The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1880-01-01


rocker before the wood fire on the sit
ting-room hearth. and while her swift
fingers evolved the mysteries of satir
stitch, point, and wheels, her happy
thoughts went straying over all that
brief, bright month when Joe Dalton
had spent his summer vacation in Red
leaf, and every spare moment of it II
close vicinity to the Sunderland farm
house. ~ e.s4s'
Joe, be it known, was the 'Squire's
step-son, Only the year before the
Squire had married dashing, though
elderly, widow from the city, with two
grown-up sons One of them Ivy had
never seen, but Joe had been in the
habit of paying frequent flying visits
from the city, where he resided, and, as
report said, was amassing fortune fair.
ly fabulous for 80 young man.
Of course he was an object of eager
curiosity to all the Redleaf bellies, and
on Sundays, when he walked slowly ur
the aisle by his mothers side and took
his place in the 'Squire's great, square
pew, many pair of bright eyes turned
to gaze on his tall, graceful figure,
brown, curly head, and dark eyes full
of lurking diablerie.
But when summer came, and he
spent whole month at the Squire's. he
had singled out Ivy from the whole
bevy ofrustic beauties, and devoted him
self to her with persistence that soon
set every gossip's tongue in motion.
Many were the invidions remarks from
the other fair damsels as to the flirting
propensities OF "these city fellows
which reached Ivy's ears, but, too
blindly happy to listen or to care, the
innocent child "took the gifts the gods
provided,D and left the future to take
care of itself. 3bo04 III LII
And what delightful month it was
How they had picnicked and frolicked
together through the long summer days,
and strolled through dewy lanes in the
dreamy twilight, and rowed- on moon
bit nights down the shining riverl And
then that last scene of ALL Ivy's
cheeks glowed at the remembrance OF
It, is 4ef issl;s EI5; 5su= Ie.sf
She had gone down the garden path
with him to the little gate, and there,
under the shadow of the elms, and hid
den from the house by clump OF
syringa bushes, they had somehow
found saying good-by very lingering
transaction indeed. Ivy remembered
how he had held her hand in his tight
clasp till all the warm blood came
billowing up over cheek and brow and
hen eyes fell beneath his ardent gaze.
Then, almost before she knew it, an
arm had stolen around her waist, a
pair of warm lips were pressed closely,
ingeringly on her own.
"Good-by till Thanksgiving" he
laughed, and was off before she could
chide him. .s=-s=-e=zs--.7
He hadn't told her in just SO many
words that he loved her, but how could
she doubt ita Hadn't every look and
act declared it over and over during
that happy vacation timer And then, il
he didn't love her, why that last tender
caress speaking volumes to her answer:
ing heart?
Innocent little Ivyl
But while she pondered these things
8, 9 o'clock chimed from the eight-daJ
clock in the corner, and, with little
sigh, she laid aside her company work
and took out the blue silk for It's finish
ing touches. OF course, she said to her
self, she had no right to expect him tha
evening. He came home SO seldom she
was very foolish to think he could come
to her the very night of his arrival
when the whole family would be want
surely be here to-morrow-Thanksgiv
ing day. So she stitched away, pictur
ing to herself the wide family room a
the 'Squire's, all the household gathered
about the blazing wood fire, joe in tn,
midst of them, the stranger cousin a
his side, perhaps. Again she sighed
she was just beginning to know that sh,
was tired-and, folding the completed
dress, went YEARLY to her room, wher,
she was soon tossing in troubled dream
wherein it seemed that she and Jo,
again stood beneath the old elm at tn
gate, and just as he was STOPPING to kis
her the unknown cousin appeared il
the guise of winged evil spirit, and
snatching Joe in her long arms, Dor
him away through the air, leaving he
alone and sobbing with terror. 4
But at last the morning came
Thanksgiving morning-with floods O
golden sunlight, and air SO crisp an,
bracing that it made ones blood tingl
just to breathe it. Ivy looked from he
window with bounding heart and thrill
ing pulses. In the glad light doub
and misgiving fed away as if by en-
chantment. Earth was beautiful. ]
was a Joy even to live.
She made haste to finish her igh
morning tasks, and then daintily al
rayed herself for church. She was
walk. 1t was only mile, and the choi
had arranged to come early and practic
their anthem once more before servic
began. -ti' 'sFt -
With a light step she tripped dow
the narrow path. But at the little gat
she stopped suddenly, try ing to chec
q frown; for there, under the elm, bt
hind the leahess syringa bushes, stoo
tAlvira Simms, the village dressmake
evidently lying in wait to walk to th
church with her, and Miss Simms wa
one of Iyy's pet aversions. Many's th
time she and Joe had amused then
selves at the expense of those corl
screw curls and affected ways, and tone
of vinegar sourness.
Good-morning," simpered Miss A
vira. al thought likely you'd be CON
ing along, SO walked slow on purpos
to see if I couldn't have the pleasure G
your company to church. It's beaut
full morning"
Beautiful" said Ivy, briefly, an
she looked curiously at Miss Simms, 6
if to divine the cause of this sudden d,
sire for her society, for they were usr
ally as distant as the poles. She fan
cied an unusually malicious twink
lurking in the seamstress' snaky blac
eyes.
I suppose you've heard the news2
with sharp side-glance and an air {
immense Importance.
a News? No, I've heard no new
worth mentioning, " returned Ivy, in ht
most Indifferent tones.
Well, don't know as you'll Col