The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1902-01-10

AhEg SAT uoNn 70 the AAule. JAmeH
chair was directly opposite that which
the new hand occupied. and presently
the farmer called out, wondcringly:
"salt In your coffee. Mr. Moore!
Well. do VOW That IL a queer taste
of yours. anyhow"
II drank It so as a child. but think
TIL give II up after today. as I am to
do farming work, stammered the
young man, scarcely knowing what
he was saying and unwilling to own
his blunder lest its cause might pos.
sibly be guessed.
"Gracious!" said the farmer.
But the good wife quietly changed
the cup for another, properly sugared
and creamed, and the new hand,
thanked her by a bow that set her
marveling in her turn.
He don't look one bit like n farmer.
Jane" she said, watching them back
into the field again after dinner "He
is as much of a gentleman as your
Cousin Dick Is, in spite of his common
clothes. And yet he must take hold
of the work pretty we'll or your father
wouldn't be as pleased with him as
he is"
Jane made brief reply and changed
the subject as speedily as possible.
She had seen beneath her long eye
lashes how the strangers eyes were
fixed upon her when that mistake with
the coffee occurred.
What a ridiculous excuse" she
thought, smiling.
And then a sudden recollection
flashed across her mind with stunning
emphasis and meaning. Was it
dream? Or was it real? That rush.
ing train-that open windOw-that
moody look flashing into sudden
brightness as it caught and answered
her own laughing glance while the
cars whirled by No wonder the face
seemed so strangely familiar to her
in the farm fields that morning. But
what-oh, Jane of the fair face and
innocent eyes and softly clustering
locks-what could it all mean?
Cousin Dick returned no more to
the farm that summer. But the new
hand stayed and worked faithfully
all through "haying time and harvest"
much to the farmers delight. At the
end of the season the farmer made
the young man a liberal offer for the
ensuing year. And thereupon ensued
a long and confidential conversation
between the two.
Give me twenty-four hours to make
up my mind" said Moore, at last.
Tomorrow morning you shall have
your answer"
So, when the four o'clock train from
the city Numbered past the farm that
evening the new hand stood on the
lawn alone and watched it with
thoughtful eyes. Taller and straighter
he looked than when he first came to
the lone pine lands, and there was
a healthy flush on his cheek, beneath
the sunburn, that told tales of diff
ferent, nobler, hoIier life, than the
former one had ever been.
The farmer was busy at the barn
The good housewife, in the kitchen,
was hurrying onward her preparations
for tea, and Jane, with a two-quart
tin basin in her hand, came out of the
house and turned toward the garden
as he looked that way. Her errand
was for fruit for the supper table,
| but before the first handful of berries
had ratified down upon the bottom
of the basin, the girl started, listened
moment, and then turned crimson
as the new hand came up beside her.
The berries were neglected. He stood
still a moment, then dropping basin
and berries upon the grass, he held
her by the hands.
Jane, your father has asked me to
stay here and help him with another
year." he said 'He offers me good
wages. And / am safe here-safe
from many a temptation that you
know nothing about-thank God !
am a better and a happier man for
my stay here this summer, but there
is room for improvement yet. It rests
WIN you W say IL JlldL improvement
shall be made"
with me?" said Jane, gIancing up
at him with gentle smile.
with you; with you alone"
"Then stay"
He took a pocketbook from the
breast of his coat and opened it.
Jane, you see that ten-dollar bill?'
eyes"
"That marks the turning-point ii
my life. I was going headlong to de-
struction when friend held me back
I had but ten dollars to begin the
world with again if I gave up my place