish it
Saturday. Whoop lap Again the
Whistling mingled merrily with the iing-
ling Of the chain attached to the pillow
harness.
Jake's blue shirt was soiled with
perspiratiOn and dust. A portion of the
crown Of his hat was gone, making an
aperture through which peeped his-I
wish could say blonde hair, but it was
sandy, very sandy. His hands and face
were sunburned and rough, while his
feet hanging at the sides of the old mare
were bare and dirty, but all this did not
interfere IN the least with his peace of
mind until upon turning a fork in the
road he found himself by the side of Far
mer Anderson's daughter, who was walk
ing home from Squire Ford's, where she
had been invited to tea. She rejoiced
In the name Of Rosa, this girl of II,
with pink cheeks and sky blue eyes.
Very pretty and innocent she looked IN
her white dress and floating ribbons.
"How-da do, Jake?' she said, with a
careless toss Of her head. Jakes's greet
ing was inaudiole because of a choking
sensation in his throat Somehow of
late he had very. peculiar feelings when
ever he was with Miss ROsa-such a
queer coming of pain and Joy. He
could not have told for her life which
he preferred. His pain was so exquisite
and the Joy so excruciating.
He slipped down from the mare and
started the team ahead. He had vague
impression that his feet would be less
conspicuous on the ground than dang
ling IN the air in close proximity to
ROsa's nose. He wished, in a confused
and dazed sort of way, for he had lost all
control of his thinking powers, that they
were not so large or so dirty. he would
have bartered his hopes of eternal life
Just then for a pair of shoes. The OdOr
from his sweat-sOaked clothes had sud
denly become very apparent and often
sive to him. She appeared so dainty
and pure In contrast. Heavens! how
the blood surged into his heart as he
stumbled awkwardly along by her side
trying to think Of something to say.
"Of course you're going to the fair,
Rosa % he finally asked timidly, at the
same time breaking of the top of a tail
weed that he might have it to carry-his
hands seemed so swollen in size and so
much IN the way.
20 yes" she answered, everybody is
going, L guess" She didnot manifest Rny
interest as to whether he would be there.
He wished she would.
"Harry Ford will enter his brown colt
the one he rides, you know. 1 hope
it Will take the premium, don't your
Then without waiting for an answer she
launched into a lengthy description OF
what a perfectly lovely time she had
been having at the Fords that evening,
and Wounl up with asking, Don't you
think they are such a nice family?'
An entirely new feeling crept into
Jake's heart. He and Harry Ford had
always been good friends, but all al
once he found himself believing that an
opportunity to throttle Harry would
AFFORD him supreme delight. As they
were now at the gate that led into his
fathers barnyard, Jake did not fee
obliged to answer ROsa's question, but
hastily bidding her good by followed his
horses TO the watering trough. Rosa
kept on down the road toward her home
s.How awful Jake Baily looked this
evening"" she said to herself 'YOU
don't catch, Harry Ford in such {
plight" Harry, knowing they haC
company invited, came in early from
work. Slipping up the back stairs Il
his room, he arrayed himself IN his Sun
dav clothes, and came down to tea look
ing like a gentleman. 'Jake thinks lot
of me-" She fingered tenderlY over the
thought for a moment. ''But mercy
1 could never marry a man who wen
barefooted and wore such horrid dirty
shirt" Now Harry-she then went of
into a pleasant little reverie, in Wihcl
Harry was the central figure. Thus I
little incident viii sometimes shape
whole after life. If Rosa had not hap
pened to see Jake with bare feet anC
dressed in his work clothes, 1 would pro
baby have a different story to tell Blu
she could not help having somewhat fas
6dious tastes, and Jake as he appeared
that evening was not an object calculat
ed to excite admiration
Jake, back at the barn, was unhaness
ing his team and growing more irrltabl'
every minute. tIt's to cOnfOunded baC
it had to happen sO,'' he muttered, as ht
ierked the astOnished horses around
''If I could only a-known she was OF
the roadP' He dashed the oats into thu
feed-Toughs, giving the old gray blov
on the nose for nipping at him Within
the last half hour he had become YER
much dissatisfied with himself. Ill
vowed for one thing he would quit go
ing barefoot. He could not help con
trasting the name of Harry with that o
Jake. He felt indignant at his parent
for selecting such name for him VIII!
couldn't they Just as well have calleS
him Harry, or Charley, or anything bu
Jake. He leaned mp against the gate
post sulkily, loath TO go IN the house T.
meet the father and mother who hal
treated him so shabbily by bestOwint
upon him such an appellation.
"Jaky, come to supper screamed In
little sister. When he worked in tn
corn field they did not have supper unit
night. Jake ground his teeth IN rage a
the sound of his hated name, but wen
In. He looked straight at his plate dur
ing the evening meal, answering ques
tons addressed to him briefly and grui
fly. When he got up from the table b
went Immediately to his room.