Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1904-07-28
Am Idyl Of the
Sugar Beet Fields
BY
DELE MANTATES
@Opyrisnt, 1sO1, b. Dlsiy story PuSscO.I

lug Will lIAPdIfSuVC IASAA uAA'S ~ NA~
fields q few miles dtstant, where they
were to weed the beets and receive
generous payment for each hodTs
work.
1t was something Of task to take
their names and get them slowed
away in the big wagons in waiting,
and he gaze q groan Of relief when
the task was over. He heard the door
open.
'Anoth9ra" he thought. YEARLY, as
he raised his head from the ledger.
The look Of impatience vanished at
the sight of the slender young figure
of a girl presumably 10 years Of age,
who stood before him. Her face was
fair and delicately pink. A big, broad
brimmed hat rested on a head
crowned By shining, reddish-brown
hair, and the eyes that harmonic
with such hair looked appealingly up
at him.
what can do for your" he asked
in courteous tones.
II want to weed beets. The driver
said he'd wait whffe l came and got a
ticket
Waldo glanced at the dainty white
hands with the well-kept nails.
"Why," he said, deprecatingly, do
you know it's hard work in a blazing
hot field, STOPPING over and pulling up
those tough weeds? Do you think
you could endure TT"
1T can't they can" she said, with
a sigh, pointing to the boistsrous mob
without.
what kind Of work DO you do?"
Ks aaked. s3IepticallY.
81 sew. Bat don't like It want
to try out of door work"
"Well be careful" he advised, as he
went out to the wagon with her. He
noted appreEingly the neat. well-ht-
ting bingham dress and, as she
climbed into the wagon, he had a
fieeting glimpse of a slender foot and
shapely ankle.
He watched the wagons q merry
makers drive away.
"They seem to think it's picnic"
he thought, gffmly. They'll not be
so gingery when they come in to-
night, I'm thinking"
All through the morning his
thoughts wandered to the sweet,
dream-centered face of the last appli-
cant. Myra Cole. About II o'clock he
said suddenly to the bookkeeper:
II am going to drive out and see
how our kindergarten is progressing"
He arrived at the fields just as tAe
little weeders were about to begin
their midday meal. They were tired,
dirty and perspiring, but still happy
and noisy. He found his vision of the
morning with little tot on each side
! of her.
"Give your luncheon all TO them"
he said, psremptorily. II drove out
to see how things were working, and
1 brought luncheon enough for both
of u.s. Come down to the road where
my horse and carriage are"
She followed him obediently
Shall we serve 1t in the carriageT'
he asked.
There is a nice shade tree across
the road. We can spread II out more
comfortably there"
He agreed with this suggestion and
: watched her unpack and arrange the
luxurious luncheon he had brought.
"How did you keep your hands from
burning?" he asked.
: 81 wore some thick gloves, and
didA't> pull very many. I couldn't
stand the sun. I am afraid 1 haven't
earned much, but 1 will do better
" when l am used to IT."
They sat down on the ground to the
luncheon and he was pleased to see
that she ate as daintilY as she did
/ other things.
!. "Are your parents living?" he
asked.
Eyes; I live at home with them"
"And are they very poor? Pardon
the question, but 1t doesn't seem as il
you were fitted for such hard labor. ;
"I have to help. My mother is ar
invalid"
"Oh," he said, sympathetically
"And your father? Does he work?"
Eyes; he works at the Globe Paper
works"
+ Have yeu any brothers and sis
o tsrs2"
Zone brother"
'Where does he work?"
: HE doesn't work yet. He Is yea
younger than l."
Y lie is old enough to woalk. H
o should be the one to do this instea'
{ Of yez," he growled.
when they had finished Luncheon
he asked her to drive during the res
8 of the noon hour. Shs hesitated AM
looked a little doubtful as to accept
= ing.
"Irn do you good and rest you 70
y the afternoon"
81 She finally consented to take III
n tie drive, but insisted upon returning
& to the field at one o'clock.
a "Where do you liver" he asked, a
p he helped her out of the carriage.
eat l16 Twelfth street." she replied
with q slight blush.
B And may 1 come and see you t.
q night, he asked.
q Tha blush deepened.
b II am going to a dance tonight.
3 "A danda Where?"
b 1.-THE Draymen's union"
IS His idol tottered.