The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1894-02-06
A STORY OF THE QUARTERBACK.
By MOLLIE ELLIOT SEAWELL.

Il N'AA'i~
door She was about ten years old and re-
markedly pretty She did not show the least
bit of shyless and asked Brydell in hos
p!tably. Before he had time to answer her
father and mother appeared, handsome
country people, looking, as they were,
thoroughly prosperous.
BrydelI, whose manners We're naturally
graceful and polished, introduced himself
and asked the privilege of remaining until
the shower over, and with "a secret
determination to ask for work later on. The
farmers address was not nearly so elegant
as the young fellows who cherished the
ambition of becoming his hired man. He
said:
My names Laurison. Come in and sit
down. If you've got any dry clothes in that
bundle my wifell show you IA room where
you can change en-
Brydel looked at Mrs. Laurison and his
heart went out to her instantly. She was
not like the officers wives he had known,
educated and travelled women. But she had
a quiet dignity and self-possesSi0n that was
equally good in its way. And she had the
softest, kindest eyes in the world, and her
voice was so gentle when she invited Bry-
dell upstairs to change his clothes that he
almost loved her from the start In a little
stockings and another pair of trousers.
The farming beiuf, compelled to stay in
doors was not indisposed to talk with The
young stranger, and Brydell had quite =
gift of making himself agreeable They
sat talking in large. airy, o!d-fashoned
hall, with dry rubbed floor and the little
girl, Mnna, 50 pleased with her new
acquaintance that she came and pcrched
herself on the arm OF his chair and gazed
f"arlesslY into his eyes with the grave
scrutiny of an innocent girl. Brydel knew
much about country life. and talked so
knowingly about cows and pigs and horses
than even Mir. L&urison grew fluent, and
Brydcl ina gined it would be easy enough
to set work there, and he quickly deter
mined to ask for it.
''Do you have any trouble getting farm
labor" he asked.
Heaps of trouble, b'gosh," answered Mr..
Laurisor, with emphasis. THE negroes all
80 Oft about this time Of the year for berry
picking, just when harvest is coming on,
and the corn needs wedding the worst Voc
ever saw. se got TWO mea count on
that stay with me the year round, but [
ought to have four on a farm of this
size"
Here was BrydelFs chance.
IN looking for work. he said diff
fidenty.
Farm work, I mean"
Your shouted Mr.. Harrison. "Why,
you never did any work in your life. Look
at them haudsp'
Pretty brown I think they are" an
sWeTed BrydeU comDlarentlv examining
his own hands
Yes" said Mr. I3urison ..hut tbov,re
brown with the playin' Of tennis and foot
pan and such. Any fool can see by your
hands You amt done any, yorl,
But I want to do some work,
"F'or WHAT"
For money, for living"
~ No., - ft, '.l' VI '"''ii'9
au-o, orr ~ ~ r;s 80 ','o iilsS anu
friand h.. az me, nave" any
..A7 IT, a." it'il' me
a. 10 V'I ia1Iti thrown you on
opd ~ ~ l want TO earn my living
49, t''Slel 10 set WORK IN the country
,I1', ~ 'o"H ana, oesideS' know more
""""I me country
am got any work for you" and after
inter pause: Il think it's clcariu' up
DlyaeH rose at once. lie felt that in
moment the attitude of his host was one
o. SuSp!ci@a. but Mrs. Laurison's kind gaze
,,ad ,il,'il5.'I IN the least ana little Minna
~ 80 10 hlIh and caught his hand.
81 ,,,,e+ :, 7o'ti7 ""IE Sie asked.
i, 9"ui I[ydtL, gently, but feel
80 90 II ~ Would choke. Ar. Lauri5on
~ Ncl3 promptly.
Sho" you Il short cut to the main
roa,' he said
me sun was now down and the purple
tWIhshl was upon them. The trees and
grass We're wet and a faint gray maze rose
It"tl me meadows at the back of the house.
IL mad never daWped upon Bryden that he
would be invited to take the road at such
an iCuf' ana he felt strange sinking Of
Lnc IeaIl lie thanked Mrs LaurisOn for
- niHuileSS 10 hlil. She said no word to
detalh nm, but BrydeIl felt she was sorry
~ sc uInl r.; lie then turned to shake
Ii'4'.H9 wan niue Miilila. The child sudden
-f'O~N 1ud thIe" her arms around his