Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1905-11-24

ened at the thought. sne gave the lasc
COW In the line sharp prod with the
stick, who, not accustomed to such
rough treatment, looked back at her
reprOachfully, then galloped awkward
ly ahead Of the others. The cows once
In the barn, it was matter OF q few
moments to collect the pals and stool
for milking.
Other evenings Hetty sat down TO
this occupation cheerfully, usually sing
ing lightly to the accompaniment or
the soft sound of the milk streaming
into the pail, but tonight the task was
distasteful to her. She took her seat
with a jerk and exclaimed irritably
when the cow, in order to brush ny
from its back, whisked its tail across
her face. keep still, thou old beldam
COW! Dost think l want mine eyes
scratched out o. my head"
Although under the skillful manipu-
lations of her hands the pals filled rap
idly, Hetty's thoughts were not upon
her occupation, but were over the
meadows at the Maryland farmhouse,
with La Fabienne and Margaret. The
poetical and romantic vein that ran
deep in this girls nature had been
touched by the afternoons entertain
ment. The handsome dress of Sir God
frey and his gallant bearing, combined
with the exquisite beauty of Margaret
In her soft flowing gown of white linen,
caused Hetty's little heart to ache with
Bympathetic yearning.
"Was ever seen such q bonny pair o.
lovers ~ she thought. "Sueh trust, such
evidence of love in every action! All,
hckaday. woe is mev'
She sighed hopelessly.
|l"No lover more gallant than a Puri-
tan farmer, and instead Of lutte q
milk bucketv'
At last, her task finished, she carried
the heavy pals to the dairy.
"Methought Sir Godfrey regarded me
with pleasant gaze" she said to her
self as she rested on churn near the
door.
Then as a sudden thought seemed to
strike her she raised her face quickly,
her eyes beaming with brightness.
"An | had had the roses in my hair
and had worn my new lace tucker,
mayhap he would ha' admired me
more' she said. GAS tits, perchance, he
might speak O. me to a cOmrade high
in favor at the French court who would
fall in love with his description and
come bravely here to WOO me-"
The thought was so pleasant to the
imaginative, romantic soul Of little
Hetty that, forgetting to pour the milk
into the pans and set them away for
the cream to rise, she sat on the edge
of the churn, her head resting against
the wall, lost in her rosy hued day
dreams. With her hand in her magma
ry lovers, who wore suit Of light
blue velvet trimmed with silver braid
ing, she was just making a low cour-
tesy before the king Of France when
her illusions were roughly dispelled by
Tic lOuu, ucdIly fOlCC VI OibiOil IACLuP
ster, who having seen his adored Het-
ty enter the dairy, followed in her
wake to have. a chat with her. From
the excessive heat and the exercise OF
carrying sack of potatoes long dis
lance Simon's face was red and per-
spring; his rough suit Of hOmespun,
unbuttoned at the throat soiled and
shabby, hung loosely on his sturdy fig
ure, and his broad farming hat made
Of reeds was torn and broken at the
edges. He laid down the sack and en-
tered.
Startled from her brilliant dreams
by Simon's appearance, Hetty's
thoughts fed from the court Of the
king Of France and fastened them
selves upon matters Of the present, the
most important Of which were the full
milk pals. Springng off the churn and
returning Simon's pleased grin with an
absent smile of greeting, she proceeded
to fill the row of pewter pans with the
white foaming milk.
Tanning himself with his broken hat,
Simon watched her from his place at
the door with admiring eyes. 1t oc-
Cured to him that Hetty had never be-
fore looked so pretty. The red color in
her cheeks had heightened her eyes
were brighter; she held her little head
higher, and in his estimation went
about her homely task in the same
manner as would have queen. Look
ing at her white throat, he thought OF
the silver heart lying on her fair bosom
that he had given her and that she had
received with so much pleasure "a
sweet secret safe between him and
Hetty-and his honest heart gave
great thrOb.
Stepping to her side, he asked her for
a mug of milk. Hetty's pleasant after
noon and her consequent happy day
dreams had left her in sort of an up
lifted state. She wished good fortune
to all and gave Simon the refresbment
he demanded, with a smile of happi-
ness.
"POor Simon" she thought as she
carried the first full pan to the but
terry. what a kind friend he hath
ever been to me. There's many q lone
ly hour would ha' spent without him.
When my lord doth come and 1 ride
away 1 shall not forget Simon. Hap
pen anon l may have influence to have
him made lackey at the court"
Returning for another pan, with her
heart and mind full of her good inten-
tons, Hetty bestowed more than or
binary sweet glance of esteem and
kindly feeling upon her visitor, whose
heart, always full Of love for her, ached
now to bursting with fancied encour-
agement Only when wearing bis new
black sniff ha thouoht had