Middletown transcript., 1904-09-03
PLANDs lay warm under the
sunshine Of early September,
and in the meadow half
dozen slave men stirred

best farmed OF any in the county, al
though he himself was kept in the house
at times, as on this afternoon.
Through the open library window he
could see the meadows, and lie knew
that the men worked none the less
busily for feeling the eye OF their master
upon them. Warm winds brought scent
of drying hay he smeled grapes rlpen-
ing to wininess on the trellised garden
arbor, from which came sound Of voices !;
there was taste of mellowing peaches
and pears and apricots i'll the air, crossed
by pungent odor of ounces. lie shifted
his bad foot upon the cushion, and swore
under his breath. Why should the devil
of gout seize him when there was most
to be done? At touch Of the bell
beside him the door into the hall opened,
and a comely negress courtesied upon
the threshold.
'sWhere is your Mistress Virginia p
'In the grape arbor, Squire.
"Alone?"
'Master Harry isswith her, Squire. "
s'Tell her l want her. And, sukey,
tell her want her now."
''Yes, Squire" she replied.
And then, courtesying again, she with
drew; and he watched her turbaned
head as she moved down the winding,
box-bordered garden walk. But Mis-
tress Virginia seemed taking her own
time in the matter OF obedience, for the
voices in the arbor talked on-the heav-
ier voice rising as in protest; then there
was a peal of treble laughter, young
man with riding whip in hand hurried
up the walk and jumped the wall next
the roadway, followed by mocking llt !:
Glove me little, love me long,
Is the burden of my song;
Love which is too hot and strong
Runneth soon to waste"
The singer now came toward the portico
"a girl, tall and little, with the air Of
a Diana-her face one delight of laughter
under golden curls. Between thumb
and finger she carried some blossoms,
which she playfully waved at the win
dow. His bushy brows were pulled to-
gether as she entered.
"How now? Cannot you leave tor
menting that poor lad, and come when
l send for you?'
She perched on an arm Of the great
chair and tickled his chin with the bios
SONS she held.
"That poor lad, indeed" she mimicked
"And why does he come where / am
if it makes him miserable? | offered
him this bachelor button-which he
would none of; then essayed to give
him this sprig of heart's-ease, whereupon
he went in rage"
"And you sang after him as he went r
''But moment before he had been
imploring mg to sing"
II will have no more of it. Do you
hear?' But the squire's brows were
relaxing the corners of his mouth took
on an amused curve. He looked out Of
the window and coughed-to recover
his sterness. "Harry Erle's father and
| are friends, and cannot be put at odds
for the teasipgs OF spoiled child"
"And who spoiled me, sir?" laughed
Virginia. "But why did you send for
me ?''
''You are a saucy wench," lie said,
vainly trying to harden against this only
one, who had coaxed her way with him
since the dying mother had placed her
a baby in his arms. "You are indeed
saucy wench! Why did l send for
you? Well-a-day! Times are at a
pretty pass when an old man with an
aching foot is not SO much to be con-
sidered as young man with an aching
heart. You care not if | stay with none
to speak to me, and that yexed by
affairs | scarce can sit here " lille must
If this gout keeps l will marry you to
the first who asks, and get a son to
do my business. A wench is good for
naught but playing with lovers. All,
that is SO y
Virginia put her soft arms around his
neck, ah6 her long heavy curls fell
against his queue-whitened beyond need
of powder.
'Dear father, tell me about this busi-
ness-for the doing Of which you would
sell me-"
The squire's face softened to tender
ness which made its lines bat gracious
dignities of age.
"You would beg my soul out of my
body an you tried, my maid. But you
are of years to consider matters seriously
and there is one, Give Newcome,
whose father and / friended like David
and Jonathan SO long ago as we were
, boys in merrie England. He would
make a good son to me, and lie comes
soon with bis father to see what manner
of maid you have grown"
Virginia's head, set like regal lily
on slender stem, lifted haughtily.
II am to be inspected, then, sir, as
il were at the shambles."
Ny daughter p
The pain of his voice reproached her
to instant penitence.
dearest of fathers, l love not any
one but you. l will none Of this Give
Newcome, whatever like he may be.
OF Boston City, say you? Then l VOW
he will be but fop, only fit for the
turning of pretty speeches. And what
does it matter if you did pledge me with
his father over after-dinner wine? L
was but babe, and could not protest
though had l understood, beshrew me
if | had not roared as with the collie"
The squire's basso rang out irrepressibly
-and she rippled peal with him; then
turned from the subject with the indiffer
ence of one who has known many lovers
"Pray tell me. of this business that SO
vexes you"
"'Tis hundred pounds / am owing
a house in Hartford city, and if you
were a SON | should send by you since,
I ca,,nft ~. ruyctalf-it haino oIraad,