Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1905-11-02

But the man and the scythe had TAX
en- hold Of his fancy, and he moved
| the easel to another part of the farm
where there was a big rock with Il
| brook twisting around it and some
alders leaning over.
He would let the oak go for awhile
| There was no hurry. His invitation
would have leisure after the hay was
made, and-there was another reason
| why he was willing to stay on
Kate Reumer was on the vcranda
when he returned, and the look of ap
| prevail in her eyes as they rested upon
| him brought an unusual light into his
own.
On the other hand, there was some
thing in the thoughtful, unaffected
manner OF the country girl that ap
| pealed to De Masters as had none OF
the beautiful women he had met Oh
his travels. He placed his easel anL
unfinished canvas on the veranda, and
then dropped down to one of the
steps.
NO, you needn't look at the picture
yet he said as her gaze went toward
the canvas; 1t Is only crude outlines
like the limbs showing through II fog
| shall put i'll the details and finish II
tomorrow"
you didn't try the oak. them"
mo, | haven't yet have a new
! Ia eli
minutes. then added, with Il laugh
Your notwithstanding people,
mean-are different from ours on tn,
other side. over there | need only t,
raise my hand-with money in it, OF
course-and they will come to me al
n run. They are always ready to earl
two or three honest pennies where
their regular work yields but one
She looked at him inquiringly.
Il tried the same thing here" he
went on but the man seemed too dull
or too fond of work. You see. it was a
man with scythe, and | wanted hin
with the oak"
did you offer him money!"
"Of couse, simply. | could not OK
pect him to come otherwise. But il
spite of all my efforts | couldn't make
him see the money, and he talked tc
me just as l am talking to you-or
terms Of perfect equality. He didn't
even touch his hat"
A hafsmle was parting her lips.
"Who was it?' she asked. Potter
or Smith. or Cibber?"
Il don't know, only that he was n
handsome young fellow, with collar
open and a very wide brlmmed straw
hat"
The half smile broke into a rlppline
| laugh, instantly checked
Il beg your pardon" she said, "but
| that was Less-Lester Longstreet,
mean"
! Anything remarkable about him =
| curiously.
"Why, no, | don't know MS there IS
not any more than about a good many
Of our young peasants in this country
who are working their way up. But
Lester Is very fine young man. He
was left an orphan at I. and has made
every bit of his way since then. lie
has worked for papa three summers
to help pay his college expenses"
"College?" incredulously.
Yes. He graduated from Yale In
June, and is now earning money tc
pay for t-graduate course in med
icine and chemistry. Then he Is going
through regular medical college, and
afterward will study year in your
country. He Is only 81 now, so there is
plenty Of time. When he finishes his
study l expect to marry him."
Her eyes were shining a little now
and she looked at him frankly. as
though hafexpectlng some word OF
congratulation. perhaps OF commenda
ton for the young mower. His face
was averted for an instant, then il
turned pale, but equally frank.
II thank you for your confidence, u
he said simply. II came here with an
Idea OF staying for three days. and
have been six already; and l should
have to remain till after having to gel
the picture. | don't believe it would
be wise for me to stay so long. | will
say goodbye to you now"
He bent over her hand n moment
and was gone.-1llustrated Bits.
|