Wayside Courtships

y, however, the Major merely nodde

g. Take a se

th a rugged, smooth-shaven face. The young man spoke with a marked English accent, a

harged him. I cawn't re-engage him, ye kneow! We cawn't have a man

fellow's famil

es. I confess I deon't mind these things as you do, old man. I'm a Britisher, y' kneow, and I haven't got int

along any better-I

ems note to do you any harm. Still I put it in this way, y' kneow-if he

jor la

turn Jackson of

e and drops a match into the milk can, fancy! and b

ed at this, and

ng man I told yo

name," said

s is my partner,

wrath, coming as it did after the talk he had heard. Saulisbury did not take the tr

ad been struck for the first time by t

over, and passed upon his good points, as if he were a horse. There

eose he'll do to try," Saulisbury said at last

hur burst out. "I wouldn't

his heel an

rs of impotent rage filled his eyes, his fists strained together, and the curses pushed slowly

his life he had been trampled upon, and could

aiting for the mist of rage to pass from his eyes, he felt a ha

nfernal Englishman, and can't understand our way of

and there was a look in his eyes whi

a place. Never mind this. You will

and Arthur perceived for the first time that his eyes were blue and very good-natu

g unpardonable," he began, wit

flared

zen won't knuckle down to you the way your English peasants do. If you think you can come out

t amazed Saulisbury, but the Major enjoyed it. I

o me on most questions. I hope I know how to treat

tion," said Saulisbury, gla

d Saulisbury with

e'll go out to the farm and look things

ations with my employees, and I think I'm succeeding. I have a father and grandfather in shirt sleeves to start from and to refer bac

dge of his grievance under

nignantly across the lesser heights that thrust their ambitious heads in the light. Cattle were feeding among the smooth, straw-colored or sage-green

he had yet seen. It ran around the edge of the valley, discharging at its gates streams

after talking with the foreman, a big, red-haired man, who

as he got into his buggy, "so I'll leav

types. At supper he told them of his plans, and how he came to be out

ay or two. "You're like our own folks back in Illinois, and I can't make these foreigners seem

eing classed in with her fo

, the Major and a merry party of visitors came driving into the yard. Arthur came out to the carriage, a little ann

h the horses, will you? I want t

him to introduce the ladies; but the Major did not, and Mrs. Thayer did not

een me and the horses. I'm as af

hotly. It was the manner in which English people, in

ullen silence, for his rebellious

s were dainty as spring flowers in their light, outdoor

d bands and edges of light green, like an April flower. Her narrow face was as swift as light in its volatile changes, and her little chin

nds like a wondering child. Her elders laughed every time they looked

hivered prettily when the bull thrust his yellow an

thing! Isn't

meal, that's all," said t

fumed dress as a swallow her wings, without appeari

miration and delight, even while

n, but some concealed pain had made her face thin and drawn, and one corner of her mouth was set in a slight fold as i

and asked him a great many questions,

f by joking the dainty g

w; and this one is the buttermilk cow," he sa

r eager little

all

t laugh

young girl asked, to let them know

appealed to

you done with ou

d the Major; "no demand on her. 'Supp

on into the

or, looking at Arthur, who stood with his ha

ock went through her sensitive nature, as if some faint prophecy

e the horses?" s

e said, in the wish to let her know he was

turdy figure and his beautifully bronzed

silence; he could hardly bring himself to speak to the

gloom of rising night climbed to the glittering crown of white soaring a mile above the lights of the city; but he did not re

onable; his mind worked quickly, for he had re

e people assumed toward him. It was perfectly evident that they

e flamboyant phraseology of his graduating oration. If the boys kn

ace of the girl, the girl who lo

light; her eager face and her sweet voice, almost childis

sure of that, but she seemed so far away in her manner of thought. He wish

e not afraid of cows. Their way of talking was generally direct and candid, or

sobered a moment-then again she seemed a child. It was th

t so beautifully! Sometimes one had arched while the other remained qui

oked at him, every time he spoke, as if she were surprise

belonging to the American peasantry; he belonged to a lowe

ish standpoint. The Major and Mrs. Saulisbury had been touched by the Western spir

and cursed as he tossed to and fro on his bed, determined to go back whe