The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-04-22

hshlHst me. sNhll never come back beg
ging to tho old door, but when / leave
home | want to have all things pleasant
and not give the neighbors chance tc
talk. Mothern-and suddenly the Cir
threw her arms around the wrinkled meek
-"you can think how it.! was when yor
were young; how your heart beat, and
your cheek flushed for just one man. Yor
wanted to go to the worlds end with him
and not with another. If you saw hii
faults, you could forgive them, for youl
heart.strings were soneway twisted and
tied with his, and could not be undone
In those days, mother, you didn't think 50
much about the potato.bin and -four bar
REL"
"La, child, you 60 on to beat all" re.
turned the old lady, drawing the back Of
her hand across her eyes. "The Bible
says man must leave father and mother
and cleaye unto his wife, and | s'pOse IL.
the same with q woman; but tell you,
Hester, it's mighty handy to have worldly
goods to cleAve on to besides. always
agree with your father on all p'ints. lie
expects it Of me and II he should say
black was white, laws, should say so
too, but | think Jest as I've mind tn In.
side. / always said no man should tyran-
nize over me. A woman can squlnt round
corner handler than man can, aud she
can find ways Of getting her will, and
guess I've ruled the roost as much as the
Old Square has after all's said and done
but he don't know, and l wouldn't have
him find II out for the world. ! don't say
| shall enkerridge Joel, but II you have
made up your mind there's no use argufy
ing, for you're reg'ler born Preston, and
they all hold on like a dog to root. !
shall try to ease off things; that's all
can promise, but must confess, Joel Is q
pleasant creetur, aud you can't help liking
him II you try
Hester kissed the old lady'S wrinkled
cheek rather more impulsively than was
necessary, aud then, in a half.coaxing
shame-faced SOFT Of way, she said:-
another, ! expect Joel EVER this alter
noon, and | thought II you didn't mind I'd
put little handful of fire in tile sitting.
room stove.n N.r
"No, you'd better not said Mrs. Pres.
ton, decidedly. "Your father won't like
to have any underhand counting going on,
1t will only rile him the more. lie and |
did all our counting business up by the
kitchen FIRE. Mother tlloughtitwa econ.
omical. Every Sunday night he came like
clock.work 1--WE used to keep Saturday
night in them days, and there he sot and
cored apples, and | strung um, and we
killed two birds with one stone as neat as
any thing you ever saw. Joel had better
se treated in an everyday sort OF fashion.
In your fathers present state of mind 1t
won't do to waste candle.light and fire.
wood on him. And, Hester, you had bet
ter stir up some frtters for supper. The
Square is fond OF fritters. / ha'n't lived
with him all these years without finding
out that good meal OF victuals makes
considerable difference with his feelings" "
Hester knew her mother was wise In
her day and generation-an experienced
woman so slie set her wheel away and
went up to her chambers little, cold,
neat room, with slooping wall.
Joel came driving TO the gate. The air
was nipping, and spiteful gusts Of wind
whlrled along the valley. lie fastened
his horse to the fence, and blanketed him
carefully. The boys, Testers brothers,
had gone with lumber to the mill village,
and would not DO back until late, Ii at all,
that night The Squire was in the barn,
tinkering away at his sap buckets. The
cold weather had kept back the sugar sea-
son, but thaw might be looked for now
at any moment. The old man was short
and stocky, with an eagle face, and iron.
gray hair. All his motions were brisk,
and his words exploded something after
the fashion Of tire.crackers. Now q grim
sort Of smile puckered the old face, as lie
thought that long. tailed gray of IIerrick's,
the liyery-stable keeper, might stand there
in the cold till loOln'S day for all him.
Then rub .a.dub.dub on the sap buckets.
Hester met Joel at the door demurely
enough. lie was good.lookiBg, tall, and
slender, and uuconsciOusly elegant and re-
fined in appearance. The young man
drew up to the fire with his overcOat on,
and Mrs. Preston Engaged him in talk
about the weather and the neighbors. The
kitchen was large and light, with floor
and braided mats, and comfor.
table chairs, and q great clock ticking in
the corner. There were pots Of petunias
and "hen and chickens in the window.
The bit of greenery' made pretty back
ground for Hester, who, seated in low
chair, took out her company work, SOME
old fashioned lace she was knitting, which
uncoiled and foAmed over her black silk
apron. She was anxious as she glanced
out At Joel's horse, shirering under his
blanket, when the cold did not sting him
unto positive uneasiness. The young man
still sat with bis overcoat on, lingering his
hat and mufiier, while Mrs. Preston talked
away about Sally Mifiin's cough, and how
the Selkirk children had all come down
with the measles. Hester saw how un-
comfortable Joel was, not knowing wlleth-
er to'stay or 20, so she ran out with a
shawl over her head, set the long.tailed
gray free from the fills As quietly as posi-.
BE, and led him into the barn. She knew
all the ins and outs Of horse tackle, and
could harness and unharness as hAndily as
o man. II was not long, therefore, before
the gray was munching oats In state,
The old Squire saw Hester do this high
handed thing under lis very nose, so to
speak, ksaud the strokes on the sap bucket,
grew more savage than ever. Whtn the
girl went back into the house she wai
much relieved by hearing her mother
say .l -.H..t..r. r.r.
"I guess the Square has put mp youl
horse, Joel, and yon had better stay to
supper, and spend the night with u.s.
Hester had spread the tea.tAblc, not
with the best nhpery and dishes from the
keaninp.room cupboard, for her mother