Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1891-08-07
II

II.
Several DAYS later Miles, whose friends
had left the place, was strolling along
the mountains side, when suddenly, up
on turning sharp point Of rock that
iutted out over the path, he met Miss
Beck. The path was too narrow TO adj
NIT of his passing the girl, and he was
about to turn back, when she pleasantly
remarked:
"Oh, don't turn back on my account.
l will climb down. am used to climb
| ing"
~ will climb down." said he, bowling.
"Oh, no." she interposed. 81 am
afraid you might hurt yourself, and
| then"
"And then what?" he asked.
Nothing, only you might be disfg-
ured if you should chance to fall, and
you might afterward consent to marry
girl for less than three hundred thou
sand dollars"
''Ah, your father repeated my re-
mark" he said, slightly coloring.
Eyes, or I shouldn't have known of
it, as wasn't eavesdropping."
He would have gladly climbed down,
but she detained him with this ques
tioning remark:
"You place a pretty high estimate
upon yourself, don't you9"
Eyes, rather" he answered, now de-
termined to be bold.
cit is strange that never heard OF
you," she said. 81 was looking over
sort of encyclopedia of great men just
before came here, and it is singular
that your picture was not in it.
'sThe compiler of the book called on
me" .he replied, "but refused to be-
come the victim of cheap print. He
wanted my picture, and had intended
that it should fill one page and run over
on the second, but refused"
"And suppose" said the girl, "that
if he had contemplated putting in your
self-importance, he would have counted
on filing the entire BOOK
81 don't know, but had he done so,
his volume would have been more re-
spectacle"
sob, it must be delightful to be so
respectable" she exclaimed, with well
played enthusiasm. ''By the way, who
was your father?"
ellis name is Andrew Miles,"
"What does he do?"
''He is a lawyer"
"Ah2 A strange country this, where
the aristocracy is mainly composed of
lawyers. What was your grandfather,
or did you ever hear of him?"
Miles blushed, He had heard in 6
more or less vague way, of one of his
grandfathers-hadh heard that he was a
cobbler and that he had deserted from
the army during the war of 1912.
"Oh, don't tax your memory with
trying to recall his name. am so glad
to have met you," she suddenly ex,
claimed. 81 like to see gentleness and
consideration joined with greatness.
Now, sir, if you feel disposed to climb
down you would oblige me by doing
So"
Miles climbed down, and the young
lady serenity passed on.
The season was growing late, and
there were but few visitors remaining.
Miles continued to linger, partly because
t it made but little difference where he
was, and partly because he didn't want
that Miss Beck to think that she had
driven him off. He met her every day
and spoke, in reply to her, his little
piece of sarcasm. One day while thu
girl was playing on the piano he strode
into the parlor. She ceased playing
upon seeing him, and turning, said:
81 don't object to mild punishment
} but I will not torture you with N.
music"
| "You are becoming considerate as the
: days pass by"
, Eyes, and am tired of playing, any
t way. Isn't it great pity that father
t isn't worth four hundred Thousand dol
, lars"
'tWhy so9"
"Because he might then be able K
marry me off.
"Possibly. Some men are not very
particular"
"And," said she, 81 am convinced
r that the majority of women are not par
j ticular at ALL"
t The old man appeared in the door.
} His face was haggard and wild look
, was IN his eyes.
"Minnie," he falteringly called,
"Minnie, come here"
3 She ran to him and Miles heard hin
f say, 81 am ruined. That iron company
, has busted up and am ruined"
l A newspaper which came that evening
I gave an account of the sudden failure Of
a large iron concern at Birmingham; anc
, old man Beck was mentioned as no
onlv heavy loser, but as totally bank
H. III foi11ro