The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1889-05-14
A STRANGE MAIL-cARR1ER.

one could suspect a love-lorn maiden of
choosing. Yet such an unpromising
medium determined the happiness of
Katie Sampson and George Lufkin, but
wait until you hear the story.
Bert Tarbox and pretty Katie had been
children toge ther. They had attended the
same school ever since they had tearfully
mastered the mysteries of their ABsCs
together. They had quarreled and "made
up - as often as most children do.
Then suddenly, at the mature age of
twenty years, Bert awakened to the fact
that he was desperately in love with the
playmate of his childhood. q
why, it's all nonsense, Bert, cried
Katie, as he told her his tale of love in
the most approved style. Give known
you ever since, why, ever since you " ere
so high" waving her brown hand =. a
ridicu1ously short distance from the 1,or,
and looking up at him in utter disn&y.
All, there was some comfort in the fact
that she had to look up at him. N1
"Well, [ AN taller than that now, and
older" responded he, complacently rising
to the full height of six feet.
eyes, but you amt much wiser than
you was then if you don't know better
than 20 talk this way" retorted Katie.
"Do talk ~sense!" he exclaimed impa-
tiently.
"That's just what I'm trying hard to
do" she answered serenely. "That'sjus
what I'd be glad to have you do, too"
cts no laughing matter to me. I'm
in earnest, Katie" he cried desperately.
If you won't marry me IU-Iu blow
nv brains out!"
"Oh. no you won'tl" and Katie's voice
was coolly exasperating. "You wouldn't
do that, because you would spoil your
looks, AND besides the loss would be all
your own
"You are, you are a woman |" cried
Bert hoarsely. "Just talk soberly for
five minutes, will you, can you ?"
"I wish I could return the compliment
and call you a man. retorted Katie,
saucily. "There, Bert, we'll be quarreling
soon, so I will talk as soberly as you wish
well, then. Will you marry me, or
not, Katie 2" .-
COR not, I guess, Bert. 1 couldn't do
that
"Why not? Why couldn't you marry
me, Katie?'A
al like you, of course, Bert, but I don't
love you. I'm very sure, because"
because what? Because you love
somebody else, / suppose. Oh, Katie
"That's just it" said Katie decidedly,
raising her anxious eyes defiantly to meet
his glance of startled reproach. "That's
it, exactly, Bert. I have promised to be
George Lufkin's wife in the spring, and I
couldn't marry you both" Then with
a rustic of light drapery she was gone,
him to find his way out as best he
could.
"You never shall marry George Lufkin.
swear it T. muttered Bert, as he has ped
garden gate and stopped long enough
to shake his clenched hand at the cheerful |
light in Katie's window, then walked
away through the cleaning. But,
although he imagined himself desperately
in love, Bert Tarbox was not one to neg
lect the main chances in life.
He purchased a hay press, and Set to
work with such diligence that, if hard
could have killed the grand passion.
his love would have met a speedy death.
His crew consisted of three besides
himself. Hite Savage, Charlie Kendall and
his brother Jasper. In course of time
duty called them to the spacious barn of
ohm Sampson, the father of pretty Katie.
aYOu can see her every day. now"
while the sur Shines Bert"
eyes. Faint heart never won fair
my boy" added Hite. "You won't
have another such chance before next
year at this time"
George Lufkin is numbering up in
Chapman, and this hay is going straight
to his camp. Don't you wish you had a
dynamite cartridge or so to put into these
bales, Bert?" asked Jasper, jokingly, but
Bert answered not a word. He was think
ing how he could best surprise Katie
and obtain another interview.
Katie's wits were quicker than his,
however, and the coveted chance was not
Katie's fair face was paler than usual,
and her bright eyes had evidently been
dimmed by weeping. Bert noticed this
with secret satisfaction, and drew his own
conclusion from the fact. He reasoned
that the gossip of a lovers quarrel be-
tween her and George Lufkin was correct
IS indeed it was.
Call it fate, chance, whatever you will.
here is a power which sometimes favors
unhappy lovers, and this power was now
preparing to aid pretty Katie in a strange
way.
"Jasp. is sick and wants to go home.
Can | have your man until I can get an
asked Bert, as they arose from
The table the ext morning.
Eyes, of course, business amt very
irving to-day" answered John Sampson.
Hell only have to pitch" added Bert.
Hite and Charlie will tend the box,
while | drive team"
You'd better come out and see how
press hay this afternoon, Katie" said
Charlie, crossing to where she stood.
And throw a wishbone into a bale.
Katie, It's going to Lufkin's camp"
added Hite in an undertone.
Katie turned away with a bright blush
tear dinmed eyes, but when they