Waterbury evening Democrat., 1892-02-05

Nexr day she started out for walk. When night came she was still absent Mrs. Buggs began to show uneasiness Thereupon John Buck told the uneasy mother that for some reason her daugh. ter had gone to Kansas City.
 Farmer Buggs did not notice the ab- sence of Rebecca. His mind was almost paralyzed with the one thought that the next day would be the first of Septem- Der, when ruin would at last claim him as victim.
 There was no work in the house or upon the farm next day. Mrs. Buggs sat rocking herself slowly while she wept silently behind her apron. Jacob Buggs walked doggedly about waiting for the crash.
 Neither saw John Buck drive away in the red spring wagon. They did not notice his return until the voice of Re- becca aroused them from their gloom. She left John sitting in the wagon while she ran up the path and called cheerily:
 ''Put on your coat, father, and let John drive you to Morgan's Mills. Re member, your notes are due today, and that interest must be paid"
 The old man turned to look at her with utter amazement.
 She laughed merily and shook some bank notes in his face.
 "There's the money-three hundred dollars; so jump in the wagon and hurry off. The farm is yours for another year, and in a whole year you know many good things can occur"
 "Three hundred dollars" gasped the old man. "Why, child, where did you get it P
 "Never mind where I got it. I had pair of diamond earrings and a watch yesterday. Both were useless out here, so long as diamonds are not fashionable and your eight day clock keeps such good time. l was afraid the jewelry would be stolen, and so I ran down to Kansas City and sold it. There's the money. I'll lend it to you.
 "God bless my little girl," groaned the old farmer as he snatched the bills from her hands.
 Ten minutes later the old gray mare was galloping back to Morgan's Mills un- der the magnetic urging of his masters whip.
 From that day Jacob Buggs' manners changed toward Rebecca. He made her his goddess, at whose shrine he paid the humble homage of his simple soul. She realized her new found power and made the most of it by setting out to remove some of the rugged corners from her parental rough diamond. He under stood her desires, and became a willing though not an apt scholar.
 Another deep shadow fell upon Re- becca's already dark life when she learn ed that John Buck had been engaged by her father for only seven months work, and that with the end of October he would leave the farm. She heard of it first from her mother. Buck confirmed the report when she went to him for 8 verifcatioD.
 He was going back to the east, and would, perhaps, never come west again. He had saved modest sum of money, and was anxious to buy small farm of his own and provide home for himself.
 Neither could she ever tell how it came about, but it was one o'clock that night before Rebecca and John put an end to their tete-a-tete on the porch and crept silently away to their rooms.
 Once more Rebecca jumped into her hammock-like bed, but this time it was
 
 physical leap of necessity. Once more she laughed and cried by turns while trying to go to sleep. Was she happy? She would not admit it. She, an edu- cated girl, who year before had dreamed of luxury, society and rich husband with an aristocratic name, had just promised to become the wife of farm 1aborer by the name of Buck. Miss Buggs would not become Mrs. Fitzallyn or Mrs. Montmorency, but it would be Mrs. Re becca Buck, and instead of living in a grand mansion surrounded by servants, she would reign queen of farm, sur rounded by chickens and pigs. No, she would not and could not admit that she was happy in contemplating the future she had just accepted. And yet-and yet-it was a relief from the gloomy prospects to which she was slowly being bound upon Buggs' farm.
 John Buck was an educated man and had seen better days, she felt assured. He was also handsome, manly, noble and good; that she must admit, and did admit, to her beating heart. Why should she belittle the offer of such 8 mans love? What had she or was she that she should aspire higher? Was he not her equal? What would she have been had there never been an Uncle John? This thought gave her chill, which set her off in another fit of hysterical sobbing, ending finally in deep sleep.
 She awoke next morning to 8 great surprise and deeper misery of soul than she had up to that time been called upon to bear.
 CHAPTER ".
 AND THEY LIVED HAPPILY EVER AFTER