The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1889-02-08
MISS EWald's Protege.

independence about him that ad
mire. What a pity heis only a farm
erls Miss Ewald unused lookin,
over the fence at the reapers in tn
wheat field, and singing out Brial
Jeffrey's straight, well-knit figure, il
it's cool, blue cotton overalls ant
blouse.
How easily and lightly he swung
the scything-cradle around, the vel
low grain falling before the glitterine
blade.
Miss Ewald has been at Glasslandl
a week. She was twenty six ant
thoroughly Disguised with the world
or so she imagined when she elected
to spend the Summer in the country.
instead ofgoing with her friends on
the usual round OF gayety at the
watering places. II am tired of folly
and fashion, of society-of every
! thing" she had said, and packing
her trunks went away to the loneli-
ness, the cool, deep shades, and the
simple, primitive life of G%rasslands'
bewildering Farmer Jason and his
comely wife with her beauty and
grace and city toilets, and making
acquaintance with Brian Jeffrey, the
farmers nephew.
she isprobably as old as 1 am,
but with as little worldly knowledge
as l had at ~sixteel," shifting her
white linen parasol a little, her eyes
still fixed on the blue-clad figure in
the field.
A brilliant idea had shaped itself
in her mind during the week. She
would help the young man to a
higher plane of life, point the way
into the intellectual world.
"Why not?" she had reasoned.
"Ofcourse, my friends" with slight
curl of the lip, "would deride the
plan, but l see no harm in it. He
is here shut off from the world, and
with no examples to stimulate ambi-
ton or make him desire culture"
The morning that she stood by the
fence looking into the wheat field,
she decided to speak to him aboutit,
offer, with tact and delicacy, to loan
him books and papers, and her aid
in turning his thoughts into higher
channels.
That evening as she stood on the
veranda gathering a bunch ofcreamy
roses for the bosom of her light blue
gown, he came and leaned against
the column near her.
The fading daylight seemed to
gather about her golden head and
lovely purely colored face, and the
young farmers dark-gray eyes were
fixed steadily on her. 1t was a good
time and place to unfold her purpose.
His face flushed, and he looked
down at his shapely, sunburnt hands,
while she gently explained that all
her books and magazines were at his
service, and that she would be pleased
to have him read with her sometimes.
He seemed to catch instantly at
her full meaning, and the light in his
gray eyes almost startled her.
"Would you indeed be so kind to
an ignorant poor wretch?" he muir
INJURED.
Her fair face flushed.
"It is no great act of kindness, Mr..
Jeffrey. Understand the limitations
of your surroundings, and if you will
accept"
81 do, most gladly, gratefully" he
quickly interrupted. 'In a country
neighborhood, where all, or nearly
all, are on the same level, where an
almanac and the Bible constitute a
library, there is not much hope for
literary advancement"
1t was a strange Summer to Rosa
mond Ewald, n utterly out of the
line of conventional experiences.
Never had teacher so apt a pupil,
and the lines of study took a much
wider range than she had ever mag
ined.
Favorite authors were invested
with new interest. and she found all
her own mental faculties stimulated
and quickened. She forgot that she
had ever been weary of life.
1t was delightful to have such an
intelligent, sympathetic protege.
81 never knew before that a simple
act ofkindness could give one so much
pleasure. l feel like a different crea-
eture from the languid, ennuied wom-
an who came up here"
One evening she vas surprised and
delighted at the sound of a tenor
voice sihing "My Queen" with an
eloquence of expression unexpected.
She stepped to the parlor door
and saw Brian Jeffrey sitting before
the small, almost tuneless old piano,
playing and singing.
He stopped instantly at the sight
of her.
81 did not know you could sing,
Mr.. jeffrey" advancing into the
dimly lighted room.
"Only a little, Miss Edwald. The
said, hastily, looking as guilty as if
he had been detected in acrime.
"You sing extremely well, and with
expression"
Her frank, warm praise overmas-
tered the self-control he had been
putting upon himself for days.
He looked at her, a passionate fire
leaping to his gray eyes.
81 ought to sing that song well,
with Won ALWAYS i'm nv thOughtS."