The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-01-29


of her errand before he had quite made up
his mind to take new service with any one
particular master, before, at any rate, he
had completed the bargain. 'Oh, if oily
could catch sight of his face she thought
desperately. But the crowd surged, and
shifted, and seemed to overpower her; her
eyes ached with the constant movement, her
head ached with the continuous bare and
Shrek of tin trumpets ard steam whistles,
her limbs ached with the WEAKNESS of press
ing again and again through the multitude,
and her heart ached with a confused medley
of unhappiness which she did not stay to
analyze.
Perhaps he may be inside one of the
booths, she thought at length and she
stood hesitating in a small Guieter back
water of this turbulent stream of life, at
the rear of one of the caravans, where
boards and buckets and ropes and other of
the more squalid appurtenances of the car
nival lay thrown back from general obser-
walton: but to go inside in search might be
to miss him in the outside crowd BESIDES
she fancied that his heart would scarcely be
in tune with the violent pleasures of the
fair; and again she entered the whrl and
crush of the merry-makers in the square.
The wind was bleak and cutting; no CLEAN
of sunshine lighted the scene, everything
looked gray and chilly, and out of keeping
with lightheartedness and merry making
Ellen shvered and the color drained out of
her cheeks.
AT last, weary of walking, she turned to
the shelter of the market-house itself and
there her search was ended. Looking across
the big, bare building she saw two groups
one of girls and women, the other Of men
and boys. The women were mostly noisy
and Haunting, bold in looks and Dress and
each was wearing in her jacket a bright
artificial flower as a sort of badge. Here
and there a quiet, plainly-dressed figure
stood a little apart from the others; but
these were few and almost unnoticed in a
casual glance.
The men were more varied in their be-
havior; some were loud and rough, it is
true. hustling one another or interchanging
badinage with the noisy women, but many
were sober and toil-worn, many were awk-
ward and shy. Each wore in his coat a bit
of twisted cord or rope, and in a flash Ellen
understood what it meant. These men and
women assembled here out of the cut of the
wind, and apart from the crowd of pleasure
seekers, were the dairy-maids, factory girls,
Shepherds carriers, gathered together for
hire, waiting to sell their strength where it
would find market. She gave a shiver Of
disgust and stepped quickly aside to a dark
corner in the shadow of a big pillar; but
her eyes were eager as she scanned the
mems faces.
Yes Dick was there. He was standing
little apart from the crowd talking with
another young man; and Ellen saw that his
companion was a friend, a neighboring
farmer; and she guessed some of the morti-
fcation Dick must be feeling at meeting
his own equals while in such an unusual sit
uaton His face was rather flushed but it
was grave and unsmiling. He was a fine
fellow, Ellen acknowledged to herself, but
he looked terribly unapproachable; and for
while she dreaded to see the young farmer
move from Dicks side, for she felt that to
go over to him in the face of that crowd
of rough men and boys, and tell her tale
and urge for his return, was almost more
than she had courage for.
But even as she watched and dreaded, an
other friend came up to Dick She could
see the surprise on the newcomers face;
she could also see the color deepen on
Dicks brow, and she trembled, and felt yet
more afraid to approach him, for all this
humiliation which he was bearing she had
brought upon him, she told herself, by her
contemptuous words
AS time went on, however, she knew that
if she still meant to carry out her plan she
must not wait much longer, and as the
young man moved away at last she gripped
her hands and stepped out from the shadow
of the pillar. But once again she was frus-
trated. Before she had advanced many
steps she saw another man approach Dick,
burly farmer this time, and one whom she
did rot know by sight. Almost thankful for
the fresh delay she stepped back again and
waited trembling.
1t seemed as if hours passed while she
stood there near those giggling girls and
guffawing boys, noting with a sickening
dread the possible masters and mistresses
as they came and scanned the human wares
and entered into negotiations. She knew
that she must not allow another chance to
slip after this; she must hurry to her self
imposed task as soon as this friend had
passed on. 1t would be terrible if someone
were to hire Dick before she could speak
to him.
AT length the man moved away, and fear
ing to linger a moment longer, though her
courage had almost entirely left her, and
the task seemed more than she could face,
she hurried white and shaking to the spot
where Dick stood.
"Dick!' she faltered. He turned quickly to
her. and his face flushed.
'Well?" he said, coldly.
You must go back" she blurted out: IT
am leaving the farm so 1 shall not trouble
you"
II am not going back" he declared, dog
gedly.
''You must" she insisted. "You must go
back to Aunt Jane, quickly before anyone
hires you"
Someone has hired me-" he said. II shall
not go back"
"Oh, Dick!" The shock almost over
whelmed her, and the tears started to her
eyes. "What-what are you going to do?"
II am gong to be a shepherd" he an
swered.
What madness! she cried cit is dread
| full"
There's nothing dreadful about It." he
said, coldly. IT don't mind hard work.
To Ellen there seemed reproach in every
| SYLLABLE he uttered