The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1897-05-16
THE FIRST FOOT.

| field all day with blazing sun burning
down on them most of the time, but
now the last pike was being raised and
| the last sweep dragged towards it.
Some of the workers who We're await
ing its arrival were hopping their faces
| and watching its tumultuOus course:
some We're picking up little rolls of
| hay which had escaped on the way, or
| WispS which had blown on to the
| hedges. Kitty Carter was one who had
chosen the latter employment, and she
| had got an armful when, among the
branches of young ash, she thought
| she eSpled an even ash leaf. Now,
every one knows that if you find an
| even ash leaf i. e., a leaf which does
| not end as ash leaves ought to end,
| With leafiet at its tip, but has two
| placed opposite each other, and if you
| gather this and put it in your left
| foot shoe and wear it till bedtime, and
| then put its crumpled remains under
your pillow, you will infallibly dream
of the person whom you will marry.
A glimpse of leaf of this kind hav-
ing been vouchsafed to Kitty, it was vex-
atious to be interrupted hr the arrival
| of Farmer DunthSr1Es son, even
|
| ed to dream of
What are you latng in the dixie,
Kitty?" he asked.
"Oh, never you mind Robert she
answered with coquettish brusqueness.
But l can't help minding I mind
everything you do. I've had my thowts
fixed on you all day long. Hasn't no
one ever telPt you that you're out and
out the bonniest lass iv Durham Coun-
typ"
Talking that ways just foolishness,
Robert she replied, coloring with
pleasure.
Now, you know it isn't, Kitty
Don't you never TAX look at yourself
i the glass? Who has such bonnie
blue eyes, or such shining goldie-b brown
hair, or such face altogether? Come
along, you've got what hay there isl
Give it to me; it's a big armful for
you!" But Kitty did not stir.
Come, let's be off; they'll be done
piking directly" She had one foot in
the dry ditch, and as he spoke he tried
to draw her away
"Oh, do be quiet" she exclaimed.
It's my belief you've gone and made
me lose my even ash leaf"
And if 1 have, what would it have
telrt you more nor you know already?
You know who loves you best of all
now don't you, Kitty?"
Maybe 1 do. and more likely
don't" said Kitty perversely, just be-
cause she was so delighted. Never had
he said SO much before.
Kitty, dear Kitty L Oh. gracious
| haaV1nSt WHATS orOir IN o1ro,. +boro
He was looking at a gate at the far
corner of the field, and when Kitty
| looked there too she saw that all the
workers had deserted the pike and were
| crowding round the gate in stormy dis
pute with tall young man whom she
did not know
| It's some one who wants to cross our
field to get to Sunny Brow, and the
men want him to pay his footing first
said Dunthorne.
Then I'll warrant you it's Mr.. New
by's son-hin that ran away 1 heard
tell they'd forgiven him, and expected
him home to-day. Just think He's
not been home for eighteen years,
Let's go and see what he's like after
all that time in London
| He'd far better have been here help
ing his father. Those high meadowses
of his are fairly choked up WI thistIes.
| They've taken all the natur' out of the
grass" This was said angrily. for not
only was there i'll will between Dun
thorne's father and Newby's. but he
felt that things had just now gone too
far between him and Kitty for her to
want to run away to see anything.
"Oh, Robert, Robert! Look! look,
They're KILN of him. cried Kitty in
wild alarm, for the angry men had
penned Newly into a narrow circle
formed by their outstretched hay forks.
and each moment this circle was be-
coming narrower. But Dunthorne was
already half across the field He heard
the mems savage cries as he went.
You mum pay your footingt" cried
some. mo excuses will be taken. -
cried others. You chose to come into
our work field when we're throng on
Ipiking, so out wi your brass afore
worse happens to you," The women
were as clamorous as the men. Ding
him down. cried one, and Just TAX
what ye think fit out of his pockets
What's the use of putting a fine black
coat on yer back screeched another
If ye don't know how to behave yersel'
like a gentleman when it's there? Pay
yer footing when yer asked, like other
folks, or just TAX the consequences"
Drop that, this moment" cried Dun
Ithorne authoritatively; and Kitty, who
was close behind, thought no greater
hero could exist.
"Nought Of t sort, It's we're right
land We'll have't!" Nevertheless some
of the forks were lowered a little. See
ing this, three men dashed into the cir
Gle and seized Newby-his torn sleeve
bore witness to the strength of their
grasp. Dunthorne broke into the circle
too, and tried to release Newly. who
had knocked down one man. and was
now trying to dispose of another. 1t
him go, / say! Let him got It's Mr.
lNewbys son."
And what of that? Newby's men
would max you pay if you set foot in
their bayfield,, and Newby's son mum
pay here"
He shall mott" cried Dunthorne an
grily, and flung off another assailant;
but no sooner was one of Newly
hands thus set free than he settled the
question by pulling out handful OF
small change and f1inging it among the
crowd. There, you pack of beggars
there's what you want, If you drink
yourselves drunk you'll not behave
more disgracefully than you have done
nowi Nine men with forks against one
with no weapon at all; but what car
one expect in a place like this?"
It's your native, at any rate said
Dunthorne.
Il know, / know-excuse me, but
they've ruined both my coat and my