Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1892-12-15

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VI Far away,
the golden haze hung over the hills
like quivering veil; the bland air was
full of the soft, subtle fragrance OF
wild grapes ripening IN the woods; and
wherever dead tree or rude stone wall
afforded it u vantage ground, the
silvery tanglcs of clcmatis wove love-
ly garland and tall masses OF golden
rod and purplc-fringed asters held up
their clusters Of dazzling bloom. And
in the hop'tields merry voices echoed
from morning until night.
Will Pendexter, walking up and down
the aisles of silvcr-green LEAKAGE, with
his hands behind his back, might have
reminded one of Boaz in the ancient
Scripture story-princely Boaz stand
ing in his harvest-felds and giving
kind glance and pleasant word to
everyone.
isn't he handsome?' said little Fan
ME Dix to Miss Morgan, the rectGrs
daughter. Fanny was pale little
dressmaker, with an incipient cough,
who had been recommended by her
doctor to spend fortnight in the hop
fields; and Miss Morgan, whose mother
had died of consumption, picked hops
every year ON principle, just as Judge
Marlcy's daughters visited Long
Branch. "And all the handsomer since
he has turned gray? l do wonder why
he never married.
'Don't you know said Miss Nor
gan, sagely.
''No."
81 can tell you thcn," said the rec
tors daughter. who dearly loved a
morsel of genuine romance. "Because
his first love Tilted him."
''As if anyone would jilt Will Fen
dexter" said incrcdulous Fanny.
'Oh, but he wasn't Squire Pendexter
then-all this happened twenty years
ago." averred Miss Morgan. her flying
fingers never leaving off among the
clusters of pale-green hops. THAT
WAS before he inherited Pendexter
farm. lie was only poor young
farmer then, with his own living to
make, and this was beautiful girl
who was spending the summer here.
And they were engaged and all-and
the very night before the wedding she
ran away with an Italian, one Count
Caprivi, who was singing on the New
York stage"
Fanny drew long breath.
And what became of them?" said
she.
"Oh, they went to Italy, where the
count expc cted to succeed to large es-
tates, and | suppose they are there
now"
Fanny looked with secret awe at the
ruddy face and magnificent height OF
WIN Pendexter, as he sauntered down
the green aisles of waving tendrils and
tremulous leaves, and almost wondered
10 hear him ask Mahala Bentley about
lier baby, in the off-hand ordinary Ian
guage of everyday life, and give lame
BILLY Bartlett good day." just as If
there had been no Countess Caprivi in
the world.
But Fanny Dix was but girl yet;
she did not know how twenty years
will bridge over the darkest gulf i'll a
human life There is no scar that will
not heal in twenty years--there is not
grave on which grass will not grow
ave, and daisies bloom, in twenty
years.
81 don't know that we can take
another hand, Simpson," said Squire
pendexter meditatively. "The field is
crowded already"
'sWhat | thought, exactly, SIR" said
the overseer, respectfully. "But this
ere is pretty young slip of girl,
with feeble mother dragging along
on her arm. And a man doesn't like to
say no. TO such! So thought I'd just
speak to you, before"
.sWherc are they?" said the squire,
rubbing the gold knob OF his walking
cane against his nose; and Simpson
knew that the case Of the forlorr
strangers was safe enough
"Mother, don't fret; here comes the
gentleman now," said q clear, soft
toned voice, and Squire Pendextel
found himself looking into pair Of
wistful, deep-blue orbs--orbs that be-
longed to slight, beautiful girl
dressed in faded fabric and worn shoes
who was leaning against the well-curb
For while Simpson had been gone or
his erraud of inquiry, she had drawn q
bucket of clear, cold water out OF the
sprinkling depths of the well and
oiyen her mother drink ont of the
silver bound gourd which always hung
there.
"Sir." without n moments hesita
ton, might have iob of work ii
your hop-felds? We have come from
The city-mother and there's no liv
ing to be picked up there, and my
mother is ailing, and we thought the
smell of the hops might do her good
Please, sir, we'd work cheap, if only
we might sleep in the barn and have {
bit of something to eat between
whiles"
"Idon't want you TO work cheap!'
said the squire, assuming an aspect o
unwonted gruffness to cover the sym
pathetic thrill in his voice. II nevel
grudged moneys worth for good, hon
est work. As for the barn, my house
keeper can put you in one of the va
cant back chambers over the kitchen
and there's always enough to eat a
Pendexter farm!'
"Pendexter FARM
The woman who had been sitting OF
the mossy cattle trough slowly lifted he
head here and pushed back her wori
sunbonnet.
"wherc are we, Isora9 Whittier have