The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1890-05-28
IN THE CORN-FIELD
BY AMY RANDOLPH.

"I'ye half a mind to give up, said
lothian Beers.
He was moving the old home lot, on a
broiing July day. From the first red
streak of early dawn his glittering scythe
had swung 10 and fro to and fro, with
the steady regularity of pendulum.
There was nothing of the idler about
Jotham Beers and yet, at times be did
get discouraged.
1t don't seem as if belonged to
anybody he muttered. What's the
use of working like this, if don't make
up my mind to stay here? Deacon Beers
is my uncle, to be sure, bat am no more
to him than any other hired man. The
old farm is going to rack and ruin as fast
as it can. Aunt Polly is a good sul but
she can't stem the tide of shiftlessness
any more than you can dip OF Niagara
Falls with quart bowl. And as for
Rachel"
He smiled to himself 1t was evident
that Rachel was the one redeeming
element Of the picture he had mentally
drawn.
As for Rachel" he went thoughtfully
on, "she is like the wild red lilies on
yonder hillside lot. There's deal of
solid common sense in Rachel, if only
one could get through the strata of CO.
quetry and girlish folly that oyerlies her
true nature. I'll not go TO Colorado /; I'll
stay on here for Rachel's sake"
Deacon Beers was dreaming over the
weekly paper on the porch when lothian
came in at noon. Aunt Polly was taking
a cherry pie out of the oven, and Rachel
had gone cut to the well for fresh wa
ter
Them crows is a-doin' sight o mis-
chief in the corn," said Mr.. Beers"
"Our folks used to hang up square o
tin on a string" observed Aunt Polly.
"When the sun flashed ont the crows
was pretty sure to cut stick"
al was wondering" said lothian, as
he dipped his curly head into basin of
water at the sink, and dried it on towel
"if it wouldn't be good notion to pas
ture come sheep on the rocky side hill.
There's nothing but mullen stalks and
hard track grows there, anyhow"
Sleeps a dretful resky investment"
said Mr.. Beers, obviously. "And the
neighbors all keep dogs, and the fences
are down"
Jotham had opened his lips to remon-
strate on the dog and fence question,
but the appearance of Rachel, dimpled
and blooming as freshly-gathered
peach, diverted his thoughts, and he
said
Well, Ray, are you going to the sur
prise party over at the parsonage to-
night?"
81 shouldn't wonder" Rachel an
swered.
with me ?"
"John Parker has asked permissionto 10
call for me-" Miss Rachel replied" with
her eyes fixed on the pattern of the ia
ble-cloth, and a rising color in her cheek
lothian Beers said no more, but the
pork and green's had lost all flavor to his
palate. He cared no longer for the cher
ry pie.
Rachel, "he said, in choked voice,
| have known you longer than that
Parker fellow"
Rachel Redeemed.
Zone don't want to go about with one
young man forever" said she. "And III
thank you, Joseph Beers, to speak little
more respectfully of my friends"
"If he's going to dance attendance on
you, may as well remain at home" said
Jotham.
"You can do as you please about that"
retorted Rachel. tying and .untying her
apron strings.
lothian went back to the bayfield, in
moody silence The deacon lighted his
pipe.
81 guess" said he, "PH sit and smoke
awhile"
Rachel began TO clear away the table.
Mrs. Beers eyed her with supreme indig-
nation"
Rachel" said she at last, al should
think you would be ashamed of your
self"
"Why? ?" little defantly.
=" To treat lothian So"
"To treat him how ?'
"You know how as well as l do de-
clared Mrs. Beers. "And he's talking
about leaving us and going to Colorado.
Pm sure don't know what your father
and me would do without lothian. He's
more like an own son than nephew
to me, and always has been"
Rachel was silent.
"And it's for you to decide" went on
Mrs. Beers, whether he is to stay or to
Co."
The roses gIowed more hotly in Ra-
chefs cheek. A sort of mistiness filmed
her soft hazel eyes.
,Tm sure / don't want him to g-gow
she faltered, hiding her head ON her
mothers shoulder.
"Tel him so, then" urged Mrs. Beers.
"Tell him that you'll go to the surprise
party with him, instead of John Parker.