Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1876-01-04
"He's got heart to match 'em," added
Aunt Lakeland, while Tidy Uttered.

vi my auhts husbands cousins hands
"yes. and mouth to match the heart ~
80 much the better to kiss you, my
dear" sang out Eben himself, and there
he was, standing in the doorway. didn't
knew how much he had overheard, and
didn't care; at least thought didn't,
and ieit the room in dudgeon and slammed
the door. A great bear of backwoods.
man to talk of kissing me
Wsll. Isuppose was contrary mink,
for when Auut Lakeland said that Eben
dotted on green, took pains TO wear blue
ribbons; aud when he declared that blue
became me nightly, just changed to
cherry. color next time. IL Eben liked
curls. combed my hair out as straight as
8 Digger Indians; and when he began
to read aloud. left the room, or hummed
\ tune as rIdely as you please. Tidy
Bruce used to giggle and say that did it
just to keep myself before his eye; and
she was always so ready to run and Jump
for him and fiattered him so broadly that
| could have shaken her soundly many o
lime. She spared no pains to please him'
wore the colors discarded, and made
beau catchers of her hair. She used TO
dare me 10 refuse his arm when he offered
ii. or his hand when he would have helped
Iue into a carriage. or over s.ile, and |
" As just fool enough. She induced mo
to send him saucy valentine. and 10
play all manner of giddy tricks upon
him. such rs putting salt in his tea, vim
egar in his milk, and sewing up the arm
holes of his overcoat. and lining bis hat
with burrs, Blu; he made joke of it all
and called me his jester.
That means iool," said !, ilaring
mp.
"Oh. does it ?" said he,quietly. well.
sometimes the king was more fool than
he Jester, you remember" oracularly.
so" said Tidy ,afierwaId. "he thinks
that he has only 60, to ask, this minute,
and You'll say Yes. thank YOU"
Hell mud out his mistake" tossing
my head. Ill be ever does ask as
though would marry farmer when I've
been at boarding. school. and can play
the piano and read French Mercy. il
you should see the yOnng men at Water
edge. in their kid gloves and broadcloih.
you wouldn't wonder that / wasn't ready
to fall in love with Eben Andrews.
Tidy"
And what are they like At Water.
adge ?" asked Aunt Lakeland.
Like heroes in a romance" sad !.
spite fully; "not at slI like Eben An
drew"
NO. l reckon they're not; heroes ol
fiddle sticks and nonsense ~
Heroes ofyard-siicks, guess, " added
Tidy.
And. suro enough. Eben did find out
his mist axe pot long alter; though you
might ca II i, mine in the long run. One
day in ALarch he asked me to 90 down
into the ma pie grove 10 see the sap run.
and to take a drink OF il. We went along
by short cut over the fields. where the
snow yet fingered in sol drifts. The
afternoon was clear rs crystal, and when
we got into the woods the sun illuminated
them. shining uprn the naked rrees, and
creeping through the tangled boVghs, till
it seemed like great cathedral at eve'
ming service. l thought. There was
delicious hush there, too. and once IN
while an early bird thrilled hesitating
roundelay. aud another responded from
some hidden branch ; and The crows went
languidly cswing overhead. and some
times rabbit scsmpered by. aud The
voices of the men who were busy over
the gipsy fire boiling down the sap, made
long reverberatious. melodious as the
wind sweeping scross an Eolian harp.
We drank the sap, cool and sweet, as It
dripped from the wounds in the maple
trees, ind stirred the boiling pot under
the cross. sticks, and the afternoon faded,
and the sunset blushed and looked into
the wood, and the workmen dropped
away one by one. leaving Eben and me to
follow at our leisore- But he fingered
still. covering the pot. smothering the
ire. though bad lorg ago warned him
that tea was waiting. We stood there,
side by side. looking Into the shoulder
ing embers. when said again:
Come. Eben Andre' fs, lord Of loiter-
ers, cannot wait any longer"
Neither can /" he returned. facing
me. al must know to night, Lefty, whether
you love me or mott"
whether love you or not !" repeat
ed. "What ever gave you that crazy
notion ?n
because l have been crazy enough 10
love you. Lefty" he answered. "and l
hsd heard that love begets love-"
"Well. We will let by-gones be by
cones" said i. "l'm sure never gave
YOU any encouragement. But pray, don't
sneak of this to Aunt Lakeland"
"a man doesn't usually brag about
being Tilted" lie answered.
"Now, though ] should like to have
had my aunt know had refused her
precious Eben, am sure if she found it
-, ,hara vvonld de an end of nv visits