Jasper County Democrat, Volume 7, Number 13, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 July 1904 — In a Masquerade [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

In a Masquerade

By Harriet G. Canfield

...Copyright, 1008, by T. C. McClure...

Leslie Wolcott threw himself on the green bench near the stone wall. It was shady there under the big maple. He had been In the fields all day, directing his men and working with them. After nine months in the dingy ofiices of Grant & Wolcott it was good to be in the country once more. He pulled his straw bat over his eyes and made overtures to the “sandman.” “I’ll take a little nap,” he said drowsily and then sat bolt upright. Some one on the other side of the wall was speaking his name. It was a woman's voice—a young woman’s—and she was angry. “Mr. Wolcott, indeed!" she was saying. “Why, father had no idea he lived next door when he rented this little place for the summer. Father isn’t like you, Aunt Hetty; he isn’t always trying to marry me off!” “There, there!” the lady addressed as “Aunt Hetty” replied soothingly. “I simply expressed my pleasure at your father’s unusual foresight in renting a place near Mr. Wolcott’s, a young man who is not only wealthy, but well bred and well educated.” “ ‘Foresight!’ ” the girlish voice cried Indignantly. “I’ve never met Mr. Wolcott, and I’ve no desire to meet him. The very fact that he is rich is enough to prejudice me against him! What can there possibly be to foresee?” “That will do, Elizabeth! I had supposed a Garter incapable of such Ingratitude as you*have expressed!” There was the soft swish of skirts over the grass, and then Leslie Wolcott awoke to the fact that he had been eavesdropping. Well, like other listeners, he had heard little good of himself. He lay staring up into the leaves, trying to imagine what Elizabeth Carter was like—this girl who was “prejudiced against him.” He was interested and slightly piqued. The more he recalled the conversation the more Interested he became. His sister was away; would not return for a month. Must he wait until Edith came

home to begin the acquaintance? No; he doubted if Miss Carter would return her call. A sudden inspiration came to him. The farm hands called him “Mr. Leslie”—most of them had been on the place since he was a boy—and it was as "Mr. Leslie” that he would make the acquaintance of hia new neighbors. The father seemed old and feeble, Leslie saw him in the evening, wandering among the rosebushes on the lawn. A girl of thirteen or fourteen was with him, but “Elizabeth” did not appear. In the morning he was starting for the fields when her voice came to him over the high stone wall. “Madge,” she called, “come here and help me carry this rug; it’s so heavy!” Madge was slow in coming, but Leslie vaulted over the wall and ran up the steps of the little cottage. A shapely head, covered with braids of soft brown hair, turned at his coming and two great, dark eyes looked at him inquiringly. “Pardon me,” he said, “but you called.” “Yes,” she replied, “I called my sister. Is there anything I can do for you ?” “N-no,” he stammered. ”1 came to ask you thai question. I was on the other side of the wall, and”— She looked at him quickly, suspiciously, he thought, and seemed relieved at the sight of bis blue overalls and old straw hat. “I’m ’Leslie, the overseer,” he said reassuringly. “May I lift the rug for you now, Miss Carter?” “Thank you,” she said, and she thanked him again when he carried it to the porch and spread it carefully on the floor. Madge and her father came up and she Introduced him to them. “Mr. Leslie, father,’ 1 she said, “Mr. Wolcotfs overseer.” The old gentleman extended his hand cordially. “Came over the wall, did you?” he asked laughingly. “Well, come over againcome often. I envy you the ability to do so, young man.” In the days that followed Leslie made the most of Mr. Carter’s invitation, to the evident delight of Madge

i and the disgust of Aunt Hetty, who complained that she seldom found them alone now, when she came out for the day—that forward overseer was always there! Leslie knew her opinion of him. Madge, child fashion, had repeated her aunt’s language. “My!” she said. M I wish you had seen Beth’s eyes flash! She stood up so straight jtnd tall—like this—and she said, ‘Please be careful how you speak of my friends!’ ” Leslie’s face flushed with pleasure. “It was kind of Miss Elizabeth to say that,” be murmured. “Oh, she likes you. But Aunt Hetty is worried because Mr. Wolcott isn’t at home. You see, she would like to have him fall in love with Beth and marry her. ‘Elizabeth,’ she said, ‘what will Mr. Wolcott and his sister think when they come home and find that you have been so intimate with their hired man?’ And Beth said. ‘They will think that I recognize a gentleman when I meet one.’ I’m sorry Aunt Hetty says such horrid things about you!” “I’m glad!” Leslie cried, to the amazement of bis little friend. At the end of the month Edith Wolcott came home and was immediately taken into her brother’s confidence. “Don’t give me away when you call there,” he cautioned her. “Not if I can help it,” she said laughingly. Elizabeth received her politely, but Aunt Hetty, who was present, was more than cordial. “I’m so glad that you and your brother have returned, Miss Wolcott,” she said. “There has been no one for my nieces to associate with in your absence.” “You forget our friend Mr. Leslie,” Elizabeth said quietly, and Edith Wolcott’s heart went out to her then and there. “Speak to her, Leslie,” she urged that evening, “before she returns my call. I can’t keep your secret much longer.” “I will now,” he said determinedly. “I caught a glimpse of her white dress out there in the moonlight. Wish me good luck, little sister.” An hour later Edith heard his step on the walk. She met him at the door, a question in her eyes. “Congratulations?” she asked. “Yes, for ‘Mr. Leslie.’ I’m jealous of that overseer!” he said, smiling ruefully. “Beth was willing to take him for better or worse, but Leslie Wolcott she”— “Oh!” Edith cried. “She didn’t reject you, Leslie?” “No, but I need your sympathy; she put me on three months’ probation!”

"I’m LESLIE, THE OVERSEER,” HE SAID REASSURINGLY.