The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1875-12-01
Farmer Burling's Revenge.

that girl And they say all is fair in
love and war, and that is some excuse
for me. l had liked her long while,
and | kne that she liked me. was
as big fellow as could be found any
where about. I had a farm of my
own, and when l was married, father
had promised to build me q frst-rate
house and stock the place for me.
And when / went to church on Sun
day, or to the city, | had good clothes,
and was never told l looked i'll in
them. On the whole, I felt myself a
good, fair match for Fanny Martin,
though she was so nice a girl. And
her father and mother thought so, too,
and she never refused my attention. /
had settled in the allow, quiet sort of
way in whic!s: country men do settle
these things, tiiat we'd make match
of it. The other young gentlemen
knew it. and if we were not fashiona.
BILE we were so far gentlemen that we
had our code of honor. None of them
ever interfered or tried to cut me out.
But, then, he came, don't you see.
Dapper and pretty, and looked like
tailor's fashion-plate, and he talked of
things l knew little about, and his
hands were white, and he had graceful,
gallant ways that had never learnt.
Mr.. Williams that was his name.
And in that holiday of his, while we
were working hard over the hay and
were tanned and dirty and worn, and
so tired that sleep was all we wanted
when work was over, why, then he,
soft, sweet and smiling, made himself
agreeable to the girls, and crept into
Fanny Martins heart. My Fanny.
She scarcely looked at me. She did
not care whether she met me or not !;
and on Sunday there be was making
me feel somehow so coarse and rough
and vulgar; and when / wanted her
to 60 home with me irto the woods
where we used to sit in the green shad.
ow, and listen to the birds sing, she
had some excuse to stay at home and
when on the road from church l took
her hand in mine, she snatched il
away and said quite Grossly:
"Don't, Ben; don't do such silly.
rustic things while the city folks are
here. They never do it themselves,
and they laugh So"
"Mr. Williams laughs, you mean,
suppose" said |. That's gentleman
ly, too."
And then she blushed and curled her
little lip, aDd said:
"You are criticizing Mr.. Williams
manners, are your"
After that there was GOODNESS be-
tween us; but though it made my
heart ache, l could not think that il
mattered much to her. / stayed away
from her fathers house, and did not
walk home from church with her on
Sunday; indeed, | did not 90 to
church at all. And 1 knew the young
folks, yes, and the old folks, too, were
saying that We were out with each
other, and | suppose every one guessed
why; but would never answer any
questiOns-not when my mother asked
them, not /.
so the summer passed and the fall
came on, and the city people stayed
and stayed; | saw that fellows pana,
ma hat end silk umbrella and pretty
linen suit wherever l went. Farther
than l could see other people. 1 used
to see him and her-Mr. Williams
and Fanny you know.
They had never made Fanny work
much at home, and she had plenty oil
time to enjoy herself. The only girl
you know, and her people what we
call forehanded.
never intended that she should
drudge after we were married. When
I had hoped for that, l did not mind
work myself but I'd never have made
a slave of my wife, as most farmers
do; any one can see by looking al
the poor women who have no time fol-
prettiness, or even TO play with the
babies they bring into the world-wo
men whose husbands are rich men too
very often.
This Mr.. Williams, he could no
have made her more of precious
thing than would knew that.
| I was thinking this all over one eve
ming on the meadow-not trying t.
think, you know, but fighting th'
thoughts that came like mosquitoes, a
fast as 1 drove them away, to ring il
my ears and sting me-when suddenly
l heard some one say:
"Ah-Mr.-Mr. Burling."
And l looked up and there was Mr.
Williams. natter than ever, with
cigar in his mouth.
If he had known how felt towar'
him, I'm not sure he'd have come t
fird me in the great meadow, and
thought Of that as jumped up frou
the grass and looked at him. Bnt h