The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1896-01-23
WOMAN

~ l. OIb Il VI ANIA w w NIhAl
The first beams Of June sun were
shining upon world Of dew and bios
SONS. Birds were singing everywhere
and which made the divinest music, the
robins in the orchard or the bobolinki
in the meadow, it was hard to choose.
So thought Jimmie Thompson as,
hastily rising from his little bed under
the caves of Farmer Thompson's big
farmhouse, he prepared himself for the
duties of the day.
1t was busy season on the farm, fol
hay was to be cut, and the ring of the
scythes as the women were grinding
them to an edge on the old grindstone
already rose upon the air.
II wonder what mamma will say tc
find me late again?" murmured the
youngster as he hurriedly donned his
simple garments and tripped lightly
down the stairs
Breakfast was already laid in the big
stone paved kitchch, and the delicious
fragrance of coffee, mingled with that
of frying ham, combined to forecast
tempting feast.
Somewhat timidly Jimmie stole into
the room and took his place at the table.
He was an only son, and, although loved
by his stern mother and his yielding
and more gentle spirited father with o
love that shrank at no sacrifice in his
behalf, there was that in the strict dis
cipline ever maintained by his mother,
| combined with a naturally sensitive and
| docile nature, which had repressed oul
poor Jimmie and given him an air Of
quiet hardly consistent with his bright
eyes and hair of willful shining gold.
Late again, my son, and for the
third morningr" remarked his mother
as the young man took his seat and
carefully tucked the napkin Of snowy
linen under his chin. "See that this Of
fense is not repeated, or you may &c
breaEfastless. "
A mutinous look darkened for a mo.
ment the eyes Of the youth, and he was
about to speak when firm, quick step
was heard entering the outer porch, and
a sharp knock smote the panels of the
wood shed door.
A wave of rosy color swept over jim
mie Thompson S sweet face as, hurriedly
rising, he left the kitchen to answer the
summons
"Good morning, my darlingl Ny
rosebud boy in the garden of boys"
said a low voice as q hasty kiss was
pressed upon the lips of the youth, and
he felt himself strained to womanly
breast.
For only an instant could the lovers
(for such they were) remain in the
outer shed before the stern voice of
Mrs. Thompson bade the visitor enter.
1t was grand young woman who
stepped with uncovered head into the
midst Of the Thompson household and
gave it courteous greeting. One had but
to look on the high brow, the steadfast
mouth and the firm poise Of the statu-
esque chin, to know that he stood in
! the presence of one of natures noble
women.
Her garments, although scrupulously
neat, bespoke the working woman, and
there was that.in the clear, sunburned
tint Of her face which told Of outdoor
toll.
There was a brief silence as Jimmie,
with pleading look in the direction OF
his mother, resumed his seat.
Good morning, Nell" said Mrs.
Thompson at last, somewhat grimly,
laying aside her fork and reaching for g
toothpick, "What brings you out SC
early?"
ooh, I've been stirring since long be-
fore dawn" responded the young wom
an. ~ have cut the swamp nalf acre
and am going over ON the beech meadow
now. l dropped in ON my way to see il
/ could get the loan of your horse rake
this afternoon.
"I shall be using it myself, " sale
Mrs Thompson in tones Of studied in
science, "and if l were not dom
know that should care to lend it.
"Oh, mother" !" cried Jimmie and hi
father in reproachful unison, chow car
youW
The young woman who had thus un
expectedly been subjected to Mrs
Thompson s rude speech shifted her po
sition lightly, and while a deep flusl
stole into her brown cheek remarked
with an apparent effort at self control :
81 do not understand you, madam
We have been in the habit of exchang
ing horse rakes and other courtesies.
fail to catch the drift of your meaning.
"Well, I'll explain myself so that yo1
will catch my meaning, young woman
and reckon it won't be my fault if W
do not come to a complete understand
ing before have finished, replied Mrs
Thompson, rising from her seat and con
fronting the nndaunted girl with
countenance infiamed with excitement.
The silence had become intense an
was only broken by long drawn sigh
and poor Jimmie slipped his hand int
that Of mis- frightened father and waite
for his mother TO- finish what she had q
say
81 think you were around here las
evening, also two or three evenings las
week, when you had no excuse to bor
row a horse rake, were you not?" ques
toned the angry matron, confronting
with a smile Of fine yet withering scor
the unabashed girl SO calmly facing her
81 was, replied tine young woma
quietly, "and did not come to borroN
farming implements Of any description.
"What did you come for, them