Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1897-10-14

n SlaNe Toes NOT SIT III the presence
of her MASTER. said Astrea, with a
fine irony.
But when her master permits said
Rumford. :,
Her position is till to humble to
embolden her to avail herself of such
liberty" replied Astrea with a curling
lip and flashing eye, that neutralized
the humility of her words.
Blame it, then, if her master com
mands." cried Rumford, half laughing,
half provoked at what seemed to Kim
very amusing resistance on the part of
"A girl entirely in his power; "if her
master commands, how then, Zora?'
The servant, having no other OPP
ton, would obey, 1 suppose" answered
Astrea, deliberately taking up one of
the light straw chairs. carrying 1t TO
the extremity of the room farthest
from Rumford, and seating herself in
It.
"Blast 1t. not there. here, here, on
the sofa beside me, where | can talk
to you at ease. | have much to say to
YOU, my girl, which il bahooves you tG
hear" said Rumford. again inpatient
~ patting the spot where he wished
Astrea to sit.
Il have excellent ears. sir. and can
bear quite Wei at this-respectful-
distance" F.
"Bosh! come here, here! l say here,
command your cried the planter,
impatiently repeating his gesture.
Il Will not, sir" firmly replied As
trea.
Not exclaimed the planter, in a
state Of mind blending surprise, dis
pleasure and mirth. Did you say
'Not?'"
Il will not, SIR repeated Astrea,
cmphatically.
by the demon, but that is good! /
like that! But / see how IL is! This
girl has been well educated and
brought up, and is vastly superior to
Der class: she has never had a lover,
and, consequently, IL her maiden
pride, she would be wooed before she
Is won. And, deuce take me, if l
don't like her the better for it. l am
sick of your toO-willing ones, however
tempting in other respects:
For the fruit that will fall without
shaking
Indeed is too mellow for me-
So. this proud maiden beauty. slave
as She is, will be wooed before she is
won. Yes: and she is worth wooing
ard worth winning, too. And / should
rct wonder the least in the world ii
she insisted on being married as well
as courted. But, of course, she can't
come that game over me!''
These thoughts passed rapidly
through the mind of Rumford. as he
sat contemplating with admiration the
stately and beautiful form of Astrea.
as she sat like a princess In her dis
tant chair.
AT last he spoke up.
"Zora. nonsense, about this relation
of master and slave. Ii is true, | pur-
chased you, and paid a good, round
sum too. III now, that / know your
worth, | will pay ten times MS much to
possess Won. But, child. / did not buv
"a delicate and beautiful creature like
you 10 make a servant of you. any
II ore than l would buy a costly err
mine robe to make a door-mat. No,
my dear, ! liked your looks from the
very first, md purchased you to make
you the companion and solace OF NV
declining years; the pet and darling
vi lily ihtttloltS, Tic liSDt anu HE vi
my domestic hearth, In one word, my
dear Fora, purchased you, not for n
servile slave, but for Il beloved COM
panicn; who should fill, in my heart
and home, the place of a wife and chill
dren: who should rule my house and
servants; share my pleasures; COM
mand my purse; nurse me tenderly In
sickness; close my eyes in death; and,
finally, inherit my fortune! This, my
dear girl. is the position | offer you"
And you dare TO speak these words
to me. to me. Il pure woman and a
welded wife, gasped Fora, nearly
speechless with Indignation.
Stuff, girl! that's your monomania
again the N subject upon which
you are cracked! But it is the full of
the moon, or but little past it, and |
hope, with the wane the ~hallucination
will pass away. In the meantime.
pray do not mention 1t to me again,
my dear girl. And. Fora, let me tell
You that the tone you adopt toward
me is scarcely proper or grateful. And
you have something to be grateful
for"
'Oh. have /, indecdg' exclaimed AS
trea, bitterly.
Yes, you have, you spoiled n in
experienced child! Suppose / had not
purchased you? You would have been
taken to New Orleans, and exposed for
sale on the auction block. Some grace
less scamp would have bought you,
and. after loving you for a little while.
would have grown tired of you, and
sold you TO some one else; or he would
nave married n wife. and brought her
home to queen IL over you. and break
your heart: or you would have been
bought by some married man. to wait
upon his wife. whom your beauty
would have driven mad with jealousy
and so, between the favor OF your
master and the hatred of your mis-
trcss. your life would have been a
~purgatory. Such. or some such fate
would have been yours, Fora, had |
not purchased you. Now. see how
much happier your position is! Here
you have no jealous mistress to OPP
press you: no rival to distress you;
here y5u noed feel no female despot-
ism, and no male Inconsistency; here
you are the Sole mistress of the house
the sole darling of the old man, In
whom you need never fear change
for men OF my Z do not change like
younger ones, my girl. They get used