Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1882-12-28

upstairs He heard Mira Bodsor's metallic
voice issuing from her room as he entered his.
There was only thin partition between them,
and her words were very dstinguishable Il
jist can't bear that ere schoo,master, an l
don't want ye settin' roun' evenin's a-tallin'
with him Ye might as well a married Walt
an done with it
why didn't YOU lot me?s asked Evangeline's
soft voice.
"Ye know very we'll why didn't, ye sassy
vixen! cos he's as pores q church mouse, an
SOS all his kith an kin; an they'll never be
any better of, either. But the sch,olmaster!"
--witheringly Il dunno what yer father
An We show mighty pore taste yersalf. When
was gal I wouldn't q looked at
as humly face as his'n, to say moth
in else. Here's this other young fell
MSv smart on an ss h rsp an gentleman
@Mother! do you suppose he would look at
ms?"
Il dunno why he wouldn't Folks has al
avs said We was purity enough to look at
Though, goodness knows, ys amt much &C
count fur anything else"
With this parting compliment, she left the
room and stalked downstairs
"Poor grill" thought Bushman; u don't won
der she finds even the schoolmaster's company
agreeable But if she allows herself to be per-
suaded to marry him, l am afraid she will find
him more intolerabls than her sharp tongued
mother"
The thought strengthened him in his resolu-
ton to &C. as sort Of Providence in the girls
life and save her from evil Il will interest
her in something outside of her little tread
mill" he said to himself. ~The moro her mind
expands the less influence Penrose will have
over her."
Finding that she was fond Of reading,
he brought out a quantity OF books for her,
and was little disappointed when she told
! fri md Of hnr mad har SCOTIA
and Dickens's novels, which she had read and
enjoyed very much indeed He not unfrs-
quently read to her himself in the afternoons,
and she listened demurely and with quiet in
terest, showing that she understood and ap-
preciated. Her mother never interrupted them
IS they sat together in the homely parlor. 1t
struck him that she was improving very much
in her physical condition. Her cheeks grew
rounder and brighter in color, and her eyes
were not 50 languid
Il knew she needed something to wake her
up" he said, and added, as doubling after
thought, at can't be that she is getting inter
ested III me-"
Possibly the suspicion would have iattered
his vanity, open and honorable he was il
! he had not witnessed the continuance Of the
nocturnal visits under Evangeline's window
| and concluded that the schooimaster had not
| abandoned the field OF his romantic operations.
! It troubled him that so charming and frank .
/ girl had been led into 50 deceptive course,
| ana ne OttSn pOOh OCCASION 10 pOlnL Gus 10 uor
| the evils of concealment and duplicity. Many
times his counsels were so urgent and his
illusions so pointed thst she started and
turned pale but she never opened her lips in
reply.
One glorious October morning he was in
| formed that it was market-day Mrs. Bodson
was ~out o sugar an coffee, an eff he was .
min to go to town long with Evangeline he
was welcome to do so"
He asseuted eagerly, and this time Evangel-
inc was as delighted as himself She put on
her Sunday finerv and made herself as pretty
as might be, which he thought was very
charming indeed as he helped her into the
wagon. he persuaded her 10 let him take the
old road though she protested that it was q
mile longer, and they drove down and forded
the river, following its windings on the other
side to Pipton Mrs. Bodsor had de-
/ clined to trust them with the butter and
eggs. She said she was going to town
herself in few days, but she gave them .
due-bill for the over-p plus Of her last market
ing" which they were to exchange at GER
tsin grocery store for the required COM
After all their business was transacted, in
Guiding the mailing Of some letters and Bush
! mans purchase of some newspapers and
magazines, he drove to a hotel, ordered Fanny
to be unlIitched and fed, and took Evlngeline
into dinner, though she protested that she was
not at all hungry. After dinner he asked if
she would like to walk around the town
81 have friend here" she answered,
Swhom l should like very much to see.'
Bushman wondered why she hesitated @An
right" said he. DO you wish to go alone?'
SNo; you had better go with me- she
said You will be lonesome here"
sOh, never mind me, said he. But she in
sisted, and he went
Her friend whom she introduced as Mrs
WraybrYn. proved to be very pleasant, trim
old lady. living il pretty little frame house,
with neat white fence around it, much more
tasteful and better kept than the ue!gEbOring
residences of more pretensions. The old lady
kissed Evan2ellue cordially, and appeared
very much surprised as wei as delighted to
see her 81 also gave her hand to Bushman
in fric><y manner, looked at him narrowly
but not uukindly through her Nectacles, and
babe him take chair" She and Evangeline
had great deal TO say TO each other about
mutual friends and acquaintance, for it ap-
peared that Mrs. Wrayburn had once been a
resident of Bodson's Greek. In the midst OF
and said politely, 4 am sorry my is .ot at
homo. am sure he would be glad to make
your acquaintance"
Bushman acknowledged the courtesy and re-
GREETED the gentleman's absence.
There is a good deal of sickness in the
country just now,S continued the old lady,
turning to Evangeline, land he has long
drive to-day"
Then your son is physician?" said Bush
man.
The mother assented a little proudly, and
explained that he had only just begun to prac-
tice for himself, his late partner, with whom
he had studied for several years, having re-
Gently moved away.
Evangeiine asked for a glass of water, and
followed Mrs. Wrayburn out into another
room, where the two carried on low-voiced
conversation for some seconds, and Bush
man occupied himself with looking about and
inspecting the dainty appolntln' ntS of the
little parlor When they re-enterrl, Evange-
line intimated that it was time 10 70, and
Bushman expressed himself ready.
"Don't you find Bodsons Creek rather dull?"
inquired the old lady.
He assured her he did not
"Pipton is much livelier place" she con-
tinued. There is going to be grand ball
here next week"
sOh! is there?" exclaimed Evangeline, with
a sudden interest and animation quite unusual
with her.
@Perhaps, said Mrs. Wrayburn, with a smil-
ing glance at Bushman, you could persuade
your friend to bring you down, Eva?"
Bushman said nothing could give him great
or pleasures; he was extravaganty fond Of
dancing, and so forth
Il believe you only say that to please me,
said Evangeline, with a touch of coquetry
1And 1 think I had better let Mr.. Penrose
fetch me-"
Bushman made some gallant rejoinder, anG
the old lady laughed heartily.
Il guess, between the two, you will get tc
come Eva, she said, "and, il you do, yor
must drop in to see me again.
On the way back, Evangeline surprised
Bushman by requesting him not to mention
the visit at home; ,@Because,"' she explained
@my folks don't like the Wrayburrs: they
differed in politics, and fell out in the war
times, and have never been friendly since
They are northerners, you know, though they
have lived here great many years"
3The Wrayburns are northerners?" asked
Bushman.
sYes;. don't you see she doesn't talk just al
) we do?"
aAnd how is it that you two chance to be
such great friends?"
when they lived at Bodson's Greek, ek-
planned Evangeline, their house was close by
the school-house, and Mrs Wrayburn wa
, very fond Of me, and used to have me there
great deal She taught me how to crochet
and good many other things And so now
whenever have an opportunity, run in tc
see her,"
sYou mean," said Bushman, &when none o.