The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1888-08-16
| was the worst thing that could be
said of his looks he would be thank


Are you looking for work."
"Yes, ma 'am," he answered, bold
ly.
"Do you understand farm work."
"Some kinds"
my father is in need of help. de
is away from home for II few hours,
but if you are inclined to wait till he
returns | think he would give you
something to do; but perhaps you
were going somewhere in particu-
lar"
"No, madam, l was not, and l will
be glad to wait. :"
The truth was Tom had fallen in
love with the blue-robed maiden,
and enjoyed the sensation; and
though at this moment he would
have given a half years income for
change of raiment, he still felt CRATE
full to the fate that had led him
to this spot. After he had finished
his breakfast he told Ruth that if
there was any little piece of work he
could do till her fathers return he
was ready to undertake it.
Ruth didn't know; she thought
there must be something, but she
didn't just know what.
She tried to be very dignified and
very business-like and failed COM
pletely. Finally she said that If he
understood using the lawn-mower he
might employ himself in that way for
awhile.
Papa is very particular about the
lawn" she said.
He could easily believe it, for it was
already as smooth as a carpet; but
he began his work somewhat eau
tiously it must he confessed.
Ruth came out and gave some lit
tie directions. The wind blew her
fiossy hair about her face in bewil-
dering fashion and heightened the
color in her cheeks to actualrosiness.
The sight of such loveliness set Tom S
heart beating tumultuously.
The adventure was beginning to
assume an embarrassing character;
he wanted to be "himself again. -
Having assumed a false position, he
found it difficult to extricate himself.
"This rather comical, Tom," he
said to himself; ''here's a croquet
ground, and you are a skillful player;
here's lively young lady, and you
have been known to be agreeable to
lively young ladies. Here are all the
facilities for a summer idyl,
and yet-and yet The man who
casts off his real character and as
sumes a higher has some excuse;
there is the element of ambition in
his deception, but the man who vol
unfairly abjures his birthright for
the fun of the thing is a great idiot,
and you are that man, Tom Hamil-
ton. Next time you masquerade,
be Polish count
Then he heard the piano. There
was skilled hand upon the instru-
ment, and in moment arose exquis-
ite strains from Norma" Tom
resigned his position as amateur
gardener and threw himself under a
tree to listen.
Then followed a brilliant rendering
of parts of ERA Diavolo;" than an
aria ''Don Giovanni" This she
commenced, proceeded a certain dis
tance, hesitated, tried again, stop
ped; again and again was this re-
peated.
Tom had several good gifts; he
was a good musician and could
whistle beautifully. There was
something positively exquisite in it
low and tender and sweet, or clear
and strong, as the spirit of the
music bid.
He thought, ~ am not presentable
in your parlor, but think can help
you, if 1 am a tramp" So he COM
menced the aria she failed upon, that
sweetest of all arais, "La ci darem,"
without a false note.
The melody with all it's tender, soft
earnestness, its slow, swimming tones
of passionate languor fell upon her
ear. She tried again; this time he,
from his position under the tree, ac-
companed the piano. Again she fall
tered at the same place, stopped,
while he carried it through to the
end.
Then he saw Miss Ruth on the porch,
and her sweet voice reached him, in
these words, gentle and courteous,
and yet with just the slightest touch
of authority:
Il wish you would come here a
moment"
Tom walked slowly toward her.
81 wish you would whistle that
passage again, where / failed, you
remember. l haven't the music. l
tried to play it from memory" she
exclaimed. "And you whistle it with
wonderful accuracy, and wonderful
precision, too"
Tom colored with pleasure, through
the mosquito blotches that adorned
his face.
He raised his hat, and said: "Iwill
stand outside and accompany you;
or, if you will grant me the pleasure,
/ will play it for you"
Miss Ruth lifted her hands with as
tonishment and replied:
81 have seen some curious people in
my life, but l don't know as / ever
saw a-a-tramp who understood
opera music. Mol certainly not in
this region of the country"
"Miss Ruth" Tom said, "you know
the poet says things are not what
they SEEM / am a living illustration
of the truth of that statement. lam
not what seem, but / don't know as
/ can prove that to you. However
such credentials as have l lay at
your feet" and Tom solemnly took
from his pocket his two soiled hand
kerchiefs, the picture of his Cousin
Bessie, his copy of Tennyson, the two
cigars, and the empty matchbox,
and also the fragment Of rhyming.
Myname Is Thomas de Quincy Ham,
ilton. ] live and practice law in Chi
cago, as did my father before me.
have wandered like a lost sheep for
a day and night in the woods near
here, in consequences of an injudicious
love of nature and an unwise reliance
,sv.<,v, tho v.<~I -