The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1889-02-08
Walter BrOwniield
THE MYSTERY OF PRESTON FLAT.
By JOHN r.. mUsICK.


sword, and found that by ordinary
care there would be no danger Of even
O slight wound.
Shock after shock Of tall stalks rose
IN the field. leaving a broad trail be-
hind them. Ever advancing into that
impenetrable jungle and sweeping all
before them, the young men moved on
without stopping.
John Miles seemed 10 work faster as
he became warmed up TO IL, and Wal
ter Brownlield in his youthful ambition
stroye 10 keep pace with him.
The sun rose higher in the heavens,
and the morning. which at its birth
was cool, grew warm before ii was one.
fourth over.
The hotter grow the day. the faster
John Miles worked. lis strong arm
seemed never TO tire. Starting in with
a merry whistle he kept it up through
the entire day. The higher rose the
sun. the hotter the day became, the
faster he worked. the shriller sounded
his whistle over the field.
Walter made manly effort TO keep
pace with him. but found that impo,-
sible.
The Precipitation strcamed down his
heated face, aud even through his
shirt The corn blades chaifrd his
neck and the side Of his face. until
every stroke he made caused intense
pain. But he had started to do or die,
and made no complaint. On the road
was weary tramp aud starvation; here
was labor and pain. but food and shell
ter. He contrasted his pleasant labori-
Gus condition, with his life Of few
months ago. How different. How he
had been Inundated. The sense OF
the great wrongs he had endured,
seemed 10 steel his arm and rouse his
faintng spirits.
Try as he would he could not COM
pete with the robust son OF his employ
er. Like a raging hurricane John
Miles swept around Walter, leaving
naught but the bare field. while the in
experienced youth was struggling with
q few hills of corn.
Would that arm never tire, would
that piercing whistle never cease?
thought Walter, as he struggled To-
keep up with the young farmer John
saw that he was doing all in his power
10 keep pace with him, and Knowing
that no farmer in the entire fiat could
do that, he did not attempt To- hurry
him. Thus hour after hour passed.
To the painting Walter, it seemed
ages; John Miles seemed TO gain un-
tired strength and rapidity with each
stroke. His blows fell faster and he
heapcd the corn up higher while his
whistle sounded louder and shrillCr
upon the morning air.
They had Dccn continually adyanc-
ing into the dense wilderness, and there
had seemed no end to- it. Not "A breeze
was stirring or could stir in that dense
corn, TO cool the brow of the almost
fainting youth.
At last when his head grew heavy
and throbbing, when he was dizzy
from heat, and felt as though hc was
chilly instead of warm, they suddenly
burst through the wilderness, and "A
neat little farm cottage that stood in "A
grove OF elms and oaks, was just across
the fence.
Let's 90 to Uncle Dams AMI git
drink" said John, rs the last shock
of fodder i'm the row was completed,
sticking the knife in the ground.
Walter was willing to do any thing
which promised n momentary respite
from the sultry heat of the burning
sun.
The sweet, cool breeze came 10 kiss
his forehead the moment he emerged
from the tall, dense corn.
They climbed the fence, end walked
through the grove of clmS 10 the cot
tage door.
A plcasant-faccd old man, near sixty
years Of ag', was sitting on the front
porch in his large, easy arm-chair, On.
joying the cool breeze that swept
round his cottage.
Hello. John, We have been al
work this mornhl 2' said the old
genllcmaa. Who, this " got with
ye?"
This is our now hand, Walter
Brownheld, answered john with his
native awkwardncss.
"Wall, how dye do. Waltcr?' said
the old gentleman, arising and cN.
tending his hand To that individual.
"You bpys must sit down on the
porch. for | know YOU arc hot and
tired; take chccrs?' and he placed
two split bottoms for them.
Were nearly chokcd for drink,
NnClc ldn, Salu 'bllll.
"In course We are; might a knowed
IT,; Jest sit still IN I'll 60 an cit some
fresh water from the spring,
The old gentleman put on his hat,
took his cane and went into the cot
tagc. where he told his wife, pleasant
old lady known all over the flat as
Aunt Margaret, to hand him the watcr-
bucket.
Aunt Margaret came out to talk 10
the tired boys. The awkward John
Miles did not attempt another intro
duction, so Walter was compelled tC
sit in embarrassing silence until the
mothcrly old lady asked him his name
where he was from. all about his par
ents, and numerous other questions 'al
more embarrassing than the silence.
Uncle Dan returned with cedar
bucket (thcy call pail a bucket in the
Wcst) full Of cold water, and a goud
Walter was sure he never drank water
so sweet. So clear and cold. and had no
the kind old lady cautioned him against
drinking too much while he was warm
the result might have been disastrous
! 10 his health.
"llow long hcv yc been in thi'
neighborhood, Waltcr?" asked Uncl'
| Dan.
II only came yesterday answered
! " alter
"well, how long hcv ye been farm
ing3"
This might be called my first tria
! At hard work