Connecticut western news., 1881-06-29
PAYING HIS DEBT.

-. fA11NG HIS UEBT. Brother Jacob was peculiar in h1s ways and had great ideas about his daugh Jeannette. He had been en- largfng his house and the place was full of workmen.
 One day I said to Jeannette
 "What blessing it will be when your father is rid of that parcel of men. "
 Jeannette started little. Then she said
 "John Bemuth won't go with the others"
 "And who is John Bemuth, pray 9''
 "Oh, John Bemuth takes charge of all the men every day." she said. "There he is now-the tall one." And the child's eyes lit up, perhaps, with the setting sun. never was quite sure how much she cared at that time.
 "But what do you know about John Bemuth?" said I. "And who cares whether he goes or not ?" I added.
 "Oh, nothing and nobody" she said, carelessly, "only he told me he meant to settle in the village when his job was up, that he could find plenty to do here, and-and-that he loved to work in the neighborhood, she said, hesitatingly.
 Jeannette," said I, severely, "you must not talk to those men they are nothing to you, and your father won't like it."
 "Why not, Aunt Sally? John Be- muth' Is father used to live next door to Aunt Moll, and they were great friends he told me SO" she said, innocently.
 "Oh, Jeannette you frighten me, child" I said. Promise me not to talk to this John Bemuth any more. He is only hard-working common carpenter, and your father intends you to be a lady. 7"
 "Not until next winter," she said, archly.
 "well, you must begin now to learn how," I said, smiling. I could not bear to be cross, although I knew her father would rave if he knew all l knew.
 She promised not to speak to John, though she confessed she didn't know why"
 After she went away, walked round the orchard to get peep at this John. Curiosity and woman are fast friends always.
 can see John Bemuth now, as he stood then, up on the beams of the first story, waiting for more timber, his arms folded and his six feet of stature against the deep. blue sky. A muscular, brown skinned, fair-haired young man. Blue eyes with dancing light in them, high cheek bones and prominent nose, resolute mouth and chin, and downy wreath of beard making hazy frame to his honest face.
 "Heave away, boys!" he sings out, merrily, as the long beam is showed up to his hands. Boss and workmen all busy together.
 We'll, one night was going to see old Mamie Brown-up the little lane, you know, by the woods-when I heard a voice very much like Jeannette's. And, sure enough, just at the turn, there was Jeannette and John Bemuth.
 She was saying: 'I promised Aunt Sally"
 "What ! you promised that when you knew what I meant ?" he said.
 "Knew what you meant, indeed r she said, tossing her head. "How could know what you meant, indeed, when you didn't say what you mean 2 and she laughed roguishly.
 didn't think the child had so mucl of woman's ways.
 You see, I hid and listened. know it was not right, but I loved Jeannette
 Pretty soon Jeannette said, ooh John, promised Aunt Sally. It ism right" Dear child, she was so straight forward always.
 "Let us go and see what she says, said John, bluntly.
 Away I went then, for it was higl time. And, sure enough, they dit come right off to tell me. What coule I do? I saw they were mates, what ever the world says to contrary, but knew her father would be furious.
 Going to the city next winter; grea plans for teaching her music and Frencl and so on; clothes getting made to go business getting settled up so as t leave for the new house when they al came back; talking of breaking off wit this and that family because they wer not grand enough, and such things thinking Jeannette only child yet, lei ting her run about the farm in commo clothes. It was dreadful and no mis take. was half to blame because did not tell at first, thinking I ha power to stop her. But, good gracious one might as we'll stop water runnin down hill, and so told her father a forwards. ....s We'll, what do you think they did Why, went both together straight up t the house to tell her father That WE al just Jeannette; she would dare an. v'i thing. I've seen her many A time poA