Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes Co., O. [Ohio]) 1870-1895, 1874-01-08
META'S, LOVER.
BY MARY REED CRowELL
Well, / do declarei-


-"Well, / do deelare," ..a
And Uncle John Winter looked over
his steel-rimmed glasses to the comely,
portly matron knitting beside the open
window, where the afternoon sunshine
was making swaying fiickers of light
and shade on the bare kitchen floor, as
THE leaves of the big horse-chestnut
waved gently in the cool breeze. Aunt
Patty looked up after she had counted
a few stitches in the heel Of the huge
blue yarn sock. .r+r-.t .fI H
..'What is 1t John: good news from
Williams folks ?'' ..-,-
Uncle John carefully refolded his
brother Williams letter in its envelope,
and then put it in the big brown bible
on the stand. ...-.i...-.'........
Aunt Patty knitted placidly on; she
knew her husbands ways, and she
knew when he was ready to answer
he'd answer, and so he did, after he
had put away his glasses, filled his pipe,
lighted it, and sat down on the shady
doorstep. 4a. aa-r. ...r-.. -.
81 don't know when I've been more
took back than to hear that little Meta's
engaged to be married. Why, it don't
seem more'n few days ago that she
was little, weeny thing, and here now
William says she's to be married next
Christmas to New York chap"
"Meta is nineteen come this harvest,
John. We was married when 1 was
nineteen" -s .s.,-s.- .. f.-
"But you wasn't all curls and crimps
and 1ounces like that potygraff they
sent of Meta! Howsumever, what 1
was thinking of is how dretful cut up
Ed. Simmons'll be when he hears of it.
You know he's been down to York, to
Williams, off and on, pretty consider
able of while."
Love has to go where it's sent, John.
You wouldn't have Meta marry Ed, as
much as we like him, if he wasn't all
in all to her." r.-4 On. =
But Uncle John wouldn't answer such
an argument.
. @Ed's better than any of them New
Workers. Why, look at his farm--any
woman might be proud of that alone!"
Aunt Patty smiled; then changed the
subject adroitly. ....
"Do they say anything about coming
this month ?'' 10 sal..a-.. .. etI-
"Sure enough, 1 forgot that for
minute. Yes, Meta herself is coming
for a month and she wants her Mr..
Rustle-yes, Mr.. Rustic her beau's
name is--to spend week with her
| here.
"Let them come and welcome" an
swered Aunt Patty, good humoi edly.
"Though it'll cnt. poor Ed. pretty con-
siderable at sight of them." -Ns'
#%
"And it seems natural to be here,
Meta! It's three years, 1 think, since
you were at the farm befor . 4.
Ed. Simmons stood leaning against
the trunk of the horse-chestnut tree,
that shadedlhalf the long lane that led
from the turnpike to the carriage en-
trance of the Erne farm-lands. Hewas
in his shirt sleeves, and even they were
rolled above his elbow, and Meta was
wondering why it was she was aston
ished to see regular farmer with snowy
white, linen -bosomed shirt, and arms
that the sun had never materially
spoiled. i-
His wide straw hat was pushed back
off his fine face; and Meta, as she con-
tinued her silent inventory of this far
mer lovers attractions, took notice that
his hair waved just right, and was ar
ranged as becoming as Augustus Rus
jtle's-who was her ideal in every re-
spect. .r I'D. .r ..~ a ..,
| Somehow, Meta had associated a
farmers life and homely vu,garity to-
gether. ....
When Ed. came to her fathers house,
generally during the winter, he was al
ways dressed as other callers were !;
and Meta, as much as she admired him,
and thoroughly as she liked him, sup
posed as soon as he went home and set
to work that he looked like Distress"
she said; which meant, very probably,
blue check shirt, suspenderless pants,
freckled face, and brimless hat.
So, when Ed. Simmons accidentally
met her--she, lazily lolling in the swing
in the lane; he fresh from haying in
the west pasture lot-Me eta was as
tonished to muteness almost, at sight
of his handsome figure, that was quite
adorned by the immaculate linen, Mar
seilles vest, blue tie, and front studs.
In turn, Ed. found himself bowling
to young lady who seemed to have
added a year to herself since the time
(three months) when he had seen her.
She was so pretty in her light green
cambric, with lace tuckings in the low
: cut neck, and wide sleeves, with the
wide black velvet band that encircled
her tair white throat, where reposed a
tiny gold cross, her only crnamont ex-
cept plain ring on her left forefinger
that gave Ed. curious sensation around
his heart. --... ....-.. ......-
Meta had not answered his question
:, because she had been so intcntly watch
: ing him, and he had not noticed that
= ! she did not, because he had been so
: eagerly watching her. #".l-
Now with blush, Meta recovered
herself.
: 81 feel perfectly at home at Uncle
d Johns. 1t seems so lately Twas her'
before" .-fH..
e, "And yet how many and importan
: changes have occurred since with u
ALL" r.1 iu Ha'
He did not spare her confused blushe
D but looked, first at the ring that lay
y aUainst the swing rome then In her eve