Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1892-03-01
COPYRIGHT 1891 ANkELLocC KEMSPAPERce-

There bean't much of a spread to-day,
for tonight we have a hay-harvest
homing, and the women folk are busy
DER the big supper; but reckon theem
find enough to sharpen thy teeth upon"
A harvest homeI Arthur had read
about such things, and oh, what
chance was there now for him to see
one, if the big-hearted yeoman would
only give him an invitation. He was
spared the doubt, for the farmer, after
heaping his plate with prodigality
that would put Dunbar's appetite to the
test, added:
MAY happen thee never seen a har-
vest homing-don't have such doings in
thy country, eh? Well, dang my but
tons, il thee shan't stay for ours this
evRand I won't take no for an answer
so therep'
81 shall be only too glad to accept
your invitation" Arthur said, delighted,
'but had not better walk over to the
inn at Chertsey where am staying and
drive back later IN the afternoon, for, if
have formed a right idea Of harvest
home, shall hardly care for mid
night trip of four miles on shanks'
ponies"
"And dost thee think, lad, that 1
would have thee do it? No, bide. where
thee art, and the misses 'u1l gin thee
a shake-down. Tomorrow IS slack
day, an I'll drive thee back mysen in
the tax-cart.''
So that was settled, and Arthur Dun
bar took one step nearer to his fate.
In the 'parlor, things were not pro-
crossing so pleasantly. Mademoiselle
was peevish and Kate was rebellious. 1t
was perhaps the very spirit OF opposi-
ton which led the young lady, as soon
as the meal was over, to cross the little
lawn in front Of the house and join
Dunbar and Nellie Barlow, who were
sitting on rustic seat under a giant
elm tree, with Cesar stretched lazily at
their feet.
''Is not this a charming spot, Mr..
Dunbar?" Kate said, as she took her
place by Nellie's side.
''It is, indeed" he responded, heartily;
sit seems to me to be an ideal home
the realization Of what have read
about again and again and never seen
before. I tell you that dip in the river
was godsend for me. I am going to
assist, as your French friend would say,
at a harvest-home to-night-think of
that, Miss Grahamel never saw but
one before, and that was on the stage at
st. Louis and very far from the real
thing, guess"
SIT is only hay harvesting" Nellie
Barlow suggested, timidly, "and moth
ing like the grand doings we have in
September, when the last load of wheat
comes into the stack-yard."
"Whatl Are you intending to remain
/ for our rural fete?" Kate asked, in dis
may, dreading the complications which
might ensue.
'For the harvest home, yes! and I
shall stay at the farmhouse all night, so
| let us make up our minds to be jolly"
Then Kate grew afraid Of this young
man. His familiarity was not at all a
la mode of Scarborough house nor en-
regZe with the gilded youths who some
times called on their sisters at Miss
Balderstone's, so she resolved to admin
lister the mute reproof of dropping out
of the conversation, proceeding which
by no means tended to check the flow
| of the offenders hilarity, who kept Mel
lie Barlow entranced with his naive re-
marks and genial manner. This ABSORB.
ton in self gave Kate a chance to take
critical observations of the stranger
He was handsome-there could be nc
doubt of that His features were well set
his hair was dark auburn and inclined
to curl, and his eyes were as brown a:
Caesars. Then he wore a moustacht
with no whiskers, and that gave hi'
profile clearer Gut expression. But i
was, after ell, his superb physique
which was in an artistic sense his chic
attraction-he had the form Of al
| Apollo.
She knew she ought to play prophet.
and check this young mans freedom o
manner, but when she began to analyz'
all he said and did, she could not blu
confess that there was not a SHADOW
of impertinence about him-his genial
ity was the spontaneous outflow of ex
uberant spirits, untrammeled by tn
rigorous bonds of social intercourse t.
which she had been accustomed. s.
she allowed his good nature to carr.
the last barrier of her reserve, and il
half-an-hour they were all chatting a
gayly as if there were no such things a
British formality or hypercritica
French governesses.
CHAPTER ".