The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1882-09-28

e1@0Sh bhhh b~1AoH SAS hNA AaA "a h8A obAe6 |
gle these years Co get a living and pay off the
small mortgage on her home. She was like
many another OF her type, slight but wiry,
frail but tenacious, and she had carried heavier
burdens than people knew, being much 100
proud 10 tell her neighbors her troubles. "The
Lord helps them that help themselves, you
know she said.
"Yes, that is a comfortin, thought Aunt
Phemy said, heaying that pious sigh with which
some persons always refer to the Deity, & an
no doubt you've found it true. But you deserve
a turn of luck, Mis- Holmes. Now, if you was
to think of marryin' agin? OF course it's q
solemn matter. / dunno as I ever could make
up my mind to it if 'Lias was to leave me; but
therei you're young an pretty yet, an of
course you could have chances if you was dis
posed to consider them.'' Mrs. Smith was
growing diplomatic. and though, inspired by
all the signs of "cleverness'' she saw about
her, she felt sure hat here was JUS the one
for Joseph, she moved to her object wi L eau
ton. But a dark flush rose to the widows
pale cheek at her words. Her married life had
been singularly happy, and her husband was
the one love of her life.
81 should have to forget a good deal before
l could think of marrying again, Mrs. Smith,"
she said, with simple dignity, ''and l don't
think that any worldly prosperity would make
up for what I'd lose. I'm thankful there's no
need of it either. The mortgage is paid now,
and next year Pm thinking of putting a little
addition to the house. 1 had more people
offer this year than 1 could take, and you
know a thing like this always grows. It's
ndru WORK., OUT L uOn'C mluu lHdI, ANU lO Oue
shall ever say John Holmes widow forgot
him for another man. There's widows, and
there's widows, Indeed, you know, in Script
ure, and l hope Pm one of the last. Aud
then, you see, | have my Matte, and she's
growing to be such a comfort to me. She's
her father all over"
Mrs. Smith congratulated herself, as she
changed the conversation, that she had held
her peace. And yet as, a half-hour later, re.
freshed by a glass of milk and a piece of
pound-cake, she left Widow Holmes, he was
like the Queen of Shcba in enc hi ": there
was no spirit left in her. Nothing but he re-
Election that if she gave it ~, that would be
the end of it all, urged her to persevere. She
was sure that, left to himself. Joe would never
find a wife, and she was beievolcntly det~r-
mined to give ihs farm a mistress and her
brother in-law n housekeeper before winter
storms threatened him with another attack of
rheuma ism. She remembered only too well
the last one, and the cares il had laid upon
her. But it took her a couple of days 10 re-
cover her spirits, and it was her husband who
started her on a fresh quest.
81 DECLARE she had said To- him, in vague
confession OF her perplexity. , sit seems as IL
when youdidn't want them oil m ii Is and wild
ders were as thick as blacklierries. an to be
had for the askin';; an then, wien you'd d. want
them, they can't be had no wsv."
'If you're thinking of Joseph" answers
Elias, deliberately, "why wouldn't Priscilly
Watrous, over in East Canton, be the right
one for him! She's a widder, but she hain't
got any children, and she's Young and good
looking, so to speak. And she is forehanded
too. and none so comfortable to hum with her
younger sisters but what she'd be glad of a
change"
"Why, she's the very one Mrs. Smith.
"An an old friend of Hetty's eldest, too, an
she's visited there time an time again, an
was a prime favorite with all IF them. Ishall
jest have you hitch up an drive me over there
tomorrow, 'Liss. 1 don't let grass grow un
der my feet when I've go. an idee. AM if hi
gifts her." she added, deyoutly. 81 shall think
it a clear providence that the Others diln't
want him. She's worth the whole lot Of
them
Alls for Aunt Phemy's hopes! When next
day she alighted at Squire Watrous' door, her
welcome was cordial, but there was an air of
mys cry about the house that struck her at
once. Conversation tagged, becaus, Mrs.
Priscilla's mind was so evidently absorbed in
something greater than the pr1Spec s OF the
corn crop and the general prevalence of measles
among the children of East Can On.
Has anything happened to you!" asked
AunT Phemy, after desperate at empts 10
fathom the matter by hint and suggestion.
