The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1882-08-24

This engagement was another of the
l~octor's worries. Rose was too younc,
ne thought, and Will too imperious.
But he was secretly pleased that the
family, who were as critical as
they were rich. should have given so
warm a welcome to his bonny daughter.
Nevertheless, he reflected with some
shame, he did not feel we'll enough ac-
quainted with Rose to be sure that there
were not depths in her nature which gay
conventional VIII would never sound.
Revolving these things in his mind,
DR.. Myrick turned in at his own gate.
Mrs. Myrick, with her usual forcthought,
dispatched Jem. the factotum,
to the other end Of the town, he groomed
his tired beast himself, and then made a
fresh toilette, not to bring the stable into
the parlor. When at last he came down,
Mrs. Myrick rose calmly from her rocker
and her novel before the fire.
"Welcome home, DEAR" she said, with
a placid kiss, leading the way into the
dining-room, where the table stood
strewn with the debris of supper. "Bridg-
ct wanted to go out tonight, so l told
her that as one never knew when to look
for you, l was sure you wouldn't expect
anything hot. There's no more toast, 1
believe, but here are bread and butter
and preserves, and l don't believe the
tea is really cold yet. l put it down be-
fore the fire. Why, where's the tea
pot?"
Comm, mum; d'reckly, num-"
cried a sweet young voice from the
kitchen! ..Serve the gen'rman at once,
num-" And the doctor thought he had
never seen so pretty a girl as stood
framed in the doorway, her soft black
eyes shining with fun and affection, her
rippling raven hair pushed back from
her fair forehead. her cheeks dimpling.
and her white teeth cleaning. There
was a splendor of youth and health and
purpose about her that fairly dazzled
him.
"Are you Hebe, cup-bearer to the i'm
mortals?" he asked her, noticing her
uplifted arms and covered tray. '.Sure-
ly l think you have the power to make
the aged feel young again"
30, no. she laughed, d~elightedly, 81
am only a poor slave to Galen, purveyor
of his Sagacity's broiled chicken and
toast and tea. Never mind historical
accuracy, papa. It's tea you have here,
l1ISNINto VI ~ WLhCy lo Ia
say it is a great deal better"
mother, .'you are the precise color of
Fox's martyrs in the picture-book. How
could you do such a thing, when you
pretend to recognize Wills claims upon
you, and all the Hayeses so strict on the
subject of complexion"
Rose laughed, rs she arranged the dis
orderly table. .You see, mamma" she
said, II recognize papa's claim, too, and
he so strict uDon the subject of involun-
tary starvation. At least he ought to be,
though he isn't, poor dear. Don't com
pliment me toos soon, papa. Itmay turn
out as pink as poor Mr.. Copperfield's
mutton, and 1 should never dare to grill
it for you as Micawber did that, with the
Hayses and their views as to complexion
only a mile away. Mamma dear. beauty
is its own excuse for being. Go back and
finish your Dead SCI Fruit by the fire,
and leave me to fee this grampus."
'.But you never did it before, dear,
and why, being engaged, and all sighed
Mrs. Myrick, and paused, as giving UP
a riddle too hard for her.
mo, dear, never did, the more shame
to me. But it's not kind to remind g
penitent sinner of her transgression.
Leave her to Heaven, and those thorn:
that in her bosom lodge to prick anc
sting her." And pretty Rose waltzeC
her mother back to rocking-chair ant
novel, stirred the fire, turned up. the
lamp, kissed her soft hair, and waltzet
back again, laughing. But it was very
sober maiden who quietly closed thu
door behind her, and sat down besid,
her father.
"Now, papa" she said, |'there i
going to be an end of this thing, and w,
must come to an understanding"
Certainly, my DEAR" he replied
whatever pleasures you. Would you
Royal Highness kindly specify the of
Tending thing which is to be thus sud
denly cut Off"
30, all this misery of debt and vast
and discomfort for you, dear papa, which
ever way you turn. o, I've lain awak
nights to think and plan all this las
year, and it never came to anything be
cause l couldn't see my way clear
There's so little 1 can do at home t
make things better that 1 must go ava,
a while and learn how to earn money
if 1 can't a v it first, and the othe
girls Is they are old enough. Yol
need't talk, papa. If we had been fiv,
boys you would have been ashamed o
us if we were willingto be lazy at hom
while you worked SO hard, and 1 hop
we have as much sense and affection an,
self-respect as if we had been our owl
brothers. l want to take Aunt Laura
legacy, which was saved for my trous
seau-it was $500 you know-and q
over to Stafford and learn te~legraphine
There will be enough to pay my boar
and expenses of learning, and give me
start somewhere. The wages are yer
good. papa, to a skillful operator, and
wouldn't condescend to be an ordinar
one. Very likely 1 could get a plac
near home, and come back quite otter
But go | must, papa, so please give you
consent"
"But my dear little daughter, yo
don't know what it is to work 70: wage:
to 60 outside the shelter of home, t
fetch and carry at another's bidding.
at ant be worse, papa, than to Sc
what | see here every day, and can't 81
right"
"What would Will say, Rosalie?"
She flushed to her curling hal
liz Will Uc very duSTy, pdps
His notions of values and of rigl
and wrong are entirely artificial
Probably he will break our engagement
But if he does, 1 ought to be glad tn;
two people so hopelessly different in the
estimate of things did not commit tt
awful blunder of trying to live togethe
L have thought of all that"
{. "And your mother ?"
"She will be Mortified, chiefly on a
count of the Hayeses.' If they cou,
themselves out of the question, she wi
soon be reconciled. You must Q
, a-wooing owe again, dear papa, an
persuade her that this yes is as vital
your happiness as that long-ago on
Will you, Aged P.?"
t The doctor thought and thought. I
knew how Rosalie's Imagination h;
: overleaped the obstacles in her way-tl
l homesickness, the WEAKNESS, the mono
ony, the longing for her lost lover, Fl
he felt sure that Will HAYES would n
o marry a "working-girl." He show,
r her, carefully and tenderly, the sean