Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1892-03-10

Take thy seat, lad, an help tneesen.
There bcant much Of spread to-day,
for tonight we have a hay-harvest
homing, and the women folk are busy
DER the big supper; but ] reckon theell
find enough TO sharpen thy teeth upon. "
A harvest homcl Arthur had read
about such things, and oh, what a
chance was there now for him TO see
one, II the bighearted ycoman would
only give him an invitation. lie was
spared the doubt, for the farmer, after
heapinR his plate with n prodigality
that would put Dunbar's appetite 20 the
test, added.
MAY happen thee never seen har-
vest homing-don't have such doings in
thy country, ch? Well, dang my but
tons, " thee shan't stay for ours this
eve, and ! won't take no for an answer
so thcrc!"
81 shall be only too glad 20 accept
your invitation" Arthur said, delighted,
but had not better walk over 10 the
inn ut Chertscy where ! am staying and
drive back later IN the afternoon, for, IL
have formed n right idea Of harvest
home, shall hardly care for mid
night trip Of four miles on shanks'
ponies"
"And dost thee think, lad, that I
would have thee do IL? No, bidc where
thee art, and the misses 'ull gin thee
n 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. Madcmoiselle
was pecvish and Kate was rebcllious IL
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 n rustic scat under u giant
elm tree, with Cmsar stretched lazily at
their feet.
"ls not this a charming spot, Mr..
Dmbar?" Kate said, as she took her
place by Ncllic's side.
at Is, indeed, " he responded, heartily;
"it seems TO me to be AN ideal home
the realization Of what | have read
about again and again and never seen
before. tell YOU that dip in the river
was godscnd for me. am going to
assist, as your French friend would say,
at n harvcst-humc to-night-think of
that, Miss Grahamcl | never saw but
one before, and that was on the stage at
ST. Louis and very far from the real
thing, ! guess
at is only hay harvesting" Nellie
Barlow suggested, timidly, land moth
ing like the grand doings we have in
September, when the last load Of wheat
comes into the staclS-yurd.'
"What! Are you intending TO remain
for our rural fctc?" Kate asked, in dis
may, drcuding the complications which
might ensuc.
For the harvest home, yes. and |
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. Ills familiarity was not ut all q
IL mode Of Scarborough house nor an
regle with the gildcd youths who some
times called on their sisters at Miss
Balderstonc's, so she resolved to admin
istcr the mute rcproof of dropping out
of the conversation, proceeding which
by no means tended to check the flow
Of the offenders hlarity, who kept Nell
lie Barlow cntranccd with his naive re-
marks and genial manner. This absorp-
ton in self gave Kate chance TO take
critical observations of the stranger.
lie was handsomc-thcrc could be no
doubt of that His features were well set:
his hair was dark auburn and inclined
To curl, and his eyes were as brown rs
Cmsar's. Then he wore n moustachc
with no whislIcrs, and that gave his
profile clearer cut expression. But IL
was, after all, his superb physique
which was in an artistic sense his chief
attraction-hc had the form Of an
Apollo.
She knew she ought to play propricty
and check this young mans freedom Of
manner, but when she began TO analyzc
all he said and did, she could not but
confess that there was not shadow
of impcrtinence about him-his genial
ity was the spontaneous outflow of eX-
ubcrant spirits, untrammeled by the
rigorous bonds of social intercourse to
which she had been accustomed. So
she allowed his good nature to carry
the last barrier of her reserve, and in
half-an-hour they were all chatting as
gayly as IL there were no such things as
British formality or hypercritical
French governesses.