The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-11-07
aTHE DOCKER. !"
A Dishonest Tobacco Buyers De-
served Reward.

/ AC u OIL StCpPC0 dt a I'LL Ivy vA4cf< =
in the Connecticut valley. Several pas.
sengers descended from parlor car to
the platform of the small station. One
of them was Miss Harriet Archmuty, OF
New York city.
/ The Evillage loungers who stood in
line, their backs against the station
and their hands in their pockets. gazed
with open-mouthed admiration at what
was to them a vision of beauty.
But Miss Archmuty did not heed
them. She was looking for the person
who had agreed to meet her for the con
veyance Of herself and her trunk to a
summer resort beside lake four miles
| distant.
Are you Miss Archmuty?" asked a
powerfully-bullt young man whose face
and hands were deeply sunburnt
Eyes; you are Mr.. Crandall, sup
pose
That's my name. Now. if you will
please give me your check, I'll put your
trunk into the wagon and then we'll
start for the lake"
AS they neared the outskirts of the
village, Miss Archmuty noticed fine
residence that stood on rising ground.
1t represented the mixed style Ct arch
itecture nowadays SO much favored in
the construction of fashionable country
homes.
| There were turrets and cupolasr bow
windows with stained glass. odd porti-
| cos, and porte cochere. The founda-
tons of the dwelling were composed of
small and irregular stones and reached
half the distance between the ground
and the caves.
! The lawn was several acres in extent
and was divided by a gravel drive, on
each side of which were brilliant par
terres that showed the artistic care of a
professional gardener.
"How charming! How dearly I
should love to live in such a country
home!'' exclaimed Miss Archmuty.
"Who is the owner?'
1.-THE house is owned by David Ben
ton, and is occupied by himself and his
only son, Charles. They are wealthy
tobacco buyers"
Mr.. Craudall wondered whether his
fair companion would take SO much in
terest in the house if she knew that the
Bentons had outrageously 'docked' a
number of poor farmers who had sold
their crops of tobacco to them. He re-
Trained. however, from saying anything
disparaging concerning them.
At sight of the lake Miss Archmuty's
enthusiasm was again aroused. 1t was,
indeed, beautiful sheet of water,
lying placidly between rich lowlands
that gradually sloped into hills of COM
handing height The shores were
mostly wooded, and at intervals amid
tho trees were small hotels and large
farmhouses at which city guests were
entertained during the summer.
On point of land projecting short
distance into the lake stood the home
of Mr. Cranda]l,. plain but roomy and
comfortable white house.
Mr.. Crandall's mother and sister man.
aged the house, and the money earned
by taking boarders during the warm
months was their share of the family
revenue. the rest of it being derived
under the young mans supervision
from the two hundred acres of the adj
jacent farm.
The young farmer saw the new
guest every day. but strange embar-
rassment possessed him whenever he
approached her. At best ho was not .
ready talker, and in the presence of
Miss Archmuty he lost the power of
speech entirely until she restored it to
him by asking him questions with kind
ly tact.
His awe was increased by the dis
every pleasant afternoon she went into
the woods and fields and with sklllful
pencil sketched what was most beauti-
full in the picturesque region.
During the third week of Miss Arch
muty's stay there was hop at the
largest hotel beside the lake, and the
most dashing young man present was
Charles Benton, the tobacco buyer He
was introduced to Miss Archmuty and
was SO successful in his progress in cul-
tivating her acquaintance that he OBJ
tanned her consent to 60 driving with
her two days later.
When young Benton appeared At the
Crandnll homestead in a stylish buggy
drawn by a perfectly matched span Of
horses in silver-mounted harness, and
asked for Miss Archmuty. then did
honest John Crandall, who was run
ming . lawn-mower in the yard, feel
jealous
His heart sank as he recollected what
Miss Archmuty had said concerning the
Benton house. and he acknowledged
that she would make an admira bic
mistress of SO fine an abode.
Mr.. Benton's attentions continued.
and Miss Archmuty went driving with
him several times during the next two
weeks Crandall wondered what she
could see in him to please her, for he
was regarded by the farmers who
knew him best as mean cuss."
The truth is. that while Miss Arch
muty was 6 good girl at heart, and had
superior intellect. she was not quite
the divinity that the adorinE farmer
believed her to be. 1t was pleasant to
ride behind the spirited horses, and she
liked her companion. accustomed TO
good society and gentlemanly in his
demeanor
She represented to herself that it was
only a summer Irritation. and she re-
solved to check Mr.. BeutonS advances,
should they become too serious
That the rich admirer meant bust
ness" soon became apparent to Gram
dali. whose love for the girl made him
SO keen that he intuitively read the
mind Of any man who paid court to
her.