The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1907-09-07
A MODERN JACOB

n mOOEh Mn JASO6
Anthony Johnson had worked
years as hired man for Laban
Walker.
Anthony is good worker and
has money in the bank Why does
he not buy farm of his own peo-
pie asked Anthony knew why. So,
also. did pretty Rachel Walker. 1t
was for her smiles and presence
that Anthony continued to toll for
Laban Walker.
Rachel knew Anthony was in
love. with her a month after he
came to work for her father. In her
heart she rejoiced in his alteration.
But, unlike mhtmhemh fir frtwdewo
But, like many good women, she
was something of coquet, and
SO when, as they were driving home
from church 1 day, Anthony asked
her to marry him, she smiled ro-
guishly and said:
Father wants me to marry La.
, fayette Fraser"
Anthony bit his lip and struck
the horse such a cut with the whip
that the animal jumped forward
with a suddenness that threatened
to upset the buggy.
Fraser was a widower, but he
owned more land tnan anyone else
in the county. Rachel had smiled
on him when he called. especially
when Anthony could see her. Fra
ser had tried in vain to find out
whether Walkers farm was mort.
gagged, and had decided in the end
that Rachel was good bargain
even without money.
Anthony drove along in silence
after Rachel had given him her an
swer. Finally when he could trust
his voice, he said in low voice:
do you think you love him
Rachel?"
well, why shouldn't II" she
asked, tossing her pretty head.
Anthony was not skilled In the
| maneuvers of such situations, and
as he was not a woman he did not
get by intuition the gift of acting
well under such circumstances. Sc
| he said no more. His heart was toe
| full for utterance.
They soon reached home and he
helped her out Of the buggy Then
without a word he drove to the
| barn and put away the horse. He
changed his clothes mechanically
and did the chores, hardly knowing
what he was doing.
That evening, after Rachel had
retired and when her father was
doing over the Farm Journal An
thony approached him.
my year will he up next weel
and then | must leave" he said.
| "What-what's that?' exclaimed
Walker. Didn't we tell me just las
week that ye would stay another
year,"
Yes" admitted Anthony, "but
circumstances have changed since
then"
Nothing Walker could say would
change his purpose, and he wen
off TO bed, where he passed sleep
less night. What mattered now the
money he had saved during the
years of toll? She, for whom he
had worked and saved and planned
great things for in the future, was
going to be another's. He ought
never to have hoped for her, he tolc
himself. He might have known he
was a fool to aspire to the hand o.
such a girl.
Rachel had been a little worried
during the night about her treat
ment of Anthony "He took me Sc
awfully seriously" she reflected
And then she took little tintypt
out of box and looked at 1t before
she went downstairs to get break
fast.
Her father was there, and he tolt
her of Anthony's determination
She was frightened She hurried
back to her room, so her fathe
would not see the tears that welle(
up in her eyes. She had neve
dreamed that this could come from
her bit of coquetishness.
That evening when Anthem!
came in from doing the chores HI
heard his name called in a low
voice. 1t was Rachel.