The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1881-10-13

manthus-l1ke glasses. Ills gaze 1eH De-
fore hers.
"I hain't pizened none O. Jerry's crit.
ters, nor set his barn afire, hev I ?"
You've pizened his peace O. mind.
You've worn him out with worry, till
he's walkin' ghost. I set great store
by LOUSY Ann, do, and when 1 see
her a-gittin' that fit O. high-stericks last
night, ali along O. your hardness and
scrinchin meanness, I come as nigh
bilin' over as ever I did in my life /!
Your own brother, Cyrus Deane The
little. curly-headed chap that, like
enough, slept on the same pillow with
you many night. What would your
mother ha' thought, ef she'd ha' knowed
heow different you'd turn out ?"'
Cyrus Deape drew down his bushy
eyebrows, and gave an energetic kick to
small bowlder.
"Jerry's he'd ez good chance to git
along ez me. We started even. It's his
own lookout He hain't no hand to
manage-neyer waS-never could GIT
fore handed in his born days p"
"The more reason why you ought to
be merciful. He hain't he'd ez good
chance ez you. The year that your
barns was groanin' an runnin' over, his
wheat got the weevil, an his corn
ketched the mildew. His cattle died,
an his tools was stole. He laid sick
with rheumatic fever, and he'd a doctors
bill of $50 to pay. Do you call thet ez
good a chance ez yours? Loulsy Ann
works ez hard ez any woman-cooBin' an
cleanin' an grubbin'-an' never had the
fust scrap O. hired help, 'cept for eleven
days wen Cissy was baby-an' she
never gifts a ride in bran-new buggy,
nuther!" casting n keen glance toward
the wagon shed.
Cyrus mopped his beaded brow with
a red cotton handkerchief, and took up
his hoe with determined air, as if to
end the conference.
"I hain't been harf as hard on him ez
some folks would ha' been. I've gin him
time, and gin him time, till my patience
is clean tuckered eout, an he keeps
a-fallin' behind instid of gittin' forrard.
He's younger'n be, he kin go West :"
Miss Mahala took off her shaker,
and shook out the cape, Strengthened out
the bow, and set it on her head again,
| then said, in slow, measured tones:
'May the Lord hev mercy on your
soul, Cyrus Deanei Ef He measured it
| eout to you ez you do to CHER folks,
you'd hev precious little to be thankful
for.'
She walked slowly down the road, and
Cyrus went on with his hoeing. He
didn't consider himself hard man.
Honest outwardly, he was, as Jerry had
said, but 4" war to the knife to get his
own." In two short weeks he could
foreclose the mortgage, and Jerry s little
! place would be bis own. Would he do
| it? Miss Mahala's words were verlulce
to his conscience-for brief minute
nobler feelings strove with his greed of
gain, then, dashing down the hoe
"Nol Jerry's got to look eout fer him
self. He's grown man-not a baby!
Why carn't thet old vinegar-face mind
her own business ?"
In the afternoon he drove to the next
town in his new buggy. A little f1ossy-
haired girl ran out from nook in the
woods, and cried:
"Man-man-takem little ride, do,
please"
He reined up the horse and helped
the little creature In. Cyrus Deane had
one soft spot in his heart-it was for lit
tie tiny children. No prattling lips had
ever called him "father." 1t would
nave Deon D6UI6r ZOE GilOS0 u6 uhu "
deal with had it been otherwise.
"And whose little gal be you, pray,
out here in the woods alone?" he
asked.
"Tm Cissy Deane, and mamma lets
me go to the big rock by myself, cause
know the way" She looked up and
gave little howl. "Let me out Oh,
let me out! You're a bad, dreadful!
man You're the nan that made my
papa CRY -
She scrambled down, and shaking her
tiny fist at the buggy, stamped hel
foot, and ran away.
A bitter look came into Cyrus Deane's
face. "My own brothers youngster-
ant I never would ha' knowed her e
she hadn't told me her name. Shell
hate me too, like as not!
He whipped up his horse and drove OF
rapidly. Fate seemed determined t.
thrust the mortgage business in his face
at every turn. He had two weeks be
fore him. He could change his mint
whenever he chose. Should he do it
Cyrus Deane and his wife were eating
their early breakfast next morning, whel
Miss Mahala gave short knock at the
kitchen-door, then, according to the pre-
vailing custom, opened it and walked in
With rather grim "good morning tt
Cyrus, and stiffish nod to Mrs. Dean,
Number Two, who handed her chair
she proceeded at once to the business
that had brought her there.
"Heow much ill you give fer tina
big blackberry lot O. mine, Cyrus Deane
south Of Anthony Woods place?"
| 1ooJaJ c,1rpricad SWhv wha
be YOU wantin' to sell that blackb'ry 10
ferS"
"That's Jest the identical question
Sposin' dew want to sell it, what will
sell it for? In other words, what ill 20
! buy it for?"
Cyrus Deane's little gray eyes twin
kled. His vulpine instincts scented
bargain. He hemmed and hawed:
"Waal-now-come to think ont, tt
amt much good in blackb'ry lot. Yo
carn't keep The pesky boys off OF it
save yer life !"
"Ef YOU couldn't scare 'em of, don
know who could" said Miss Mahala
. with snap. "It's splendid land. Yo
could plow 'em under and raise mos
l anythin' ON it. I hain't had much tim
to bother with it, lately. SO it's lai
3 there, and laid there. Thurs one or t"
ben askin' me bout it..
> "Yaas-yaas!'' said Cyrus, and hitche
in his chair.
l Miss Mahala sat silent. She felt sui
t of her man.
Cyrus pushed away his plate an
t moved back from the table. His wi
r began to clear off the dishes.
q "Sposin' you struck a party. tn
- wanted it, heow much 'ud you take f
a it, did you say?"
s "I didn't say. I asked how mue
t you'd give me for it. %
e Cyrus reached out his horny hand al
g pulled splinter from the broom tn
a hung near.
J. "Waal-now p picking his teet
J. "'tain't likely anybuddy 'ud give ye