Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1889-09-05
echancswn Frederick County, Maryland Thursday September s. 1885,

somebody to manage the place | she
said, Indignantly. Not much! If l
ever did marry it wouldn't be for that.
I'm very well as l am at present, thank
you!'
But somehow, it seemed to Hetty, so
sure as anything got into a muddle, SO
sure was Nathan Strong to be on hand
to straighten it out. And whether to
be most grateful to him or angry at
him, she did not know.
One day, while Eben was absent, a
sudden storm came up, and the wind
blew terribly. When the gust was ov.
er, Hetty went down to see if amy dam
age had been done. She found fence
partly blown down, and some choice
young stock at liberty to 60 where they
pleased.
This won't doP she said. 'Eben
won't be home these two hours, even
Lindy Is gone, so what is to be done 7'>
The only thing seemed to be to at
tempt putting up the fence with her
own hands, and she went bravelY to
work. But the rails were heavy and
cut her palms, and they would not stay
as she had put them.
She was so worried that she did not
notice man coming OH horseback, un-
til q familiar voice said at her elbow
'Hetty, strikes me that amt jest the
business for you. Let me have try
ut it.
And the next minute, Nathan Strong
was off his horse and quietly straight
ening the fence as if it were mere play
Hetty's cheek burned, but she could
only stand helplessly looking on and
explain to him how it happened.
'Tisn t worth a thank you," he an
swered, when she thanked him for his
assistance. You know I'm glad te
serve you any day, Hetty. We men
may not be very ornamental sort o
chaps, but we come handy once il 6
while-don't we?' he added, in his
qulzzcal way, as he mounted his horse
again.
He rode off, leay;ng Hetty to return
to the house very much provoked, anc
not being sure whether it was with the
wind, the cattle or Nathan.
For awhile, after that, all went
smoothly. She saw Nathan looking at
her in church on Sunday but he KEEP
his word and let her alone, never com
ing to the farm if he could help it.
Hetty missed him more than she
would own, and the evenings were Ions
and lonely; but she bore her solitude
bravely.
She had very fine herd of young
cattle, from which she meant to realize
handsome sum after awhile. Hearing
of a nice calf for sale on place abou
two miles off, she htched her steady ole
horse Bob and went over to look at it
Eben had gone to town but she di-
rected him to return by the Mills Farm
so that, if she bought the calf, he could
drive it home. The animal proved to
be beauty, so she did buy it. Their
she waited reasonable time; but Eber
did not appear. She feared he might
be detained in town unit
dark, so she said to Mr.. Mills:
4 don't believe it is worth while tc
wait for my man. Just bring the cal
out; I have rope, and I'll drive il
myself.
We'll, now, Mis- Brandt don't SCI
jest how ye're goin' to manage it, re-
piled Farmer Mills, obviously.
4 do-that's better. You bring i
out, and tie the rope and hand it to MT
through the back of the buggy
Wal, can do it, Mis- IIetty; but {
calf's a frisky critter to drive, an | low
yell haye sight o trouble, even if il
don't skeer your horse
'Mr. Mills, old Bob wouldn't scare
at traction engine and I'm not afra(
Of cali like that.
Wal, if q woman will, she will,
s'spose,' sad Mr.. Mills, as he brought
the animal out.
But, if you get your neck broke
Mis- Hetty. don blame me-
I won't. Goodbye And Hetty
drove off, leading the calf behind the
buggy.
Old Bob looked round now and then
as if he did not altogether fancy his
company but he behaved. pretty wei
as long as the calf did.
For half-mile, it trotted along con
tentedly, but then 1t began to trisE
about and make little sidelong runs
almost Jerking the rope from Hetty's
grasp. She gave the cord turn arounc