The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1889-06-25

felt mat some little reparation had been
done IN extenu alton of her cowardice,
and, so comforted, she fell asleep.
The next morning Maud awoke early,
but Lettle was up before her. The air
was so lnvigorating, the sky so blue and
tender and dewy, and the birds so raptur-
ously swe%et-voiced and happy, that she
could not take her accustomed sleep, so
she hurrledly dressed and wandered out
into the garden just as the sun was break
ing over the crimson-draped horizon.
Then she remembered Lettie's skim
ming, so she walked around through the
cool, fresh perfumes from the opening
flowers toward the dairy-room.
A blooming, dewy mass of honeysuckle
covered the cool, quiet little place, with
a huge tank placed upon the roof, filed
constantly by the ever-turning windmill,
sent rainbow sprays and dripping streams
down upon a wild, sweet tangle of
flowers and grasses all around it. The
door OF the dairy-room was open, and a
suggestive clatter from within proved to
Maud that the skimming had commenced.
Then as she drew nearer what a picture
rose before her eyes! There in the
shadoWy GOODNESS of the dairy, lovely
and graceful in a thin light dress, her
sunny hair falling into playful little curls
on her forehead, her cheeks glowing and
her fair plump arms bare to the elbow,
stood Lettie Swimming milk. Beside her,
strong and manly, and yes, almost hand
some despite his tan and sunburn, fingered
James, watching her with earnest eyes
and anxiously waiting for the finished
pan.
AS she came toward them Maud could
hear their conversation, so merry and
pleasant and free, not at all as it had been
the evening before, when, as she now
knew, her presence had cast a restraint
upon them.
"Here, you may have that" said Let
tie, playfully, looking up with a smile, as
she held OUT a thick lump of cream on the
end of a long wooden spoon.
Glow am | to get it ?" asked James,
making f~ruitless efforts to obtain posses
sion of the cream: Why didn't you
say l had to take the skinner in my
mouth? might succeed then"
Maud turned back, 10th to disturb the
pleasant scene, and with the thought also
that after all this might be the best place
for a girl like Lettie to live.
During the days that followed, Maud's
new idea was confirmed. Lettie seemed
so indispensable at the farmhouse. There
was nothing that she did not do as deity
as it could be done. She was a Juno
fair, bright and womanly-one who lost
none of her grace and beauty in the midst
of her household arts. Daybreak always
found her busily at work, rosy-cheeked
and sunny-tempered, and by the time
breakfast was ready there were dozens OF
things finished and over for the day, not
to mention the light, delicious biscuits
that appeared as if by magic on the table.
And besides, James improved wonder
fully on acquaintance. Maud was heartily
ashamed Of what she had said abont him
before her visit was over, although she
considered him altogether too much of a
rustic to suit her own "refned tastes"
But then he was untiringly kind to her.
He was always planning and sacr fcing
his own comfort to obtain for her and
Lettie a little enjoyment. He called it a
| great pleasure after a hard days work to
drive them into town for some amuse-
ment, though she knew that just at that
particular time his work was very firing,
and he would nave much preferred to sit
at home and hear them sing or play for
him. He chased the horses by the hour
that he might give the girls a ride, and
brought home every evening some strange
or rare wild flower for Maud to see.
Maud talked a great deal of Alfred,
though she very considerably refrained
from comparing him to James, lest Lettie
might feel hurt, and when, at las, Memo
rial Day arrived, she was in perfect rap
ture of excitement anticipating his COM
ing. Now Lettie could see how fine and
grand was the man of her choice.
Lettie was very busy in the morning,
for that afternoon James expected to
hood, so she could not see how ~anxiously
Maud awaited the expected arrival.
At last James, who had driven into
town to meet the expected stranger, came
back, but Alfred was not with him. Maud
hurried out for fear some mistake had
been made, when James handed her a
letter which he remarked would perhaps
explain the failure. All! we'll indeed
Maud knew the familiar writing, so she
went into the house and opened the letter.
"Friend Maud" it began, very unlike
the usual address 81 write you to explain
my inability to visit your friends in the
country. The last two days have been
very busy and exciting ones to me. 1
have received news that my uncle has
recently died, leaving me his heir, and l
am called East Immediately to settle up
the affairs of the estate, which is very
large and valuable. / start to-day, so
ere you receive this I shall be gone. But
accept my farewell, given with all kindly
feeling. You have been a very charming
friend to me, and it is with regret that
our foolish little boy and girl filtration is
ended, for of course my departure will
preclude any idea of the countenance OF
any further hopes concerning each other.
I may write to you again in a week or
two, for there may be some little affairs
yet that need attention which / am too
busy to think of now. Believe me ever
your friend, Alfred"
The letter was crushed in Maud's dainty
hand as she ruShed tn Tettie in the