The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-01-14


grievance under the kindly chat of the
major.
The farm lay or either side of a small
stream which ran among the buttes
and green mesas of the foot hills. Out
TO the left, the kingly peak looked be-
nignantly across the lesser heigbts that
thrust their ambitious heads in the
light. Cattle were feeding among the
s1ooth, straw-colored or sage-green
hills. A cluster of farm buildings stood
against an abrupt, cedar-splotched
bluff, out of which a stream flowed and
shortly fell into large basin.
The irrigation ditch pleased and in.
terested Arthur, for il was the finest
piece of work he had yet seen. II ran
around the edge of the valley, dis
charging at its gates streams of water
like veins, which meshed the land,
whereon men were working among
young plants.
"I'll put you in charge of team,
think" the major said, after talking
with the foreman, a big. red-haired
man, who looked at Arthur with his
head thrown back and one eye shut.
'Well, now you're safe" said the
major, as he got into his buggy, $50 I'll
leave YOU"
Arthur knew and liked the foreman's
family at once. They were familiar
types. At supper he told them OF his
plans. and how he came 10 be out there
and they came to feel certain pro-
prietorship in him at once.
"Well, I'm glad you've come" said
Mrs. ichards, after their acquaint-
anceship had followed in a day or two.
you're like our own folks back in H.
linois."
Arthur WINGED little at being classed
in with her folks, and changed the SUBJ
ject.
One Sunday, couple OF weeks later,
just as he was putting on his old clothes
TO go out and do his evenings chores,
the major and a party of visitors came
driving into the yard. Arthur came out
10 the carriage, little annoyed that
these city people should not have come
when he had on his Sunday clothes.
The major greeted him pleasantly.
"Good-evening, Ramsey. just hitch
the horses, will on? L want to show
the ladies about little"
Arthur tied the horses TO a post, and
came back toward the major expecting
him TO Introduce the ladies, but the
major did not, and Mrs. Thayer did not
wait for an introduction, but said, with
peculiar, well-worn infection:
Ramsey, / wish you'd stand between
me and the horses. I'm as afraid as
death of / rises and cows" -
The res laughed in musical uproar,
but Arthur flushed hot. 1t was the
tone English people in plays and stories
used in speaking to their butler, or
coachman.
He helped her down, however, with
a sullen air, for his rebellious heart
seemed to i'll his throat,
The party moved ahead in cloud
of laughter. The ladies were dainty as
spring flowers. in their light, outdoor
dresses, and they seemed TO light up
the barnyard.
One of them made the most powerful
impression upon Arthur. She was so
dainty and so bird-lilSe. Her dress was
quaint, with puffed sleeves, and lands
and edges of light green, like an April
flower. Her narrow face was as swift
rs light in it's volatile changes, and her
little chin dipped occasionally into the
deep of her rufiied bosom like swal-
low into water. Every movement she
made was strange and sweet to see.
She cried out in admiration of every
thing and clapped her slender hands
like a wondering child. The others
seemed to laugh every time they looked
at her. she was so entirely carried away
by the strangeness of the farm.
She admired the cows and the colts
very much, but shivered prettily when
the bull thrust his yellow and black
muzzle through the little window of his
cell.
"The horrid thing! Isn't he saw
age2"
Not at all. He wants some meal,
that's ALL" said the major.
The young girl skipped and danced
and shook her perfumed dress as
swallow her wings. She was not vain;
il was natural in her. Arthur looked
at her with deep admiration and de-
light, though Mrs. Salisbury was
talking TO him.
He liked Mrs. Salisbury at once,
though naturally prejudiced against
her. She had evidently been 'ery
handsome woman, but some concealed
pain had made her face thin and drawn,
and one corner of her mouth was set
in aslghtfold as if by touch of paraly-
sis. Her profile was very beautiful,
and her voice was that of highly cul-
tivated American.
She seemed TO be interested in Ar
thur, and she asked him few ques-
tions, and all her questions were intel
ligent.
Salisbury amused himself by joking
the girl, whom he called Edith.
"This is the cow that gives the cream,
" kneow, and this one is the butter
milk cow" he said, as they stood look
ing i'm at the barn door.
Edith tipped her eager little face up
NJ i,s