South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1880-07-16
him swinging white sunbonnet by

Theo was a saucy, petulant, provok-
ing young person of sixteen, whose
pranks and whims had often tried E.
ben's temper sorely-having him stop
the harvesting to saddle. Rulof, her
pony, or meddle with his tools and
upset his newest invention. But
Theo's eyes were such lovely blue
and her smile so bewitching that Eben
had not the heart to scold besides he
had humored her in all her willful-
ness himself, and there was the faint
est resemblance to Barbara in the
brow and dimpled chin which tied him
hand and foot.
'Oh, what a lovely thing' said
Theo, coveting the rose, and stretch
ing out her plump little hand. is it
for me 2 ~
NO. said Eben rather gruffly. Il
have had an eye on this bud for some
time. l noticed that your Lady Isa.
bells are in fine condition. You will
have a cluster of them by the day at
ter tomorrow
We'll, you old stingy, 1 suppose
you don't mind running down to the
mail for me; l forgot what Barbara
asked me to do, and [ shall get a
scolding from mamma, who can't
have Bah crossed i'm anything you
know
Il shall have to go down and see
Manson about the wagon-gear anyway
tonight, and can just as we'll stop
at the postoftice. Is it the letter from
from New Haven?' And Eben
very thoughtlessly bit off the leaves of
the rose and mangled them with his
strong white teeth.
Yes, it was the letter from New
Haven, and Ebcn was charged to
bring up new novel, and some pink
sewing silk and eighteen celluloid
buttons, by Thco, who ran after him
to suggest chocolate caramels in case
the letter failed.
1t was sort of satisfaction to him
that the letter did fail. But it hurt
him to sec Barbara's disappointment.
He had remembered Theo's woman
ish little crrands, and he still held the
rose, which he laid now on Barbara's
clasped hands. For all she had grown
to hate the old place, she loved It's
old-fashioned big fluffy roses rs fondly
as when child, and Eben had braid
ed long garland of them for her out
of the finest and best.
She cGresscd the rose and tucked it
in among the curling locks, where it
nestled just against her cheek. Eben
flushed and paled as he remembered
how he had laid his heart in the heart
of that rose.
"Tho letter will be sure to be hero
tomorrow he said gently. Il am
going down the first thing in the
morning. The young ladies around
Marlborough are not to be without a
gallant this season. A handsome
young man from New York has come
down to stay some weeks i'll the neigh
borhood; | met him with DIR. Ormsby
in the gig
Eben was not slow to note that this
bit OF news awakened q faint show of
interest in Barbara.
what was he like p said Barbara,
blushiug little. Il trust he is an
acquisition. Did he look like agentle-
man p
Yes, he looked like one Eben
was compelled to admit that he did,
and wore elegant clothes, and had
slender, soft white hands, which Eben
had not.
Days after this, Eben, in an agony
OF jealous anguish, was compelled to
accord the stranger great many 9th
er advantages and accomplishments.
He rode well, was q good shot, talked
fluently, skctched passably, under
stood women, and was Miss Leigh
tons most ardent admircr.
Eben toresaw all this, and yet once.
when their mingled voices foated out
to his little garden, he brought down
a hammer wrathfully, and smashed
his thumb nail. Morning and night
ne saddled and brought round horses
for Barbara and Mr.. Ney, and went
away to his work in the hot fields.
while they were cantering down the
shady roads, aud Mrs. Leighton and
Theo were beating eggs in the but
terry and getting up rare dishes for
tea. The letter had come from New
Haven, and Barbara had answered
briefly that she could not 90 until
some time later. She had never look
ed 80 animated and beautiful as now.
She rarely saw Eben, sending him her
requests by her sister, and Eben went
on at his inventions, feeling az if ev-
cry blow Of his chisel drove out n
piece OF his hearts core. And, al
though he would have scorned the
idea, Eben had grown wonderfully
haggard and pale, with great dark
circles under his eyes since DR.. Orms-
by had introduced Edgar Ney TO the
Leightons. lie took little pride in