Omaha daily bee., 1888-04-16
LOVES ~AsouERA

81 want you to help me win Gertrude
Stone"
"Why my dear boy" was the reply,
81 did not know you had seer her, ''said
the old lady wonderingly.
well my acquaintance with her is
rather short, / confess. | only saw her
talking with you this morning. l heard
her say that il she ever fell in love 1t
would be with a farmer and that she
was tired OF everything connected with
city life. / am unfortunately from the
city, but / am going to transform my
self into a countryman and hire out as a
farm hand TO Miss Stone.'
And he unfolded his plans for win
ming the young lady and had soon on
listed his ~good-natured aunt on his
side.
Miss Stone was very much pleased
with her new hired hand, Eben, as he
called himself. lie did not eat with n
knife, and his grammar was singularly
good for a farm hand.
She did not wonder, when he drove
her home one night, that he should talk
a good deal, and he was certainly very
respectful.
country" Miss stone was saying.
"Vcrv," Eben rcjoiued, with much
"You were brought up on n farm"
she added.
"Wcll, no-not entirely" the hired
man responded.
But you chose teamwork because
you are fond of it," said Miss Stone
warmly. "In that respect we are eX-
actly alike; | love it! 1 suppose, " she
added gently, that you were obliged
to choose something's"
'I-yes, support myself" Eben re-
sponded, with his eyes on his COM
panion's fair face.
Tits is nothing to regret-indeed it
is not!' Miss Stone declared comfort
ingiy. Il admire anybody who is indie
pendent and ambitious; they're the
only people do admire"
'Oh, that is very good in you," the
hired man murmured, tucking the robe
more closely about her.
"And | suppose you haven't had many
advantages?n Miss Stone pursued with
sympathetic softness.
"Well, I've had---some schooling"
the hired man admitted.
at isn't so great II loss" said Miss
Stone earnestly. MANY of our best
and greatest men had very few educa-
tional opportunities" 1t sounded
what trite when she had said 1T, but the
hired man was looking at her with
warm gratitude. Nothing is to be re-
GREETED but Incidence and lack of prin-
ciplel" =
softest tones.
Tee moon was just rising; the daisies
in the fields shone white under it, and
the scent of the fresh crops filed the
air.
Certainly the hired man was not to be
blamed for driving past Miss Stones
gate when they had reached it, with a
glance at his companion WEIGH was the
perfection of respectful Difference. All
that night she kept dreaming Of this
natures nobleman whom she had met,
and she thought of going over to Mrs.
Briscomb's and telling her what a Won
derful man he was.
The next day she asked Ehen to drive
her over to his aunt's place. Fate must
have had something to do with the car
riage being upset and Gertrude falling
plump into his arms, and then and there
he told her how he loved her, and was
promptly accepted. I'VE need onlylive
on the farm in SUMNER" said Eben,
mysteriously.
"What shall we do in winter" said
Miss Stone wonderingly.
"Well, I've thought of going into the
newspaper business" the hired man re-
joined lightly.
And she laughed in ono enjoymento Of
the joke.
The remark occurred to her three
days later. She went into the city to dc
a little shopping, and to break the news
of her engagement to her guardian.
She told herself vehemently that she
did not dread the process in the least
she was certain that it would not make
the slightest difference what anybody
said.
Still she felt alittle odd as she walked
up the street from the station. The
Egbcrts drove past in their ~liveried car
riage. The newly-married and excess
lively stylish Nicolls met her smilingly
Lottic Hall and her rich young tiancc
bowed to her from a dog-cart. Well
she didn't care what they said; sht
would marry Eben though the whole
world should rise to oppose it.
1t was the Daily Reflector building
which put her in mind of Eben's jok,
about the newspaper business.
The allluent publisher stood on TIL
steps, talking to II gentleman. He wa
an old friend of Miss Stones, and h,
hurried down to speak to her.
'In for some shopping2" he said. "B.
Jnc way, we were JUST sptithlHS VI you
Mr.. Russell tells me he has met you
M. Russell, here's Miss Stone"
Mr.. Eussell came down the steps, wit,
his hat raised. He was immaculate
urrayed in n pale summer suit, knotty
silver-mounted stick, n high hat an
polished shoes.
He was in nowise different from tn
dozens of young men passing at the me
meut, but Miss Stone stared at him i
|, speeches., m%otiouless bowilderment
and Mr.. Russell stared back at her.
II was not till the publisher had bowe
himself away that they spoke.
"Eben!" Miss Stone gasped.
"Gertrude!n Mr.. Russell rejoined.
He had recovered himself and wa
smiling down at her.
II didn't know you were comm
to-day"
"Who-who are you?" Miss Ston
murmUred family.