Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1872-11-06
THE STORY OF A YEAR.
BY HESTER A. BENEDICT.

"And so you're going to marry, and
settle down with your old father anu
mother! That's clever"
Epaphroditus Morley, or e ole Eph
Morley" as he was generally called,
stood beside the little gate that d1vid-
ed the garden from the door-yard OF
his pretty country home, talking to
"young Eph," his only son, who for
one whole year had been head and
heart clothed upon with the classics at
certain college hundred miles
away. The old face could be read at a
glance; the young face was study.
&C Yes, father" the young man an
swered g I did mean to complete the
classical course but I couldn't wait so
long for Minnie
"Right, my boy-right. You've
larnin' enough for any man except the
President. A farmer don't need to
know Greek and Spanish, and fol-de-
rolls of that sort. [ never-you k7aoaU
Inever approved of your going to col
lege anyhow. There was no sense in
it, and Tn mighty thankful you've gil
it up"
Yes" .-. r
Minnie 5"
L" Is that her name ?"
"Her name is Minerva, but every
body calls her Minnie"
ssWell. shan't for one, and your
mother won't for two. Nothin' like
keepin' to the old christian names.
But what sort of body is she /? How
old, to begin with %
Seventeen.
"Too young, Epaphroditus-too
young by five years" ..#
'EDo YOU think so F"
"Iknow so. Is she healthy? Can
she work That's the main thing to
be thought of in choosing wife, my
son-the main thing Now hope you
hahn made fool O. yourself, and gone
and greed to marry a good-for- nothin'
like Noel Blake's wife? :"
"Noel Blake's wife, I am told, makes
enough with her pen TO afford to live
without work of the kind you mean. .
"I don't believe it. She don't earn
her salt. But that's neither her nor
there. Minerva doesn't claim to be an
author, does she }"
The young man laughed, but some
how the laugh sounded hollow, and a
fear for the future happiness of his dar-
hng seemed shadowing his eyes.
sf Oh, nc, he said, pushing his straw
hat back from Lis handsome forehead,
and looking up in the stern face of his
father Minnie don't write-for the
world at large-but she's glorious
girl! You can't help loving her"
"Wel, we'll see-we'1l see. Mother
and are gettin' old, and you'll get the
farm when we're done with it. But
We'll have no lazy bones on our hands. -
Young Morley's face flushed angrlly
8 don't mean to be on your hands,
father" he said quickly. s'I thought
you would give me the farm to work
on shares, and that I'd fit up the old
house on the fiat for Minnie and me.
L talked with her about it, and she
greatly prefers living there. 1t would
not be so nice as this, but it would be
our own"
You'll do nothing of the sort, child
nothing of the sort This is your
own, for that matter, or will be, after
while And reckon we don't need
two houses for four of us. Extra fires,
and cookin' and the like. Just bring
Minerva right home, and if she's dis
posed to do her part, We'll git along IA
mously, and lay up money, too"
But, father"
Don't but father, me over any
such ridiculous projects as yours and
hern. [ won't listen
The old man turned and walked rap
idly away.
The young man stood thoughtfully,
for at least i've minutes, beside the
gate, looking at the new house where
his parents had lived for three years,
and at the old, where his boyhood had
passed so swiftly, and where lie had
expected to make home for his young
wife and himself,