The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1902-12-16

Safdn tfOpiO1 NcuiG ldhC Liz Sill II IL
arms at the first moment OF their meet
ing
The little French Canadiennc, shy as
a wood blossom, very quickly made q
place for herself in the hearts Of those
who came TO know ner well. She was
timid and sensitive to a degree, and yet
had a certain form Of pride that stood
her in good stead. For one thing this
pride compelled her to learn English very
rapidly. and there was a certain dainti-
ness in her way of speaking the diffcuit
tongue tbs tickled Mr.. Billy Sanders i'm
menselv.
BE iigged ef she don't know the dc
tionary By heart" he declared on ono
occasion. shes like the sal in the can
dy store that guesses what yon want by
the way your mouth dribbles. This
French girl picks out the p%urtiest words
you ever heard in all your born days
Ana there was a good deal of truth in
what Mr.. Sanders said. and he was partly
responsible for it. With no particular
knowledge of literary English, Mr.. Sand
ers nevertheless had a very keen ear
for the vernacalar. and a broad smile
used TO spread over his benevolent coun-
tenarce when Zephcrinc tripred in her
English. There were times when she
tEOUSnL Suc ldITb MI. S6HdCi >, bth MS
smiles sDurred her on until she came to
handle tho vernacular much more cor
rcctly than any Of her acquaintance
but always With a quaint accent. Which
Nan bennington thought the most bcaEti-
ful sound her ears had ever hoard.
Mr.. Sanders used to contend that he
had but three NOTWITHSTANDING. Zepher-
inc and John Barleycorn. Nan, who was
only thirteen. spent more than two birds
of her waking thought IN the land of
romance. TO her, Zephcrine Was q beau
tiful girl, who was the victim Of some
Ealicious fairy. She would find her faith
er. and then the spell would be broken.
If she didn / become a princess she would
at least marry some handsome young
man. AM be happy forever after. As
for Mr.. Sanders, Nan regarded him as a
man who could Work magic. If he bad turn-
cl into q beautiful prince right before her
| eyes she would not have been in the
/ least surprised. She knew perfectly
we'll that he could find Zepherine's faith
en-. or tell her now to find him, when
ever he thought the proper time had
cone. Such was her confidence in the
powers of Mr.. Sanders that she used to
say to him whom they We're alone to-
gcthcr: 'Don't lets find Miss Johns
| ftllner 100 soon, size ll!9it 80 away.
Mr.. Sanders always humored Mans
| rOmancCS. When her miSchicvOG$ncSS
became uncndurable, Mr.. Sanders had a
+, way Of making a very demurc young Wo-
man of the child Don't be scch a
! rovdy, Nan" he would say. Frank Be
| thune owes YOU a whippin', an III make
him pay you off eff you don't behave"
! The melton of Bethune's name always
| had a SOLDERING effect on Nan. The two
| werc supposed to be sworn enemies, and
| were not even on speaking terms.
After the advent Of Zepherine the old
Clopton homestead no longer mad an
| empty appearance. Nan came every day,
and in fact spent more than half Of her
time there.
Mr.. Sanders took a great fancy TO the
stranger from the first. Otter the old
man would draw her gently toward him.
as she had seen him draw Mar. and
say: I'll be your rapp-. honey. till YOU
find q better one" She knew from thc
kindly light in the clear and honest blue
eyes that looked into hers that MIR. sand
crs had pledged to her both his friend
ship ana his protection. But, after Sarah
! Clopton. the dearest friend that Zephcr-
inc found in her new surroundings, was
Nan Darlington, Vorging onto fourteen,
Nan was still a child. i could he coldly
said that She was no beauty; yet she
was lovely in hCr artlCssGcSs ana SIM
plicity, and was as graceful as some wild
thing fresh from tho woods or fields. Hcr
face glowcd with health and high spirits,
and was full of limitations of mischief.
As tricksy as Ariel, her hoyden ways
rbymed true TO mirth and innocence.
Nan was not always Iot-foot iii pur-
suit Of fun and mischief. No, indeed.
There Wcr" long hours when she would
SIT and watch Zcpl:rrinc at her broiGery
work. Md at such times it would have
been 4 wonder if Sarah Clopton aI.G Nj.
Sanders were not also engaged in watch
ing the dcft fingers weaving the figures.
On ono occasion. when Mr.. Sanders
was watching the fairy-likc work. Zapl-
crime raised her eyes and cried: ,.Oa.
they have changed my name. l think 1t
is too bed
Nan, who was also sitting near, smiled
family rs she caught the eye of Mr.. sand
CHS. Yes" She replied, "voir name ~
Miss Johns. I think it very pretty
l called YOU Miss Johns from 1he first
But Johns is not Dion: I think il is
cruel" protested Zorherinc. GLOW will
ny lea> father know me as Mis- Johns?'
"WcIl. III tell you, honey" said Mir.
Sanders; the way YOU ~pernouncc the twG
names makes en- sound jest like t,ltv
was twias."
ZorheTine hardly know whether 10 laugh
or cry. and before she could mako up
ler miad 10 DO either Sarah Clopton.
who had heard 4 part of the CONVEX
%sation, remarked that Mr.. sanders had a
very bad habit Of changing names. ana
s1c reminded him of the havoc he had
played with tho family name of poor OLD
Peter Ealicombe.
"Wcll. to my mind, Sarah. / holp him
0utn 4 mighty big d%iticulty.' But if
vas plain that h had little relish for the
subject.
TIL" reference to tho matter. however.
kindl"d the curiosity Of both Zaphcrinc
nd Na1, ana they insisted on showing
all III" facts in the case. Mr.. Sanders
arose, cleared his throat. and said no 10
lI"yed he would go out anl see which
way the wind was blowing. Nan iumD4d
/ III and CDI1ult him, atI ,,,l 1+ ..