The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1895-01-24

"It Is John Antony Norris gtrlr'
oracle. It was wonderful indeed that
she had withstood his wish to make
overtures to the Crosses. But in some
way she had withstood it, Their house,
Cross Trees, stood some eight miles
from West Brook, the Morris home.
stead. A fine big plantation this native
alien had byught. Yearly it grew finer
and bigger Tony was coming now upon
his domain. For its last two miles the
mill road lay through it. Either hand
fields in full heart and tilth stretched SO
far the trees trimming them in wore .
veil Of soft maze. Fences were trig and
tall, clean of brake or brier, with smart
painted gates leading from one field to
another. Everything indeed breathed
of prosperous thrift. Stirred as her
heart was, Tony cried aloud her delight
in the sight of it all. Here were grassy
stretches, with sleek young thorough
breds at graze A little way on mares,
with each foal at foot, stopped their
feeding to gaze reflectively after the
passersby, then call apprehensively to
the young things frisking or racing one
with another over the thick green turf.
Farther yet yearling mules trooped
after the big bell mare or stuck heads
across a fence to bray stentorously to
their fellows broken to harness and
stepping delicately as they "sided"
young corn, now midleg high.
Wheat was forwarder still, well. in
the boot, and of the richest golden green
that the south wind ruff1ed in long sat-
my ripples. Beside it loanly breadths
lay warm and brown, oheckered with
tiny hill, ready for tobacco setting.
Mammy's eyes grew covetous, though
she tried to make them scornfrl.
"Behole de wicked STAINS in great
power. she said, ''er CROWN an or
spreadin lex er green bay tree. But neb-
Der yo' min, honey-he git his come
uppance somehow-be cut down lex er
'cumbrance er de groun an ha'ter 60
whar de wu'im is metty libely an de
fire not squinched.
"Oh, hope notp' Tony said. II
hate Mr.. Cross as much as ought, but
it is because he was wicked and cruel,
not because he has the things would
like to have and have not got. If we
had O home like this, wouldn't we take
pride in it? Yet have heard that the
only child the Crosses have is nearly al
ways away"
"He amt stay yere much" Nanny
admitted. isis May johnson she say
Cunnel Cross low he want de boy ter go
ter dat soldier school--.Wes' Pint dee
calls hit-case he wanter see i'm er
officer an er gentemun. I took an tole
Sis May, did. He may 60 dar tell
de COWS come home, hit not gwine ter
make him no quality-case quality
ha' ter be borned-dee not nebber made. I"
:. Tony made no answer. Her eyes were
fast upon the black mule which in the
last few yards had begun to falter and
reel.
''Get out, Nanny, quick! she said.
herself scrambling agilely over the wag-
ON side. "Nance has given out. Help
me get her in the shade there under
that big wild cherry. Then You must
wait here until I, can get something,
somewhere, to put in her place.
"Yo' can't do dat" Nanny said
dolefully. "Eberybody SO busy in de
crap now dee 'oon't hep yo' fer lub ner
money. Dat is, 'cep'in dis yere Harp
Cross spec he mought, but sholy 20
amt gwine dar ter ak imp"
"There is nothing else to be done,
Tony said, lifting her head proudly.
Besides I rather think shall like to
see the man. OF course I need not let
him know who am."
"Don't you b'leeve de half er dat, !"
Nanny returned promptly. Harp
Cross nebber wus no fool He members
de Morris favor too well not ter know
hit fur as he kin see hit. But g'w'an ef
you's gwine. De's rain, an plenty OBJ
hit, comm torrectly."
It was sweltering hot, even upon the
lawn at Cross Trees. 1t was the velvet
lest turf, fecked now with dancing
shadow. touched here or there with
fame Of bedding plants just coming into
flower. Awide house, low and gray,
sat upon the green. 1t had deep piazza
and Hospitality open doors. Gay cush-
iony red armed chairs sat here and
there. A wickerwork table Uttered
with gay silks was pushed back against
the. house wall. There was a couch. too,
also wicker, neaped with down cush-
ions in fresh linen Govern Another ta-
BILE stood at the head Of II and was piled
with the latest books and magazines.
Where tha tree shadows were. thickest a
/ gorgeous hammock swung. The ocou.
pant at 1t was tall, we'll made. lightly