Northern Ohio journal. [volume] (Painesville, Ohio) 1872-1896, 1873-11-22

ed Suke, with heartiness that. made
her companions bead swim.
What makes you think was right? ?
inquired Eva, her beautiful eyes riveted
know how miserable I have been ever
since, about this. l have tried hum
dred times to tell Mrs. Culvert the story
but she was always so fearfully misera-
BILE that the words some way would be
driven back into my throat, and there
they would stick
z Il don't much wonder said Suke,
sympathetically. She's been uncom-
mon hard to get along with in this
trouble. Still, think, Evy, if the
words you fixed upon wouldn't come,
you ought to "a tried some others; and
if they failed you, you should "a done
something else. You might "A writ,
Evy.
4 tried that, Suke, and twas of no
use.'
.Wa'al, now, s'pose We let the past
take care of itself, and see what the
present has got to say broke in Suke
again. Here comes Miss Culvert now.
Brace up to it like good girl, and tell
her the whole story. Put yourself out
side of your story: don't think any
thing about what she will think of you,
but how much comfort you can give her
by telling her how her boy came to
leave his home. s5
Suke was an uneomRromising philos-
opher. She might have assured the poor
trembling girl of Kind reception, but
she meant she should perform this ac-
ton simply because il was her duty.
Keep a stiff upper lip, Evy, che con-
tinued. because it is right. Here she
comes now;' and poor Evy, who, up to
this time had been meditating some
means Of escape, stood now face to face
with the woman whom, above all 9TH
ers, she dreaded to meet.
why, Eva, how do you do, dear p
and the lady s voice had a strange some
thing in it that had been missed for q
long, long time. Il called at your house
Just moment ago, child, to invite yon
to spend Thanksgiving with US. We
may not be very gay party, but we
shall try to be very thankful and hap
py. as4
Was it sob from the pantry that
made both women turn their heads in
that direction? If SO, it was very speed
lily swallowed, for just then Suke ap-
peared with huge pan Of milk, appar-
emily entirely absorbed In getting the
vessel to the table without spilling its
contents. S = A
4 can not spend Thanksgiving with
you, Mrs. Culvert,' replied Eva, trying
hard to steady her voice; at least you
won't want me to after tell you some
thing. Mrs. Culvert, drove your boy
away from his homev
For moment there was no sound
heard save Eva's suppressed sobs. She
| had told the whole truth In as short a
way as possible; and now, with her
hands covering her. face, stood like a
culprit awaiting her sentence.
you, Eva, you?' and Mrs. Culvert's
voice expressed all the ast0nishment she
felt. 'You?' she repeated, as if half
tlazed by the revelation. sit down be-
side me, my dear little girl, and tell me
all about it. Don't you know it will he
a great comfort to me to find reason
for my sons strange departureY Why
haven't you told me before?'
t0h. don't ask me that, Mrs.. Culvert
-don't, please! was very wicked.
see now Just how selfish was. But
| But let that GO, aud get to business,
/ broke in Suke. we amt none of us
| that's got such clear record in the past
that we can afford to have much raking
DONE
sYou are right again: SUSAN replied
Mrs. Culvert, fervently. Now tell me
all about it, my dear, and remember all
the time that shall not, can not, blame
you, no matter how bad it is.'
| Mrs. Cuivert drew Eva's little hand
into hers, and the girl commenced:
Stephen loved meat least he sale
! so, and always believed him--and
loved him. This commenced before ht
went to college even. We wrote friend.
ly letters all through those four years
and when he graduated he asked me tt
marry him. This l refused to do. HI
! kept entreatingme to allow him to speal
to my rather, and this / wouldn't lister
a !, to,
And why, Eva,' interrupted Mrs
q Culvert, sif you loved him 2,
That's just it, replied the girl, naive
fly. 1T was just because 1 loved hin
that woaidn't hear to it. There wa
too much in Stephen Culvert to be al.
lowed to rust out on his fathers farm
He knew there was plenty and Il
spare. aud home was pleasant, and low
;, was sweet, and lie hadn't energy sufh
cient to bestir himself as l thought h'
, ought. There isn't money enough il
the world. Mrs. Culvert. to tempt Inc t,
marry an idle man.
Yankee doodle, doodle doo!' san,
: Suke, trying loaf OF cake with broom
corn.
.Well,o continued Eva, smatters grey
: very uncomfortable. and Thanksgiving
/ day we had almost quarrel. This hap
| pened in your parlor, Mrs. Culvert: ant
was just after dinner. He taunted In
, with not loving him. had grown tires
, of this kind of talk, aud told him that
never would engage myself to any mai
/ WHO had not trade or profession; tina
had sense enough to know that Low
| could not always occupy his whole at
| | tention; and ended in telling him tina
was ashamed OF him. These are tn
last words he said to me: Eva Benton
{ when you see or hear from me again,
: shall either be the man you are anxiou
> to marry or worthless drunken vaga
: bond. On your head be the RESPONSE
g bility;' and with this he marched direct
> ly out OF the house,
I we have both erred, Eva, in our wa
t of dealing with our trouble-I NOR
4 than you, because l was SO much older
: but that can't be helped now. KISS me
= and promise that you will spend to-moE
\ row with u.s. slt if
Eva promised. -.
:, sHark' said Mrs. Culvert. listenin
o intently, and drawing her companio
8 close to her side. DO hear what Susa
4 is singing! Did you ever know a voie
z to express so mnch?'
That is what she was singing when
d came IN. Don't you know, Mrs. Cul
Y vert, that that is Stephens favorite al
t tinem!'
SO, go your way into his gates wit
n thanksgiving, and into his courts wit
Q praise,'' sang out Suke from the porch
: 1T takes me about all my time,' sal
t the strange woman as she entered tn
d kitchen again. sto keep the hens out
r that place. They're tormenting set
e creatures anyhow. Into his gates-in
J. to his gates,' hummed SDke, as the tw
It women went their different ways
$ Look here,' said she, calling Eva bacl
you've forgot all about your wine.'
= so 1 have laughed the young lad.
II turning very happy face to her frient
l. But really did want sone,' she pr'
,s tested.
g sOf course you did, and here it's a
ready for you.'
d The last sound that Eva heard as ST
3. turned the angle of the house, W,
It Snke's voice ringing out, % go your wa
into his gates with thanksgivisg.'
l. Squire Culvert declared the uext ds
n that he didn't kno " what was the ma
'e ter with every body. why said b
Dr. with thankful smile, there isn't sill