The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1889-06-29

| prevent my marrying an honest,
worthy young man. | think might
prefer ona with some worldly disad-
vantageo. I could lift him up" said
Miss Stone, seriously.
well, yes: you could support the
family" Aunt Sarah asscntcd. with a
chuckling gaze on her visitors pretty
diamond brooch and earrings.
"Ycs, | could lift him." Miss Stone
repeated. gently. but Hank Grimes
! don't quite like red hair. and
crossed eyes and frcrklcs. all together
and believe h" i dcvotcdly attached
TO Mary Ann Simmons besides
Miss Stone laughed swcrtly and
! dimp,ingly rs 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 a basket Of eggs and a
/ pail Of batter, and drove away.
lie rushed To the window 10 watch
hor-a slender and charming figure.
with a pcarhy face, against the dark
background Of the pharton. lie felt a
sudden regret. which amounted To
poignant anguish. that he was Il lrivo-
lous. hippant-miudrd city man.
|
Miss Stone was very fayorably i'm
pressed with Mrs Briscomh's new
hired man. She met him the next
time she drove after butter and eggs.
Mrs. Bri>comb persuaded her to
stay to supper, and the hired man had
unexpectedly presented himself at the
| table.
He was very plcasant-looking-aI-
most handsome, in spite of his rough
boots and ill-ftting clothing-and he
was not half as awkward and red
| headed a Hank Grimes.
He did not eat with his knife, either:
nor scrapc his chair on the noor. and
| the few remarks that he made were
sensible, and even grammatical.
Miss Stone almost dislikcd To call
him "Ebcn,' but Mrs. Briscomb had
introduced him as Ebcn, 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 II was now growing Il little dark.
1t did not seem at all unconventional,
either, that they should take the
longest road in order to see pretty
ravinc which Miss Stone had described
to the hired man.
But when they had reached the
ravine they had quite forgotten it
They were talking intercstcdly on
other topics.
You are fond of farm work and the
cOuntry?' Miss Stone was saying.
Very" Ebcn rcjoincd with much
enthusiasm.
You were brought up on a FARM"
she added.
We'll, no; not entirely" the hired
man espOndcd.
Bat you choose farm work because
you Are fond of it," said Miss Stone.
warmly. in that respect we are cx-
actly alike, love it! | suppose" she
added, gently, THAT your were obliged
to choose something's
'I--yes, support myself" Ebcn
responded, with his eyes on his COM
paniun's fair face.
''It is nothing To I-osyroL-fndeed IL is
not!' Miss Stone declared, comforting
ly. al admire any body who is indie
pendent and ambitious; they're the
only people do admire"
"Oh, that is very good of you.' 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.
We'll. I've had-sOme schooling"
the hired MN admitted.
1T isn't so great a loss" said Miss
Stonc, 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
be regretted but Incidence and lack of
principle"
"fcu are very kind" Eben said, in
sOftcned tones.
The moon was just rising, the daisies
in the fields shone white under it, and
the scent OF the fresh crops filled the
air.
Certainly the hired man was not 70
be blamed for driving past Miss Stones
house when they had reached it, with
glance at his companion which was
the perfection of respectful Difference.
nor was Miss Stone to be blamed for
not noticing the gate.
She wondered, when she had gone
20 bed that night, whether she should
lot have noticed it, and whether they
should not have got back before half
,ast nine.
But she went to sleep quite sweetlv
md peacefully. Form view of her
taunch beliefs she felt pleasant tri- i
Imph in the fact-she had found Z
lrs. Briscomb's hired man remarkably a
greeaole aud-nice. She should tell i
lrS Briscomb about it the very next l.
imo she saw her. :
She did not see Mrs. Briscomb again, b
owevcr. Eben came over with the
utter and eggs. He brought them in s
mall quantities, and came often con- u
nqucntly: and he came when he had o
o butler or eggs to bring. And Miss b
tone, quite necessarily, saw good s.
cal Of him. He came with Mrs q