The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1880-06-18
ping into pools and hollows, Barbara

EDen WAH TOO much OIL man to sigh,
and too muscular to do without his
supper, but he fell into the habit OF
taking long walks alone, or of sitting
under the honeysuckles on the porch
where he could zee the moon rise and
where he could hear the young ladies
singing rather plaintive songs, accom-
panied by the cracked strains of an old
harpsichord in the best room.
He had just plucked the first round,
full rose of May, and twirling it
thoughtfully in his fingers as he strolled
down the garden path to his WORKSHOP,
when he heard the breezy futter of a
muslin robe, and light football behind
him on the gravel walk. He turned
with blaze OF fire iD his black eyes
and the rose extended. His hacd
dropped to his side. It was Theo who
had come rapidly after him swinging
a white sun-bonnet by one string.
Theo was q saucy, petulant, prevok-
ing young person of sixteen, whose
pranks and whims had otten tried Eb-
ems temper soFely-having him stop
the harvesting to saddle Rulot, her
pony, or meddle with his tools aud up
get his newest invention, but Theo's eyes
were such lovely blue and her smile
so bewitching that Ebcn had not the
heart to scold, besides he had humored
her in all her willfulness himself, and
there was the faintest resemblance to
Barbara in the brow and dimpled chin
which tied him hand and foot.
ssOh, what a lovely thing % eaid
Theo, coveting the rose and stretching
out her plump little hand. sis it for
me ?''
"No," said Eben rather gruffiy. "I've
had an eye on this bud for some time.
l noticed that your Lady Isatels are in
fine condition. You will have cluster
of them by the day after tomorrow"
"Well you old stingy, suppose you
don't mind running down to the mail
tor me forgot what Barbara asked
me to do, and l shall ge: scoldinC
from mamma, who can't have Bah
crossed in anything, you know"
81 shall have to go down and see
Manson about the wagon-gear any way
tonight, and l can just as well stop at
the postoffice. Is 1t the letter from
from New Haven ?'' And Eben very
thoughtlessly bit off the leaves of the
rose and mangled :Lem with his strong
white teeth.
Yes, it was the letter from New
Haven, and Eben was charged to bring
up new novel, and some pink sewing
silk and eighteen celluloid buttons by
Theo, who ran after him to suggest
chocolate caramels in case the letter
failed.
1t was a sort of satisfaction 10 him
that the letter did fail. But it hurt him
to see Barbars's disappointment. He
remembered Theo's womanlsh little
errands, and he still held the rose,
which he now laid on Barbara's clasped
hands. For all she had grown to hate
the old place, she loyed its old-fashioned
big fluffy roses as tondly as when q
child, and Eben had braided a long
garland of them for her out of the finest
aud best.
She caressed the rose and tucked it
in among the cuIliest locks, where it
rested Just against her cheek. Eben
flushed and paled as he remembered
how he had laid bis heart in the heart
of that rose.
"The letter will be sure to be here
Tomorrow" he said gently. 'sI am 60
ing down the first thing in the morn
ing. The young ladies around Larbor-
ough are not to be without a gallant
this season. A handsome young man ie
from New York to stay few weeks in
the neighborhood / met him with
DIR. Ormsby in the gig.'
Eben was not slow to note that this
bit of news awakened faint show OF
interest in Barbara.
"What was he like ?'' said Barbara,
blusIling little. SCI trust he Is an ac-
quisitlon. Did he look like a gentle
man go
eyes, he looked Ike one" Eben
was compelled to admit that he did,
and that he wore elegant clothes. and
had Flepder soft white hands, which
Eben had rot.
Days after this. Eben in an agony Of
jealous anguish was compelled to &C.
cord the stranger a great many other
accomplishments. He rode well, was
a good shot. talked fiuently, sketched
passably, understood women and was
Miss Leightcn's most ardent admirer