"No-that is-n lthing-so particular-has
ha~ppened'-with a curious infection.
well, is some hin' goin' 10, thenw per-
sisted Mrs. Smith. "You look queer, Prissy.
l should Almost think there was a we ldin'
comm of; an 1 remember now, | did hear
Caleb Walsh was payin' at. en- ion to Jennie.
Well, there now'-as the fluctuating colcr on
Priscilla's check, BETRAYED her-".you don't
really mean that you-that yol-"
Rut Mrs. Priscilla did, and before Mrs.
Smith went away she had seen the wedding
dress and heard full particulars. Yes, it's a
little sudden" the expectant bride said, "but
you know when a bachelor makes up his mind
: he's usually in q hurry. It's about as bad as a
w%idower."
Mrs. Smith groaned in spirit as she climbed
into the seat beside her husband for the ride
! home. Maybe we'd better g round by 10.
!, seph's," she sugges ed in a depressed way to
: him. "Id like to see how they're gettin'
!. along"
1t had been but a week since Mr.. Joseph's
visit, but so. much had happened to Aunt
, Phemy in that time that it seemed to her much
longer. Pretty Phemy ran out to meet them
course, am lie. It's been such a while since
you were here, and I've so much to tell YOU
; And l want You to see the churning [ did to
day. Father says Pm getting to be a famous
housewife, and [ am proul-just q little, you
know-of This butter"
"But where is your father?n Aunt Phemy
: asked; for at that twilight hour Uncle Joe
was usually stretched at case in a chair on the
, back porch.
: 40, he's just stepped down through the
> orchard a minute. He'll be back soon. Cues:
= how many pounds l had, now" she added
leading the way to the dLlry. And with dis
: last honey, and the yield of Phemy's pet COW
I a half-hour and more went by before Aunl
7 Phemy knew it. Her husband had stepped
; down to the orchard bars, and was holding
I ! OUlSC l. OhSlC " . III llll So DDd
the two had The house to themselves.
/ 'Bu where is Joseph?" Aunt Phemy askei
again, as at last they went back to the sitting
room. "Seems to me he amt usually in TIN
!, habit of going off az this time of night" shl
a added, regarding The tall clock, whose hand
pointed TO a quarter plst eight. "Your uncle
S an me must be gittin' home. It's darl
already"
az wish you wouldn't go just yet, auntie.
I coaxed Phemy. 'There's a new moon, ant
q 'twon't make any matter il you amt home til
nine. Father I'll come soon, l know, aud be
fore he gets here l want to show you my ney
polonay."
So another half hour went by, and then Aun
Phemy, starting up, repeated her question
d with more emphasis: "Where in creation i
lie Josephl'
m But even as she spoke at the gate at tn
end of the lane opened. and a minute late
Uncle Joe came up to the porch where hi
N sister-in-law stood waiting for him. But a
l he drew near she saw with q kind of stupe
q faction that he wore his Sunday best, an
had the sheepisb air of a bashful man caugh
a in something agreeable but slightly improper
swell, l wouldn't have believed my eyes 4!
cried Aunt Phemy. 81 declare 10 graciou
ne If you haven't been a-courtin' Joseph Badger
% l only hope you've had better luck than mt
,e If ever | try again to get a wife for a man,
shall be clean daft
n sI.Im sorry you took so much trouble
ID Phemy," Joseph said, helplessly. II didn
20 mean to put you out; and, come to think
v IL bildG hight, Il occulcu uCuGGiu budI
10 should try myself. L was a-comin' to tell 20
IN tomorrow that twas all settled. You see,
thought of jest the right one that same nigh
/ come nome an found her here chattin' wit
Phemy, am it come over me like a flash tina
a she was the very one. You may think he
pretty young, but her mo hers comin' rigt
i. in to help, and AIMS got an old head on hi
shoulders"
NJ "Youdon't can't mean that CHI
le of a girl, Ann Barnum! Well, l never!
ne never! She's scarce a year older than Phem,
Ie an not a cent to bless herself with. an HI
ID mo her to support! Well, you have done wei
Id Joseph Badger"
r "She's a good girl, an 1 like herr al
swered Uncle Joe, holding up his head as h
1r sister-in-law had not seen him for many
day. "And Hetty always did, too. 1 don
1t know why 1 never thought of it before, for L,
NJ said often l wished l could help her some wa
She's had n hard row to hoe the last two years
an as for her age, that's my lookout. 1 dal
say l could have had any woman in Cantor
of but"
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