Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1910-09-16
LA PLATA, MARYLAND, FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 16, 1910

noe several times. but soon got the
hang Of it. and at noon. when he sat
down to the table with the farmer
and his wife he felt that he had made
a start.
Both the farmer and his wife were
curious about him. but they learned
little. They came to the decision that
he was no tramp, and that neither
was he a horse-thief When corn.
planting was over, Barnes, as the
stranger called himself, wes taken on
as a hired man. He learned to split
wood. milk COWS. hold the plow and
do other farm work His back aehed
and he got over It. His hands blis-
tered and became calloused. And the
farmer said to him;
Never had hired man who asked
so many questions. He wants 70
know all about everything Shouldn't
wonder If he'd make a pretty good
farmer in time. Mebbe he used to be
what they call a confidence man. but
I'm not holdin It UP agln him. He's
seen the error OF his ways"
I Aud when August came Judge Girls.
comb and his daughter went up to the
Falls house for a month, as they had
done for five or six seasons. Newport
and its stupldities for July--the Falls
bouse and quiet and rest for August
We'll. Barnes" said the farmer to
the hired man one day, "the Falls
folks are Just itchin for some sweet
green corn I've been down in the
field, and \. guess we can pick about
six dozen ears. You may hitch up the
old mare in the mornin' and drive
over there with 'eT Tell EN- more
will be ready in about four days"
Miss Mabel Griscomb sat on a
bench under the shade Of a tree st
the corner Of the Falls house. She
looked up from the book that was not
interesting her much to see a horse
and wagon coming and aiming to
drive around to the rear Of the house.
The driver had on straw hat, was
without coat, and had four or five
days growth of beard. She glanced
at him and gave a start of surprise.
He glanced at her. and his sunburned
face took on a deeper color. No nod
Of recognition-no word He drove
out Of the grounds by another way.
Four days later, Miss Griscomb was
wandering along the main highway.
stopping to Gull a flower here and
watch a squirrel there, when the same
wagon and driver appeared. More
green corn for the hotel She stood
aside as the vehicle came up and
bowed to the man with the lines, He
lifted his hat. but did not halt Oh
yes; she was sure Of his Identity. and
he Of hers.
Every three or four days during.the
month he appeared He brought
green corn. new potatoes. squashes,
onions. radishes and other good
things to eat Always there was a
nod, but no word between the two
The Judge and his daughter returned
to the city at the end of the month.
and society came to life. 1t asked
after Phillip Barton, but no enc re-
piled. September and October came
and went, and one evening the father
and daughter sat down for one Of
their talks
Father" said Mabel, after a BIT
Phillip Barton is to call here to-
morrow afternoon. He is finished
with his farm work for the season.
He has no longer the wings Of so
ciety butterfly but the sunburn and
callousness of the man who has
} earned his living. What shall l
answer bim?"
Il guess he's the son-in-law I've
had in mind, was the reply as he
bent over to kiss her.