The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1901-11-05
The Squire'S Romance.
BY t. F.


Hop-Picking was always a gala time
at Pendexter Farm Far away the COL
den haze hung over the hills like a
qulvering veil; the bland air was full OF
soft, sEbtle fragrance OF wild grapes
ripening in the woods, and wherever a
dead tree or rude stone wall afforded
1t vantage ground the slvery tangles
of clematis wove lovely garland. and
the masses of golden rod and purple
fringed asters held up their clusters of
dazzling bloom And in the hop field
merry voices echoed from morning until
night
VIII PendeNter, walking up and down
the aisles of silver-green LEAKAGE with
his han52a behind his back, might have
reminded one of Boaz in the ancient
Scripture story-princely Boaz standing
IN his harvest fields and giving a kind
glance and pleasant word to every one.
Isn't he handsome?" said little Fan
ny Dix 10 Miss Morgan, the rector's
daughter. Fanny was a pale little dress
maker, with an incipient cough, who
had been recommended by her doctor
to pend a fortnight in the hop fields ::
and Mss Morgan, whose mother had
died - consumption. picked hops every
year on principle. just as Judge Marier' 5
daughters visited Long Branch.
And all the handsomer since he has
turned gray! do woader why he
never married? ?"
Don't you know" said Miss Nor
gan. sagely.
"No."
II can tell you, then" said the rec
tors daughter. who dearly loved NOR
sci of genuine romance Because his
first loye Tilted him"
AS II any one would jill Will Pen
dexter" said incredulous Fanny.
"Oh, but he wasn't Squire Pendex-
ter then-and all this happened twenty
years ago." averred Miss Morgan. her
flying fingers never leaving off among
the clusters of pale green hops THAT
was before he inherited Pendextcr
Farm. He was only poor young far
mer then, with his own living TO make,
and this was a beautiful girl was
spending the summer here. Al ihey
were engaged and al-and the yery
night before the wedding she ran away
with an Italian. one Count Caprivi who
was singing on the New York stage"
Fanny drew a long breath
And what become of them?" she
said.
ooh, they went to Italy. where the
count expected to succeed to large es-
tates. and l suppose they arc there
now"
Fanny looked with secret awe at the
rudy face and magnificent height OF
Will Pendexter. as he sauntered down
the green aisles of waving tendrils and
tremulous leaves. and almost wondered
to hear him ask Mahala Bently about
her baby in the off hand. ordinary Ian
guage of everyday life. and give lame
Billy Bartlett Good day" Just a If
there had been no Countess Caprivi i'm
the world
But Fanny Dix was but girl yet
and. did not know how twenty years
will bridge over the darkest gulf in a
human life. There is no scar that viii
not heal in twenty years there is not a
grave on which grass will not grow
aye. and daisies bloom-in twenty wears
u do not know that we can take an
other hand Simpson. said Squire Pen
dexter. medtativcly "Thc field is
crowded already"
What / thought exactly. .ir" said
the Oyerseer. respectfully But this
ere is a pretty Young slip of girl
with feeble mother dragging along on
her arm. And a man don't like TO say
no to such SO I thought I'd lust
speak 20 you before"
Where are they said the squire
rubbing the gold knob of his walking
cane against his nose. and Simpson
knew that the cause of the forlorn
stranger was safe enough
Mother, don't fret, here comes the
gentleman now said a clear, sofl-toncd
voice. and Squire Pcndcxter found him
self looking into pair Of wistful. deep
blue orbs-orbs that belonged 20 a
slight. beautiful girl dressed in faded
fabric and worn shoes. who was lean
ing against the well-curb. for while
Simpson had been gone on his erra1d Of
inquiry, she had drawn a bucket of
clear cold water ont of the sparkling
depths Of the well, and given her mother
drink out of the silver bound gourd
which Away hung there "Sir" with
out q moments hesitation. might T
have a job OF work in YOUR hoo fields ?
We have come from the city-mother
and there's no living to De picked uo
there. and my mother is ailing and we
ihought the smell of The hops might do
her rood Please $50. we'd work cheap
IF only wc might sleep in the barn and