The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1881-02-17

kettle of lard by accident, and been ter
scalded.
"Where's my hatP" cried Tom, in
great excitement, while the man was
how he had wasted time by go
ing to the office first, and, not finding
him there, had hunted him up.
"Let me go with you, Tom /; 1 know
I can help" cried Prissy, as her lover
was springing into the light wagon.
"Oh, Prissy, if you only would"
"Wait until I get my bonnet and
shawl and tell Aunt Martha. I won't
be gone q minute" and Hr1ssy
into the kitchen, where her aunt was
ironing.
$50, by all MEANS" said Mrs. Bald
win, when she had grasped the meaning
of the girls incoherent explanation:
"Stay as long as you are needed, and
don't worry about me-"
Miss Silence made no remark when
Prissy entered her room with Tom. She
was in great pain, and was thankful to
see even this member of the hated Bald
win family.
For three weeks Prissy was chief di-
rector at the farm, and managed so clev-
erly that Miss Silence had no chance to
find fault. But the grim spinster had no
word Of commentator for the young
girls untiring industry.
ST calkerlate to pay you for what you
have DONE" she said n day, as she
waJcned fr1ssy making bread. You
needn't think you're workin' for moth
in"
"I don't want any pay, Miss Silence"
said Prissy, with trembling lips; 81 am
only too glad to do what 1 can, be-
cause" She hesitated and turned
scarlet.
because you're in love with Tom,"
finished Miss Silence. "Oh, you needn't
blush; I know all about it, and, if he
chooses to break his head agin a stone
wall, 1 amt a-goin' to stop him."
At the end of three weeks Miss Silence
was able to be about again, and Prissy
went home, declining the 800 bill for
her services. But she had not been
gone three hours when the hired man
came from the farm, with two large
baskets, which he sat down on Mrs.
Baldwin's kitchen floor.
Compliments of Miss Silence, and
she sent these in place of the money!"
and was driving off in the spring wagon
before Prissy could o sufficiently
from her astonishment to ask him any
questions.
The baskets were full Of good things
of every sort, and tb was a royal
Christmas dinner for the Baldwins the
next day, much to the Joy of the chill
dren, who had contemplated, ruefully,
dining ON mush and potatoes.
Prissy sent a note of thanks to Miss
Silence by Tom, but she never received
an answer.
Time moved on, and Toms law bust
ness improved so much that he persua-
ded Prissy, against her better Judgment,
to marry him.
Miss Silence did not grace the impor-
tant occasion with her presence.
"Tve no time to be g~allivanting off to
weddings" was her excuse, when Tom
-reproached her for this slight.
"She is such o peculiar woman, we
must not expect her to act like other
people; but she has o good heart In
spite of her queer ways" said Prissy,
when Tom tried to make excuses for his
cousins remissness.
"But her greatest popularity lies in
kissing his BRIDES soft cheeks. "And
can't quite forgive her lack of TASTE"
ALI went well with the young couple
for more than a year. They began
housekeeping In a modest cottage Tom
was paying for by installments, and were
SO prudent that they managed to gather
about them many little comforts thai
made their home pleasant.
But fortune seldom smiles long at 8
time, as we all know, and reyerses will
come to every one. One bitter night IL
December Toms house caught fire an6
burned to the ground, nothing being
left except o few clothes belonging te
Prissy and the baby.
Of course Mrs. Baldwin opened hel
house to them at once, though it neces
STATED much crowding. Prissy sug
gested an appeal to Miss Silence, bu
Tom emphatically declined to make it
He was far too proud to ask for the hell
which he thought should have beel
earnestly offered. His last books ant
papers had all been destroyed in thu
fire ; for he had used a room in the cot
tage for an office, and getting a livini
was rather uphill work. Christmas wa
dreary enough that year, and even Pris
sy's courage sank at the thought of tn,
future.
"Tom Lowey will have O chance t
show what kind of stuff he's made of,
said Miss Silence. "He burdened him
self with a wife and baby, and bell hav
to look out for 'em. l toldhim I'd neve
give him O dollar of my money. and II
keep my word, no matter what hap
pens"
Miss Silence had thought herself proc
against the weakness of falling i'll bu
in March she caught q severe cold, an
pneumonia ensued. She felt she neve
should get well again. and the docto
told her frankly that in all probabilit
she would live but a few days.
at want to see the lawyer at once,
that is the case" she said. 81 mus
make q new will"
MI. Simons, who had managed he
business for years, came as soon as h
received her message, and the will wa
made. He hardly left the house befor
Tom called.
"Im worse" said Miss Silence, feel
~, "but I'm not afraid to go. PEI
haps I'm peculiar in that Is in othe
things. Deacon Bonney and the minis
ter, Nh. Craig and Mr.. Darby have a
been here a urgin' of their sewers
claims. L told each O. EN- I'd conside
the matter"
CIVIL they be disappointed, Cousi
Silence ?" asked Tom.
Poor fellow he was in such q sol
strait that he could not help a desire
have some small help from his cousin
hoard. He hardly dare hope she hs
left him a cent, and yet he was her on
relative.
"That remains to be seen," was IL
unsatisfactory reply he received to h
question. "But don't you cherish I
hopes, for 1 amt left you a cent"
A bitter smile curled Toms lips, b
he made no reply.
"I suppose you think me peculiar
not leavin' you my money, seein' yc
are the only kin I've got" went on Mi
Silence, "but you've taken such pr,
ctous care to convince me that you dor
want it, that I've believed you and actt
a~ccordin'."