The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1894-12-18
SPICE sWEErINGs.

jumpers.
1t had been such a cellar, long, cloud
less day, while a west wind ruf19d the
lake and tempered the fervid sun.
John was at the jumpers for q holi-
day. He enjoyed it thoroughly; the
escape from the city's confinement the
change to the country, where, among
verdant fields, under clear skies, ''the
blue and green were glad together"
He had health, hope and the girl of
his choice by his side. What more
could he asks
But when they had chatted and sung,
and gone to drive and come home to a
delightful tea under the jumpers on the
lawn, there arose a little cloud no
larger than a mans hand.
Mamie had hurriedly changed her
soft gray carriage dress for a white
muslin knotted with blue ribbons.
"Hurry, Mamie" her mamma had
said, ''or the peaches and cream will
be spoiled"
And Mamie had made her toilet for
the evening without once looking in
the mirror.
After supper she jumped up brightly.
"Come, John, let us go down into
the orchard and see if the spice sweet
ings are ripe"
Spice sweetingsl'
John jumped up, too.
Do you know what spice sweetings
are7 They are the fairest, smoothest,
most fragrant, pale green globes that
ever hung in an apple orchard.
1t was hardly time for them to be ripe;
but, then, Mamie thought they might
be. Besides, the lane was so pleasant
and the seat under the old russell tree
so comfortable.
She wanted n cozy hour with John
to think of when he should be gone
for he could not come often TO the
jumpers. She might not see him again
for months.
And then, if John had anything
special to say, she ought to give him
opportunity. lobe sure, they had
been alone while driving, but the horse
was very gay and required the most of
Johns attention.
Together they went down the lane
to the orchard in the sunset glow.
by George! this is pleasant said
handsome John Grandmont, walking
through the red ~clover-tops and shifting
the scent Of the ripening apples.
Mamie was silent, Thoughts she smiled
How handsome he was, and how
dear, with his strength, and bravery,
and sweet temperl How lonesome she
should be tomorrow when he had gone,
and all the to-morrows afterward until
he came again!
She wished he would run away with
her. Mamie had a good home and
kind friends, but there were three
younger girls by her mothers second
marriage, and sometimes the nest
seemed a lite crowded, and she wished
she had a home of her own.
Johns salary was not enough for
them to marry on last Christmas; per
haps the next
Mamie" said John, lis it the style
to wear pink and blue ribbons to-
gether7"
How quickly Mamie Redeemed!
John had stopped under the old rus-
set tree, and was looking down at her
very coolly, she thought.
Now there was a little drop of dark
blood in pretty Nannie's fair body, in
herited from a suspicious and morose
old ancestor, who feared ard hated all
tho world.
That is why she lost hope so quickly
and confidence so soon, and wa never
quite sure OF anything. That is why
she remembered all of a sudden the
rumor Mollie Hale had repeated, that
John frequented general society consid
erably in the city, and was attentive
to his employers beautiful daughters,
the Misses Vallas. OF course they
dressed in perfect taste. They had the
means to do so.
Mamie was miserably conscious all
at once that her ribbons were not quite
fresh, that she had ironed her own
dress, and couldn't do it to suit her.
She fancied she looked dowdy, and
that John thought her countrified,
compared her to the youngest Miss
Vallas-Isabella, she believed the name
waste her disadvantage.
Now, Mamie had a naughty little
temper, which was ~nobody's but her
own; and though in her best moments
she resolutely struggled to check it, it
bloza1 forth now