The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1897-04-10

| fell from her lips; straight as an arrow,
her beautiful head well poised, she
looked fit for any position. Everything
about her showed her birth ind gentle
| appearing. and yet how calmly she had
accepted the inevitable. and taken up
the part her fathers studious habits
had forced upon her. Without her, the
whole machinery would have come to
an end. As she now neared the house,
the maid rushed out, her apronstrings
flying in the wind.
"He's comed," she announced, Il seed
tn name on his portmantles; least
ways, | seed an + fine an big like. 'Tis
he, fur shure."
Margaret quickened her steps. 81
hope you told Miss Betty" she began,
but the girls exclamation broke in upon
her words.
See, yonder he comes!" she cried.
II telled i'm ter set doom an wait-l
did"
Margaret looked up and saw tall
ran walking down the yiearage garden,
lodging the branches to save his hat.
His handsome bronzed face did not
seem to belong TO an expeetant farm
pupil; but he had arrived with port
mantles," and big f, and, as Anne
| had said: 1T looked like enough"
He took off his hat rs he approached,
and Margaret, pulling off her gloves,
gave him her hand. II am sorry to say
my father is from home" she said, but
my aunt and | will do our best; and,
after all (she glanced ut him with
slight glimmer of a smile) suspect II is
really | whom you will have most TO
do with"
Il am glad of that" he responded, but
with a start of surprise, and keen
sidelong look at her.
Il am the farmer" said Margaret, by
way of explanation, and he bowed
81 am also glad TO hear that he re-
joined; sit seems new vocation for
women"
"Yes, but needs must when some one
drives, and our land was heavy on our
hands"
Il dare say. /, also, have learnt some
thing-abroad.'
"Ahl | suppose you want TO see a
little of English methods She was be-
ginning to understand reasons now.
This is principally stock farm, and
| can show you some good cattle; and
we have also arabic land by the river.
| will tell you our methods. We send
large quantities of cream to Winchester
and Enderby. and this is quite bust
hess in ITSELF
lie was staring at her with consider
able respect now. II shall learn ia
mously," he said but there was the
least suspicion of smile under the
mustache. 1T is very brave of you to
take up this work"
THAT is not the speech for pupil
10 make" said Margaret to herself.
Il do not think was prepared for such
an advanced person. 1t is late for You
to begin, is it not?' she asked aloud;
but he shook his head emphatieally.
"Oh dear, no. Does not somebody
tell us we are never too old to learn?"
"Neyer too late TO mend" said she.
"Ah, thank you; it is all the same in
my case"
1.-THE same! With difference! Why
do you want to learn farming? Have
you not studied something else?'
The newcomer looked perplexed,
Now, why do / want 10 do this?" he
asked himself. at is indeed curious"
Aloud he began truthfully to say he had
not considered reasons, but just then
Miss Betty doomed into view, and the
| l,.n,,Y,.1 Mice DattN avid nj tx
accepted him in good faith.
ale is far too old, Aunt Bett," said
Margaret later on. II understood Dad
dy to say he was youth"
my dear, your father knows moth
ing about him. He is the most absurd
boolworm l have ever seen. If this
man were some rare book, or first edi-
ton, that would be another matter"
so far, aloud. In her innermost soul
she said 81 have my doubts, but l dare
not hint them"
Ne letters came for the visitor to
prove his identity. He settled down very
comfortably, and turned out pleasant
addition to the home circle. He had
travelled much, and knew the world, and
While Margaret liked to hear him talk,
she was afraid of him as pupil.
Miss Betty openly admired him. He
went his daily rounds conscientiously
Once or twice his attempted eXplana-
tons were cut short by Margaret in a
determined sort of manner that pre-
vented further condolences; and, in the
meantime, the pupil took notes mem
tally of his hostesses, and came to the
conclusion that, in the person of Mar
garet, he had met the one being whom
lie could love.
He knew the rector of old as a clever,
dreamy, impractical man, whose the
cries had yet to take the world by
storm. lie had always felt that such a
man was buried up here in the wilds;
he was more than ever convinced of it
now. wait" said the pupil, things
may change presently" But he did
not say by whose influence these
changes were to come.
So things went on, and it cannot be
said that he proved bright and shin
ing light in the way Of stock manage
ment though he certainly understood
other arts to perfection.
'He is very agreeable, and he adj
mires Margaret" said Miss Betty,
shrewdly. Nov, what does she think
about him?"
In truth, he was daily problem to the
roctor's daughter. She lived her hard
life bravely, her only relaxations a
pleasant book or two, and her paint
brush, when she was not tired but she
rather felt il was a fraud to teach man
! who had evidenf1v sufficient ruder-