Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1903-02-14
HunsickerY" I continued.

| N-eli, qua We re just at de oats, MI.
Hnnsicker said.
IL am willing to wait until after sup
per, which will not interfere with the
harvesting. You will be well paid fer
your trouble"
| Hereupon the rather shrill voice of
a woman came from the inner room
She spoke in Pennsylvania Dutch, but
| l was able to make out that her words
conveyed command for her husband
to comply with my request. She also
| added that he should not offer to do the
work too cheaply
1 smiled as L recognized in this one
OF the provident traits of a Pennsylvania
Dutch farmers wife,
"I'n pay you WELL" reiterated.
II guess you should gift me feefty
/ cent" Mr.. Hunsicker said, in a doubt
full manner, as though he really did
not expect to receive that amount, but
was determined to get all out of me
that he could.
| 1T is settled, then, that you take me
over. Wen not quarrel about the terms.
| Allow me to rest here under the cool
shade the remainder of the afternoon
and give me some supper, and you shall
have dollar"
The farmer was quite overwhelmed
by my munificent offer, as was also the
hitherto unseen female. For the wom-
an peeped from behind the door of the
| kitchen to have a look at me.
L bowed to her, and she acknowledged
my salutation by coming forward.
81 guess you hat no dinner" she said,
in hospitable way.
The truth was, 1 had had none, and,
being rather healthy, was not sorry
| to be ushered to the table, where 1
was bountifully supplied.
During the meal the woman favored
me with many searching glances, which
1 attributed to her curiosity.
| After I had finished my repast we
again returned to the front porch.
"You have nice place here said,
handing the man a cigar. 1.-THE house
is new, is it not?"
| "Aboud fife year DID," he answered;
and then his wife took up the converse
| ton.
Eve rented farm ofer at Jacksonville
| for long dime. Bud We uefer had no
| childrens, so We safed some money and
bought dis farm" she said.
The woman was eager for a little Cos
| sip, and was bound to have it, in spite
| of the fact that the dinner dishes were
| awaiting her.
did you ever know old Abram Mel
son, of Nelsonville?" L asked, willing
to indulge her wish. Its a long time
now since he died-1s years.
"Yes, We knew him. 1t vas part of his
| farm We rented after he died" the man
made response.
could not restrain smile at his
clumsy way of putting it, but before
L could ask another question the wom-
an came up to where 1 was standing
! and gazed earnestly into my face.
"Ach, Gottl It's truel" she ex-
little Nell Ach Colt, knew it,"
Then her excitement ended in a flood
Of tears. / gazed down at her in as
constituent, and as I looked recollec-
ton came to me.
why, surely, / used to know YOU"
said, smiling down upon her. "You
| must be Sarah. You used to work at
| Grandfather Nelson's when 1 was a
small boy, and took care of me during
| my visits"
Acn, seel he knows mel" the woman
exclaimed, turning toward her husband.
| He would not forget Sarahl So, so.
After so long a dime. Ach, myl And
| now you are a man, and hat growed SO
Sigi"
| really should have explained before
that my name is Nelson Conway. I
had been rather a small, puny child,
II M fo4h
| Mel
Soon Jake went about his business
harvesting the oats. Sarah and 1 sat
all that afternoon under the cool shade,
| talking about old times.
My parents had been dead many
years, and it was something new in my
| experience to be petted, deferred to
| and made much of. Sarah took up the
| acquaintance just where it had been
broken of ID years ego, and seemed inn
bued with an augmented alteration for
me.
/ felt there was one true, loyal soul
| In the world whom I could depend on,
and, in the natural desire for sympathy
and consolation, 1 recounted to her all
my troubles, including the circum-
| stances connected with the bank rob-
berry and the suspicion under which
had groaned in spirit for a year now.
at seems as though 1 were fated to
carry that load to the grave" ! re-
marked, despondingly.
Zach, no, indeed you Won't. Don'd
you feel pad aloud it, Mel. You see it
come right. Let dem come to me-"
Sarah continued, waxing indignant,
'let dem come to me. / dell dem If a
grandson OF Abram Nelson is a thief.
And dey find out some day."
Her assurances comforted and en-
couraged me very much. For 1 knew
| my life had been honorable and square,
| at least in all business relations, and
| her absolute trust in me, after all the
| cruel insinuations and the cold looks
OF suspicion, was balm to my wounded
spirit.