The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1889-12-10

get over it. Well, do you think just
as much of Hank Grimes as eyer?"
"Oh. our boy?" Miss Stone girl
maced, laughingly. Now you know
what / meant / said he was honest,
and faithful, and Industrious; that he
had all the qualities of gentleman
except good breeding. and that should
prefer an energetic son of toll for a
husband" said Miss Stone, getting be-
comingly pink in her earnestness, ito
a frivolous, flippant-minded city man;
they're all frivolous and fippant-
minded" Miss Stone tapped the arm
Of her chair decisively. "And no lack
of birth, station and wealth should
prevent my marrying an honest.
worthy young man. / think / might
prefer one with some worldly disad-
vantages; / could lift him up" said
Miss Stone, seriously.
"Well. yes; you could support the
family" Aunt Sarah assented, with a
! chuckling gaze on her visitors pretty
diamond brooch and earrings.
Eyes, | could lift him." Miss Stone
repeated. gently. but Hank Grimes
i don't quite like red hair, and
crossed eyes and freckles, all together.
and believe he is devotedly attached
to Mary Ann Simmons besides"
Miss Stone laughed sweetly and
dimplingly as she rose to follow Aunt
Sarah to the dairy.
Bob Russell sat in reflective still
ness during the ten minutes which
passed before Miss Stone went out at
the gate with basket of eggs and a
pail OF butter, and drove away.
He rushed to the window to watch
her-a slender and charming figure,
with a peachy face, against the dark
background of the phaeton. He felt a
sudden regret. which amounted to
poignant anguish. that he was a frivo-
lous, flippant-minded city man.
Miss Stone was very favorably i'm
pressed with Mrs. Briscomb's new
hired man. She met him the next
time she drove after butter and eggs.
Mrs. Briscomb persuaded her to
stay to supper. and the hired man had
Unexpectedly presented himself at the
table.
He was very pleasant-loOking-
most handsome, in spite of his rough
boots and ill-fitting clOthing-and he
was not half as awkward and red
headed as Hank Grimes.
He did not eat with his knife. either:
nor scrape his chair on the floor, and
the few remarks that he made were
sensible, and even grammatical.
Miss Stone almost disliked to call
him "Eben." but Mrs. Briscomb had
introduced him as Eben, and she had
no choice.
1t seemed quite natural that the
hired man should politely and respect
fully offer to drive her home. She had
walked down. since the day as cool,
and it was now growing a little dark.
1t did not seem at all unconventional,
either. that they should take the
,
ravine which Miss Stone had described
to the hired man.
But when they had reached the
ravine they had quite forgotten it.
They were talking interestcdly on
other topics.
You are fond of farm work and the
country" Miss Stone was saying.
Very" Eben rejoined with much
enthusiasm.
You were brought up on a farm?"
she added.
well, no; not entirely" the hired
man responded.
But you choose farm work because
you are fond OF it," said Miss Stone,
warmly. LIN that respect we are ex-
actly alike; love it! | suppose" she
added, gently. shat your were obliged
to choose something?'
"I-yes. support myself" Eben
responded, with his eyes on his COM
panion's fair face.
1T is nothing to regret-indeed it is
not! Miss Stone declared, comforting
ly. Il admire any body who is indie
pendent and ambitious; they're the
only people do admire"
''Oh, that is very good of your the
hired man murmured, tucking the robe
more closely about her.
And | suppose you haven't had
many advantages?" Miss Stone pur-
sued with sympathetic softness.
well. I've had-sOme schooling"
the hired man admitted.
1T isn't so great loss" said Miss
Stone, earnestly. MANY of our best
and greatest men had very few educa-
tiOnal opportunities. 1t sounded
somewhat trite when she had said it,
but the hired man was looking at her
with warm gratitude. Nothing is to