planning. She was greatly attached to both Aunt Sarah and Mary, but
stood rather in awe of John Landis, who had never spoken a cross word
to her in the three years she had lived at the farm.

Sarah Landis, knowing Sibylla to be an honest, industrious girl,
appreciated her good qualities, thought almost as much of Sibylla as
if she had been her daughter, and treated her in like manner, and for
this reason, if for no other, she received willing service from the
girl.

Sibylla, a swift worker at all times, never finished work so quickly
as on Wednesday and Saturday evenings, when she "kept company" with
Jake Crouthamel. "Chake," as Sibylla called him, was a sturdy,
red-faced young farmer, all legs and arms. He appeared to be put
together loosely at the joints, like a jumping-jack, and never
appeared at ease in his ill-fitting "store clothes." He usually wore
gray corduroy trousers and big cowhide boots, a pink and white striped
shirt and red necktie.

Sibylla did not notice his imperfections, and thought him handsome as
a Greek god.

Jake, an honest, industrious young fellow, worked on a near-by farm,
owned his own carriage, and had the privilege of using one of the farm
horses when he wished, so he and Sibylla frequently took "choy rides,"
as Sibylla called them.

Jake Crouthamel was usually called "Boller-Yockel," this name having
been accorded him on account of his having delivered to a purchaser a
load of hay largely composed of rag-weed. The man called him an old