The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1879-11-21

Phoebe Ann did not appear again, Eu-
gene turned back to his whiting and
whistling till the Westinghouse bell
rang for noon, and then went home to
dinner.
He found out about PERKINS, girls very
soon, however. 1t seemed that Perrin
was Phoebe AIMS brother, sea-captain
who lived in little house in Haverill,
when he didn't live on the ocean. But
his wife died, and after trying for a
year or so to keep on with housekeep-
er, he had given up trying, and had sold
his house and was bringing his little
girls to live with their grandmother and
aunt at Plumridge, while he
started off to 90 around the world Oh a
merchantmen. The little girls had
brown eyes and brown curls and pretty
pink cheeks, and they always smiled
when people spoke to them and said,
'sif you please" and "thank YOU"
ANY was 10 and Katy was 9 years old,
and they looked as much alike rs two
birds on bough.
But Eugene saw 4 difference. "Katy
is mine" he said to himself, when he
first looked at her.
The other boys had each "his GIRL"
and Eugene had been thinking for some
time that he ought to have one; but be-
fore that morning he had never been
able to make up his mind. Now his
mind did not need making up. He knew
Katy was "his " without thinking of it
when he first saw her digging sweet-ilag
root down by the brook the next day
after she came to Plumridge.
A few days before this time Lora
Shepard had birthday party, and ever
after he heard about it Eugene looked at
her with admiration in every kink of his
Quaker-cOlored hair. Just to think how
much party must cost! Anples didn't
count, for of course every body always
has apples enough. But peanuts and
molasses-candy, and maybe bakers GIN
gerbread!
81 don't see how she will get the
money!" said he to himself, bringing
two cents from belOw.a string, some
nails, fish-hook, a jack-knife with no
blades, dead mouse and piece of an
old horseshoe in his pocket, and count
ing them seven times over. Eugene's
heart was rs large rs the meeting house,
although his pocket was so small, and
with only one wistful look at the two
cents, all the money he had in the world,
he ran off to Lora.
"See here, Lora," said he, rafting
them in his pocket. "Here is my two
cents You may have toward your party"
"TwO cents! What is two cents? |
don't want your two cents!" replied
Lora, throwing out her elbows and up
her nose, GIVE got money enough, l
should hope; you go awayi'
Eugene looked hurt and astonishcd.
But there was one comfort, he could
keep his money, and by and by he had
two more to put with these two cents.
Plumridge was a small seaport, and
there was sometimes a chance at the
ship-yard for 4 handy boy to get il small
job, besides now and then turn among
the farmers in the outskirts of the vii
lage. So little by little Eugene got
money enough to rattle in each pocket.
"Aunt Prudy!" said he one evening,
coming in with his cap full of eggs,
"why can't l have a party my own self?
say? I've most half dollar saved up,
most SO cents, you know, and why can't
have 4 party?''
81 don't know but you cam" replied
Mrs. Mosscroft, sticking darning-
needle through quarter of an apple.
"What would you want for a treat?''
Engcne put the eggs carefully on the
table, and catching the cat in his arms
whirled around like a dancing dervish
for a minute. Then he sat down on his
bench in the corner of the fireplace and
thought. "They always have mOlasscs
candy to parties and wa'nuts. What
do you think, Aunt Prudy, would you
pick out the meats and put them in the
candy, Or would you keep them separate,
which?''
"Perhaps sO,' replied Mrs. Moss
croft, who was just then counting the
string of apples already hanging to dry
against the wall.
"Then apples, of course" continued
Eugene. "And, Aunt Prudy, l acished
could have some sweet-caEe or ginger
cake or something! l couldn't, could 1,
Aunt Prudy?''
"May be; We'll see," replied Mrs.
MosscrOft.
When Mrs. Mosscroft said "Maybe;
we'll see," it was good as note in
hand, and Eugene had to go out in the
wOodshed and stand on his head for Il
to express his feelings. Then
he came demurely back and sat down to
think whom he should invite. When
the morning of the party came he had
not yet invited Amy and Katy Lindsay.
He had never even spoken to them, not
he had loved Katy for
nearly month with all his heart. 1t
seemed to him she must know she was
his, though she had only looked at him
once over her spelling-book, and he
ielt very shamefaced and shy as he came
up hehind the log where She sat in the
chewing wintergrcen leaves
md studying her s'deiinitiOns."
"Say, I'm going to have party to-
hight; will you and Amy come?' said
he, making bold burst ut his GRAND.
Katy looked down, then she looked
Up, then she looked down again and
aid, sweetly: "Thank you; we would
ike to come if Aunt Phoebe is willing.''
go, she vii be willing!" said Eu-
,ene. You tell her l am calculating
o make her stirring spoon, like the
me / made for Amt prudv Amt |