Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1910-05-30
A MODERN
JACOB
By A. ROBT. CROH

years as nlrcd man Tor Laban Walker
Anthony is good worker and has
money in the bank Why does he not
buy farm OF his own?' people asked
Anthony knew why So. also, did
pretty Rachel Walker II was for her
smiles and presence that Anthony con
tinued to toll for Laban Walker.
Rachel knew that Anthony was in
love with her a month after he came
10 work for her father In her heart
she rejoiced in his alteration But
like many good women, she was some
thing Of Il croquettc. and so when. as
they were driving home from church
one day. Anthony asked her TO marry
( him. she smiled roguishly 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 than any one else
in the county Rachel had smiled on
him when he called, especially when
| tried in vain TO find out whether Walk
er's farm was mortgaged and had de
/ cided in the end that Rachel was a
/ good bargain" even without money.
Anthony drove along i'm silence after
/ Rachel had given him her answer.
Finally, when he could trust his voice.
he said
do you think you love him
/ Rachel"
We'll. why shouldn't II" she asked.
tossing her pretty head
Anthony was not skilled in the ma.
neuvers Of such situations, and as he
was not woman he did not get by
| intuition the gift OF acting well under
such circumstances So he said no
more. His heart was too fun for ut
| terance
They soon reached home. and he
helped her out OF the buggy. Then
without word he drove TO the barn
and put away the horse. lie changed
/ his clothes mechanically and did the
| chores, barely knowing what he was
! doing
That evening, after Rachel had re-
tired and when her father was doing
over the Farm Journal, Anthony ap
| preached him
My years up next week, and then
| I must leave" he said
What what's that?" exclaimed
Walker Didn't ye tell me just last
week that We would stay another
year?'
Yes" admitted Anthony. but cir.
cumstances have changed since them.
Nothing walker could say would
change his purpose, and he went OF
/ 20 bed whore he passed "a slccplcse
night What mattered now the money
he had saved during the years Of toll?
She. for whom be- had worked and
/ saved and planned great things for
! the future was going 20 be anOthcr's
7 re ought never 10 have hoped for her.
he told himself Ile might have
known be was "a fool TO aspire TO- the
hand Of such girl
Rachel had been little worried
during the night about her treatment
OF Anthony lie took me $50 awfuly
seriously" She reflected And then
she took "a little Iintypo ont of box
and looked at 30 before she #cu. down
stairs 20 get breakfast.
FER father was there. and he told
her Of Anthony's determination. She
was frightened She hurried back fo
her room. so her father would not SEQ
The tears that wclled up iu her eyes
She had never dreamed that this
could come from her bit OF coQ1et
tshncss
That evening when Anthony came
In from doing tbo chores he heard his
name called I'm a low voice. 10 was
Rachel
"Yo1-you didn't think T meant
what 7 said about Lafayette Fraser.
did yon Anthony" she said, her voice
trembling
Authony heart gave a great leap
OF fog
on Rs,ha' do yos-cau y51 moan
vor care for mc-
Tier eyes were cast down ar1 nD
was picking ro pieces q flower sHo
looked up Gmidly at him and iu tho
I half darkness no saw her slender
form sway The next moment he held
I her tight In his arms and hcr smiling
eyes we're nnurnod happily 70 hts.
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