Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1912-05-24
The Farm
Hand

81 don't see, Ianthe, why you Fer
sist in going to the country every
season., said Mrs. Montague, frown-
ing slightly.
Ianthe, a tall, graceful girl of 20,
smiled wisely. u think you have a
faint idea why I CO." she answered.
Mrs. Montague flushed a little and
looked uncomfortable. We'll, | know
I'm fond of Mr. Dean, and If you
knew him I'm sure you'd like him,
too. No one can blame me If I want
to see my only child comfortably set
tied. Some time, sooner or later, |
shall have to give up my little girl,
and | had rather give her to him than
to any one else. He's man every
one likes and trusts, somehow"
Ianthe slipped her arm about her
mothers neck tenderly 81 know
you think only of my good mamma
dear" she murmured. "But you won't
have to give me up. for-oh, a long
time yet, I hope"
Mrs. Norcross will be so disap-
pointed, Ianthe," said Mrs. Montague,
after a moment of silence "She has
set her heart upon your coming with
me"
a don't want to visit Mrs Norcross,
mother-I might go if Mr., Dean
wasn't such a frequent caller at her
home. And I do want to go down to
Mrs. Kingsley's again"
The following week found 1anthe
Montague at the Kingsley's. Mrs.
Kingsley had been an old schoolmate
of her mother, and for the past two
summers the girl had spent few
weeks at her home Her chief reason
for going was that she did not want
to meet the man whose good qualities
her mother was always exploiting,
Mrs Montague had first met him at
Mrs. Norcross' home two years ago
It was the hav-making season and
+ the Kingsleys had several farm hands.
Two of them 1anthe remembered see
ing the previous summer, but the
third, tall. fne-lookins young man,
with a highly intellectual face, was a
stranger.
Ianthe looked at him frequently in
establishment and wondered why a
man of this type should have no
higher ambition
! At the end of a month she began to
| fear that she was thinking of him
more than she should, and when two
months had elapsed she was Obliged
to confess to herself that she was
really beginning to care for James
Clifford She knew it was shameful.
She, a descendant of a family who
| prided itself upon never marrying out
side of its own class, was actually
fond of a poor farm hand She de-
clared that she would thrust him
from her
Picking up a book, she went ont
into the grove back of the house and
tried to fix her wandering attention
upon its contents, But she turned the
leaves absent-mindedly, for her
thought refused to leave James Cliff
ford.
Just then a step sounded behind
her, and turning quickly she beheld
The object of her thoughts. In spite
of herself a deep crimson mounted to
her brow It seemed almost as if she
had spoken her thoughts and he had
heard them
'T have something to say to you,
Miss Montague" he said, seating him
self beside her on the settee. Mrs.
Kingsley has told me that you think
Of returning home tomorrow
yes" she answered, briefly This
was an unheard of liberty for him. to
sit beside her. and she tried to look
displeased but she made a miserable
failure of It.
you must have seen that love
you, Ianthe," he began, boldly, Just as
if he had been her equal 'Tf you can
only care for me a little I shall be the
happiest man on earth"
Ianthe was silent, but she thought
rapidly. She must not listen to him,
she told herself 1t would break her
mothers heart If she should promise
to marry James Clifford Still he was
a noble man and she loved-yes, she
loved him with her whole heart
Are you angry Ianthe?" he asked
when she did not speak 81 under
stand-you don't care for me and"
Ianthe looked up shyiy. 'T haven't
said didnt-care" she faltered
rs it-possible that you care for a
J poor man." he asked, reaching over
and taking one of the small hands in
| his own.
at makes no difference to me
whether you are rich or poor" she
answered, softly
I've something to confess, Tanthe
he said, after a moment There was
an anxious look on his face. I'm not
what you thought me-" he went on.
'T've deceived you. but say you'll for
give me"
'T don't understand" interposed the
girl in bewilderment.
I'm not a farm hand-my name is
James Cliftord-Dean, the man yo1
dpf{ l.. ny