Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1912-01-04

"U1O"uScu NH rs EDen. ana she q
no choice.
1t seemed quite natural that the hired
man should politely and respectfully
offer to drive her home. She had
walked down. since the day was cool,
and 1t was growing q little dark.
II old not seem at all unconvention.
all. either. that they should take the
longest road, in order 10 sec a pretty
ravine which Miss Stone had Described
to the hired man.
But when they had reached the RI.
vine they had quito forgotten it. They
were talking interestedly OH other
topics.
"You arc fond of teamwork and the
oountry?" Miss Stone was saving.
Very" Eben rejoined with much
enthusiasm.
You wore brought up on a farmp"
she added.
well. no; not entirely" the hired
man responded.
but you chose teamwork because
you are fond of it," said Miss Stone
warmly. In that respect we arc ex.
actly alike; l love it! suppose" she
added gently, that you were Obliged
to choose something"
Yes, support myself" Eben
responded. with his eyes on his CON-.
panion's fair face.
1T is nothing to regret-indeed 1t 10
not!' Miss Stone declared comforting
~. 81 admire anybody who is indie.
pendent and ambitious; they're the on
ly people l do admire"
ooh. that is very good in you" the
hired man murmured, tucking the robe
more closely about her.
"And l suppose you haven't had
many advantagesp" Miss Stone pur.
sued with sympathetic softness.
"Well, I've had-some schooling"
b hired man admitted.
'lt isn't SO great a loss" said Miss
Stone earnestly. MANY of our best
and greatest men had very few educa-
cational opportunities. 1t sounded
somewhat trite when she had said it:
but the hired man was looking at her
with warm gratitude. .'Norhinp is ia
be regretted but Incidence and lack of
principle"
you are very kind" Eben said in
softened tones.
The moon was just rising; the daisies
in the fields shone white under III. and
the scent OF the fresh crops filled the
air.
Certainly the hired man was not to
be blamed for driving past Miss Stone's
gate when they had reached it, with a
glance at his companion which was
the perfection of respectful Difference,
nor was Miss Stone to be blamed for
not noticing the gate.
Cho wooJn.oJ nh. -
to bed that night, whether she should
not have noticed it, and whether they
should not have got back before half
past nine.
But she went to sleep quite sweetly
aud peacefully. Form view Of her
stauch beliefs she felt a pleasant tri-
umph in the fact-she had found Mrs.
Briscomb's hired man remarkably
agreeable and-nice. She should tell
Mrs. BriscOmb about it the very next
time she saw her.
She did not see Mrs. Briscomb again
however. Eben came over with the
butter and eggs. He brought them in
small quantities, and came often con-
scquentiy; and he came when he had
no butter or eggs to bring. And Miss
Stone. quite necessarily, saw a good
deal of Inn. He came with Mrs. Bris.
combs carriage sometimes, and Miss
Stone could hardly ave avoided driv-
ing with him occasionally.
Slnct ought, at the end of four weeks,
that She must certainly go to sec Mrs.
Briscomb aud tell her low delightfully."-
her Owl, hired man had proved her
theories.
Eben was, to say the least, extremely
interest ng. He was bright and appre-
%ciat;vc; he was pleasantly humorous
on occasion; and he was very we'll in
formed on a surprising variety of SUBJ
jects.
Miss Stone pictured a long succes
sion of studious night-vigiis. She
could hardly wait to tell Mrs. Bris-
comb.
It needed only a distant locomotive
to bring matters to a climax. Eben's
horse saw it as no and Miss Stone
drove over the track one evening, and
reared and plunged.
Miss Stone screamed family, and
chung to the hired mans arm, and
when they were safe on the other side,
the hired mans arm was round her.
"Will you let me take care of you
always, Miss Stone-Gcrtrude?" he
whispered in stereotyped phrase. II
know you will"
Miss Stone turned a pretty, yearn-
ing, dubious face upon him.
what will people says" she MUIR
INJURED.
81 thought you didn't care.' said the
hired man. in tender reproach, loosen
ing his arm.
II DON'T don'tw cried Miss Stone.