Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1899-11-21
IMPR0VISED HIRED man.

You are still determined to spend your
vacation with Grandmother Elton at the
old farm" said Mrs. Armstrong to her
youngest daughter, who had returned
home a few days previous from Vassar,
graduating with high honors. Yes,
mama; hare given her my promise, and
I will not disappoint her or Aunt Julia.
7 am sorry, as | am most anxious that
You should spend the season with us at
Bar Harbor.
Yes, mama; bat Essie and Neil will
be with you, and they will make up for
my loss.
But, my dear, what will ar Roylston
say, or what will he think of you! We
gave him to understand that you would
surely go, and it will be a great disap-
pointment to him.
Never mind, mama; Mr.. Roylston will
succeed in getting some one to amuse
him as well as l possibly could
Why, Lottie, how can you talk so,
when you know he adores you? There
are few young ladies that would throw
away the opportunity that you are now
doing Robert Roylston is rich, hand
some and comes of 4 good family" said
Mrs. Armstrong.
Yes, and considers that he can take
any girls heart and kick it about like
football, added Lottie.
Mrs. Armstrong was Mortified, but she
knew it would be useless to attempt to
change her self-willed child. so it was
settled that Lottie would spend her vaca-
ton on the old farm.
1t was not Robert Roylston's fault that
he heard the above conversation, as he
sat on the piazza near his room where
the mother and daughter were talking, 1t
being impossible to get away without let
ting them know that he heard at least
part of their conversations. so L take
young girls hearts and kick them round
like a football, Ell? That's what my lit
tie spittire thinks of me- Half an hour
after Bob Royiston left the Armstrong
cottage, smoking a cigar, IN a meditative
mood.
This way, if you please, miss. will
get your traps aboard Lottle jumped
into comfortable two-seated carryall.
and the hired man, after slowing away
the satchels and bags, jumped in and
turned the horses heads toward the Elton
farmhouse, a journey of five miles over
the mountains.
Miss Lottie, sitting in the rear seat,
had ample opportunity to study Grand
mother Eton's hired man. He had but
little to say, Lottie doing most OF the
talking during the drive over the noun
tainS.
1t was a warm and hearty welcome
Iottie received from her grandmother
and aunt Julia. But later on, when the
assisted her i'll removing her wraps, it
was evident that her mind was still OH
the hired man.
.'NVho is he Aunt Julia? Where did he
come from? What is his name" and
fifty other questions in as many seconds
were asked by Lottie Aunt Julia replied
that he was a poor student and came up
to the Profile house, where he expected
to work, but was disappointed. He
asked US to take him for his board and
give him any wages that we saw fit. He
said his name was Edmund Roberts, and
he came from Plymouth, and he is the
best hired man we ever had"
Pretty as a picture was Iottie Arm
strong as she entered the dining room of
the old farmhouse that day. She barely
noticed that the hired man was seated
at the table, but was sensitive of the
fact that his eyes were continually upon
her.
She scarcely looked up during the mea;
but when she did she felt that his eyes
were looking through her. After dessert
Mr.. Roberts made a simple excuse about
attending to business, and left the ladies
to themselves, much to Lottie's relief.
How far is the Profile house from
here. grandma?'
about five miles" said Mrs. Etcn.
Would you have any objection to Mr..
Roberts driving me over there this after
noon?'
Certainly not. Order him to do any
thing you want done Don't be timid in
asking him; he is accommodating
1t did not take long to get Dobbin
hitched up, and the look he gave Miss
thinking where she saw Mr.. Roberts be-
fore, but the heavy dark beard deceived
her.
Nearly every day some of the many
places of interest in the New Hampshire
hills were visited. So much time did Lot
+.,1~ Of Il
hand was employed to do the rough
work. One afternoon they started off on
a huckleberry expedition. They were
warned by Grandma Elton that there was
a storm in the air, and t2 be careful
But the sun shone SO brightly that no
heed was taken of her warning.
Twas late in the afternoon when a lit
tie speck appeared in the sky; but it grew
wonderfully fast and black. Little drops
Of rain commenced to fall, sharp flashes
of lightning made the sky vivid, while
the roll Of thunder made them think
heavens artillery was let loose. Peal
upon peal followed one after the other,
and the rain fell in torrents.
The berry pickers ran at the first sign
of the storm, but when they arrived at
the place where they had left their team
the storm was at its height; 10 make
his halter and started for home.
''What shall we do? O, what shall we
do. cried Lottie so, Robert: O, l
mean Mr.. Roberts; no, [ mean Mr.. Royl-
ston O, Robert, Bob, what shall we
do?' And then, womanlike, fell in his
arms in a faint.
He lifted her in his arms to nook on
the side of the mountain road. which
sheltered them from the heavy rain, and
when she recovered she found his bushy
beard against her face and his great blue
eyes looking down at her.
She could not help smiling when Bob
Roylston told her that he knew she rec
ognized him almost from the first day,
but it took lightning and thunder from a
clear sky to make her acknowledge it.
But, of course, the clouds cleared away
and the sun smiled down upon the low
ers. Explanations followed. Lottie said
the reason she wouldn't go to Bar Har-
Dor was on account of little Irritation