The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-03-07
LOVES MASQUERADE.


his good naturcd aunt on his side
Miss Stone was very much pleased with
her now hired hand Ebcn. as he called
himself lic did not eat with knife,
and h'. grammar was singularly good
fora farm hand.
She diI not wonder, when he drove
her home one night, that he should talk
a GOOD deal. and he was certainly very
respectful
you arc fond Of farm work and the
country Miss Stone was saying.
Very, E0en rejoincd, with much On
thu-iasm.
lyon Nero brought mp on farm
she added
well, no-not entirely" the hired
man responded.
But YOU chose farm work because
YOU arc fond of it., said Miss Stone
warmly In that respect we are OK
actly alike; love i'll / suppose" she
added gently, that you were obliged to
choose somcthine''
"l-ycs, l-support myself L0en re-
sponded. with his ewes on his c0mpan-
IONS fair face.
"lt is nothing O. regrot-mdeed it is
not" Miss Stone declared comlortngly.
II admire any body who is independent
and ambitious; they're tho only people l
90 admire
ooh, that is very good in you the
hired man murmurcd. tHcaHg the robe
moro closely about her.
and suppose You haven't had many
advantasosf Hiss stone pursued with
sympathetic solmes5.
"WoN. lve had-some schooling, the
hired man admitted.
"It isn't 500 great loss" said Miss
Stone earnestly. MANY of our beatand
greatest men had very few educational
opportunities" It sounded somewhat
uic when She had said it; but the hired
man was looking at her with warm graft
uie Nothing Is 10 be regretted but
mIo.ence and lack OK pgincipie'
"Nou are very kind Eben said in
soitonni tones.
The moon was just rising Che daisies
u tho fields suone white under It, and
lhe scent of the fresh crops filed The AR
Certainly the hired man was not to be
blamed Tor driving past Miss Stones
gate when they had reached &c. with a
glance GO his companion which was the
perfection Of respectful Difference. All
chat night sho KEEP, dreaming about this
natures n0bleman whom she had met,
and she thought Of going over TO Mrs.
griscomr and telling her what a Won
deiluI mm he was
THE moss. day She asked Lben TO drive
her ovcr t0 bis auut's place Fate must
have had .omotAiug Co do with the car
r.8ge being upset and Gertrude falling
plump into his arms, and then and there
he toll hor how he loved her, and was
promptly accepted 1--WE need only live
on the farm In summer, said Eben mys-
teriou-iy.
"Wht shall we DO winters. said
G.ss Stone wonderIngly
"Well. l'vc thought Of going into tho
newspaper business tho hired man re-
joined lightly
And she laughed, in fond enjoyment Of
,ho joke.
The remark occurred 10 her three days
later She went into the city to do a
little shoppiug, and to break the news Of
her engagement TO her guardian.
She told herself yehemently that she
did not dread the process in the least;
she was certain that it would not mako
tho slightest difference what anybody
said
Still She felt little odd as she walked
mp the street from the station. The Es-
borl. drove past Ia their hvoridd car
rmee The newly married and oxces-
sivelv stylish Nicolls met her smilnely.
Lotto Hall and her rich young dance
bowed 90 Der from o dog cart Well,
she didn't care what they said; she
should marry Ebon though the whole
world should rise up to oppose it.
To was The Daily Reflector building
which put her in mind Of Eben's joke
about tLe newspaper business.
The a0luWt publisher of it stood on
the steps. talking 10 gentleman. lie
was an oh friend Of Miss Stones, and
ho hurried down 20 speak TO her.
In for some shopping he said. by
.he way, we were Just speaking Of YOU
,lr Russell tells me be has met you
Sir Russell. here's Miss Stone"
Nh Russell came down the steps, with
his ha. raised. lie was Immediately
arrayed in a pale summer suit, knotty,
.nrormounlod stick, a high hat and pol
shed shoes.
lie was i'm nowise different from the
dozens OF young men passing at the mo-
ment. bat Hiss Stone stared al him IN
speeches. motionless bowildernent, and
Jlr Russell stared back at her
twas not ul thepublisher had bowed
himself away that ihov spoke
"E3en" Miss Stone gasped
"Gertude~ .lr. Russell reioincd.
He had recovered himself and wNs
smiling down az her.
II didn't know YOU were coming TO
day.
"Who-who are YOU Miss stone muir
INJURED. family.
"Well, I'm the young person YOU re
going tomarry, Tor one thing' the young
man responded emphatically, and led her
into a neighboring restaurant before say
ing anything more.
II couldn't help it," he declared
breathlessly, over their untouched cream.
II couldn't think Of any other way ana
I was awnlly gone Oh you from the first
minute. IL was in the porch that first
Afternoon. heard what you sad, you
know - an about frivolous, fippant
minded city men. and didn't dare to
appear in my proper character didn't
truly.
His voice shook with something besides
feeling. and he put his handkerchief 70
bis lips.
Miss Stone smiled too. helplcssly-
"And you-hayent been dong-farm
work. she said.
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