The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1880-07-01

and by-ardby, when the first yellow
leaves would be dropping into pools and
hollows, Barbara would go away-per-
haps forever.
Eben was too much of a man to sigh,
and too muscular to do without his sup
per, but he fell into the bad habit of
taking long walks alone, or of sitting
under the noney-suckles on the porch
where he could see the moon rise and
where he could hear the young ladies
singing rather plaintive songs, accom-
panied by the cracked strains OF the
old harpsicord in the best room.
He had Just plucked the first round
full rose of Mag, and twirling it thought
fully il. 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 in his Hack eyes and the
rose extended. His hands dropped to
his side 1t was Theo who came rap
idly after him swinging a white sun
bonnet by one string
Theo was a saucy, petulant, provok-
ing young person of sixteen, whose
pranks and whims had often tried Eben's
temper sorely-have him stop the har-
vesting to saddle kulof her pony, or
NEEDLE with his tools and upset his
newest invention. But Theo's eyes
were such lovely blue and her smile so
bewitching that Elmer had not the heart
to scold, besides he had humored her in
all her wilfulness himself, and there was
the taintest resemblance to Barbara i'll
the brow and dimpie chin which tied
him hand and foot.
"Oh, what lovely thing said Theo
coveting the rose and stretching out her
plump little hands 'Is it for met"
"No," said Eben rather gruffly, 81
haye had an eye on this bud for some
time. l noticed that your Lady 1sabels
are in fine condition. you will have a,
cluster of them by the day after to-mor
row"
swell, you old s.ingy, suppose you
don't mind running down to the mail
for me; forgot what Barbara asked me
to do, and l shall get a scolding from
mamma; YOU can't have Bah crossed in
ANYTHING, YOU know.
II shall have to 20 down and see Nan
son about the wagon gear anyway to-
night. and l can Just as well stop at the
postotiice. Is i the letter frem-from
New Haven" And Eoen very thought
essiy BIT of the leaves OF the rose and
mansled them with his strong white
teeth.
Yes, it was the letter from New Ha-
ven, and E5en was charged to bring up
a new novel, and some pink sewing silk
and eighteen cel,uloid buttons by Theo.
who ran after him to suggest chocolate
caramels in case the letter failed.
1t was a sort Of satisfaction TO him
that the letter did fail. But it hurt
him to see Barbara's disappointment.
He had remembered Theo's wonanish
little erranis, and he still held the rose,
which he had laid now on Baibara's
clasped hands. For all she had grown
to hate the old place, she loved Its old
fashioned fluffy roses as fond as when a
child, and Eben had braided long gar
land Of them out of the fin
est and best.
She car essed the rose and tucked 1t 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
"The letter will be sure to be here to-
morrow" he said gently. Il am going
down the first thing in the morning
The young ladies around Marlborough
are not to be without gallant this sea
son. a handsome young man from
New York has come to stay some weeks
in the neighborhood; | met him with Dr.
Ormsby in the gig"
Eben was not slow to note that tlis
bit Of news awakened faint show Of
interest in Barbara.
''What was he likef" said Barbara,
blushing a little. 81 trus. be is an
acquisition. Did he look like gentle
mani"
Yes, he looked like one; Eben was COM
PEELED to admit that he did, and that he
wore elegant clothes, and had slender,
soft white hands, which Eben had not.
Days after this, Eben in an agony of
I