The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1889-02-02
love IN MASQUERADE.
KlnAwha,
EDGAR KlNSIso

AVIA Nv munHuu1lAuuI
Bob Russell turned over with yawr
and threw down paper whose sporting
columns he had been studying, He wa
on the green cambric.covered lounge II
his Aunt Sarah Briscomb's cool, dim sit
ting room, Each afternoon Of the five
days he had to soiourn in WestGeld had
found him there, reading or sleeping,
Aunt Sarah was in the porch, hel
placid face Just beginning to cool from
the heat OF the dinner.getting, and her
specialized eyes slowly closing, Bob,
looking out at her, was falling into like
drowsiness, when phaeton pulled up
brlskly at the gate, and young person
stepped out OF 1t, who, once seen, dis
PEELED the last vestige Of Bob's sleepiness
"Welll" Aunt Sarah called out in graf,
flied tones, pulling herself back from the
verge Of her nap and getting ready to re.
Ceive her caller. "l'm very glad TO see
you, Miss Stone. wasn't certain you'd
come to-day. I've got my butter all
ready, though, and you can have al
many eggs as you want.'S
Miss Stone hitched her horse, and
came up the path and took wide porch
chair.
Bob congratulated himself on his posi-.
ton. II gave him a good view OF the
young lady's very sweet face.
"lt's so warm, she said, tanning her.
| Golf Wtil, n ufUlipb liiN1n Enn
$50 It's" Aunt Sarah agreed. ~
thought likely you'd stay at your unCle's
and sit out In the hammock and read OF
something. Its Just the day for it."
= Miss Stone frowned gently.
II never sit in the hammock" she
said, with Il pretty seriousness. ~ have
no time for it."
"Well, therew said Aunt Sarah, be.
ginning to laugh; ~ forgot all about
your notions, Miss Stone; or there, !
won't call 'em notions, I'll call 'em prin.
ciples. Are you just us tickled over the
country as everW
Just" cried Miss Stone, smiling good
naturcdly.
"And you keep on helping your Aunt
Mirandy with tho work? You help get
breakfast, and help get dinner, and"-
"And bake-yes, Two learned TO make
bread" said Miss Stone, triumphantly.
"Aud MIXED last night; MIXED real
straight, too, only little went out oil
the pail"
You're just the same, sure enough, u
Aunt Sarah observed, wiping her damp
cned glasses. ~ reCkoned you'd get over
it. Well, do you think Just us much Of
Hank Grimes us ever?"
ooh, our boys2" Miss Stone grimaced
laughingly. Now you know what |
meant. i said that lie was honest, and
faithful, and industrious; that he had
all the qualities OF a gentleman, except
good breeding, and that should prefer
an energetic son Of toll for n husband"
said Miss Stone, getting becomingly
pink in her earnestnCss, ITO frivolous,
llippantminded city man-they're all
frivolous and ilippant.mindedW Miss
Stone tapped the arm ofher chair de-
cisively. "And no lack OF birth, and
station, and wealth should prevent my
marrying an honest, worthy young man.
| think | might prefer one with some
worldly disadvantages; could lift him
up said Miss Stone, seriously,
"Weii, yes, you could support the
family" Aunt Sarah assented, with n
chuckling gaze on her visitors pretty
diamond brooch and earrings.
Eyes, l could lift him." Miss Stone re-
piled gently. "But Hank Grimes-I
don't quite like red hair, and crossed
eyes, and freCkles, all together; and l
believe ho Is deeply devoted to Mary
Ann Simmons, besides"
Miss Stone laughed sweetly and dimp-
lingly, as she rose to follow Aunt Sarah
TO the dairy.
Bob Russell sat in reflective stiffness
during the ten minutes which passed be-
fore Miss Stone went out at tho gate with
a basket OF eggs and q pail Of butter and
drove away. He rushed to the window
to watch her-a slender and charming
figure, with peaChy face, against the
dark background Of tho pheaton. He
felt sudden regret, which amounted to
poignant anguish, that he was a frivolous,
ilappant.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 alter butter and eggs. Mrs. Dris-
comb persuaded her TO stay 10 supper
and tho hired man had unexpectedly
presented himself at the table. He was
very Observation-Disclosures hand
some, in spite Of his rough boots and i'll.
fitting Clothing-and he was not half as
awkward and rcd-headed as Hank
Grimes. He did not-cat with his knife,
either; nor scrape his chair on the floor
and the few remarks he made we're SEN
sible and even grammatical.
1t seemed quite natural that the hired
man should politely and respectfully
offer 10 drive her home. She lad walked
over, since the day was cool, and II was
growing n little dark. They were talk
Ing intorGstedly.
"You are fond Of farm work and the
CountryW Miss Stone was saying.
Every" Eben reioined, with much en-
thusinm.
""Werc you brought up on farmR p
she added,
swell, no, not entirely" the hired
man responded.
"But you chose iarm work because
YOU arc fond Of H." said Miss Stone
warmly, an that respect we are OK
aCtly alike; l love II; l suppose" sh.
added, gently, "that you were Obliged
TO choose something"
"1--yes-I-support myself, Ebenr re-
] spondGd, with his eyes OH his conpan
ions fair face.
at Is nothing to regrCt--indeed II Il
notw Miss Stone declared, Comiortingly
~ admire anybody who Is Independent
! and ambitious they're tho only peopl,
/ admire"
"And tsuppose you haven't had man!
advantages2h Miss Stone pursued will
: sympathetic soitnesS.
"WOll, I've had-.sOmO schooling" tn
hired man admitted.
Tho moon was Just rising tho lNisle
In the field shohe white under IL AM