The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1900-05-23
THE HIRED MAN.
A STORY OF RURAL LIFE,

"You are still determined to xpond
your vacation with Grandmother iua
at the old farm" said Mrs. Armstrong
to her youngest daughter.
Yes, mamma, | have given her my
promise and | will not disappoint her
or Aunt Julia"
II am sorry, as l am most anxious
that you should spend the season with
us Mt Bar Harbor."
Yes, mamma, but Elsie and Nell
will be with you, and they will make
up for my loss"
but, my dear what will Mr.. Royl
ston say, or what will he think OF
your"
"Never mind, mamma. Mr.. Roylston
will succeed In getting someone to
amuse him as Well as l possibly
could"
why, Lottie, how can you talk SO
when you know he adores your Rob
ert Roylston Is rich, handsome, and
comes of a good family said Mrs.
Armstrong.
Yes, and considers that he can take
any girls heart and Kick 1t about like
foOtDall, added Lotto.
1t was not Robert Roylston's fault
that he heard the above conversation.
as he sat OH the piazza near the room
where the mother and daughter were
talking.
$50 l take young girls hearts and
kick them round like football? Eth.
that's what my little spitfre thinks or
me"
This way. If you Please, miss, l viii
get your traps aboard"
Lottie jumped into comfortable
two seated earryall and the hired
man, after slowing away the satchels
and bags, jumped In and turned the
horses heads toward the Elton farm
house, a journey Of five miles over
the mountains.
Miss Lottle, sitting in the rear seat,
had ample opportunity to study
Grandmother Etons hired man
who Is your hired man, Aunt Ju-
Hap Lottie asked when they were
alone. Where did he come from?
What IL his nanieY and fifty other
questions In as many seconds were
asked by Lottie.
Aunt Julia replied that he was
poor student. aud came up to the Pro
file House, where he expected work,
but was disappointed
HE said his name was Edmond
Roberts and he came from Plymouth,
only he is the best hired man we ever
had"
Lottle scarcely looked up during
luncheon, but when she did she felt
that the mans eyes We're looking
through her.
How far is the Profile House from
here. grandma" when the hired man
left the room.
About five miles, said Mrs. Elton.
Would you have any objection to
Mr.. Roberts driving over there this
aftcrnooni'
Certainly not"
1t did not take him long TO get old
Dobbin hitched up, and the look he
gave Miss Lottie when she asked him
kept her thinking where she saw Mr..
Roberts before. but the heavy dark
beard deceived her.
places of interest in the New Hamp-
shire hills were visited. So much
time did Lottie take OF the hired man
that another 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 storm in the air and to be care
full.
Twas late In the afternoon when a
little speek appeared In the sky but
1t grew wonderfully fast and black.
The berry pickers ran at the first
sign Of the storm, but when they ar
rived at the place where they had left
their team the storm was ut Its height
To make matters worse, old Dobbin
had broken his halter and started for
home
What shall we do! oh, what shall
We do" cried Lottie "Oh Robert-oh.
| mean Mr. Roberts-no. | mean Mr..
Roylston! oh, Robert Bob-what shall
we do! and then. womanlike, she fell
in his arms In faint.
He lifted her in his arms to a 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
that she recognized him almost from
the first day, but 1t took lightning and
thunder from clear sky TO make her
acknowledge It.
But, OF course, the clouds cleared
away and the sun smiled down upon
the lovers. Explanations followed.
Lottle said the reason she wouldn't
60 TO Bar Harbor was on account OF
little Irritation that occurred between
Robert and Aggie Larkin.
He said the reason he did not go to |
Bar Harbor was that he did not want
TO make a football out OF the girls |
hearts" to kick about as he pleased
But the fact that Grandmother Eton
had to get a new hired man." and |
that wedding cards had been sent to
the elite at Bar Harbor the names of
Miss Lottie Armstrong and Mr.. Rob |
ert Roylston being prominently men.