Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-08-04
ALMOST A SEPARATION.

A faint glow Of July sunrise was red
dening all the east, delicious GOODNESS
pervaded the air, and the robins, just wax.
ened into consciousness, sang as if they
would slug their little hearts out. The
mowers who slept IN the barn-chamber were
Just yawniug into wakefulness. Farmer
Eden was up and on his way to the milk
ing yard, and his thrifty helpmate was al
ready breaking eggs into the breakfast fry
in-pan.
at seems as If Rosa were later and later
every morning, she thought.
And hu-rying 20 the foot OF the stairs,
where an odd, corkscrew-shaped little fight
OF wooden steps twisted itself up TO the
second story, She called aloud, in no very
musical voice
"Rossi Rosa, l say !"
There was no answer.
Mrs. Eden ran hastily up, and entered
the bedroom, where the eastern flush was
already irradiating the rough beams with
the softest pink light To her amazement,
the bed was empty, bunch of faded roses
lay on the pillow, ard a little cotton glove
caught in the wisteriavine that trailed lux
uriantly up to the second story, betrayed
in what manner the bird had flown.
Now l am astonished - said Mrs. FL
den. " The child has got ont of the window
again. she is off for the country fair
where I expressly told her, last night, she
was not to 90. It's the second time she has
run away within the month. Why, she
couldn't behave worse if she was a GYPSY,
and | don't believe but what she is. | told
Joshua that no good would ever come of
adopting a child out of the Founding In
stitute And won't stand it very long
not another day p
Mr.. Joshua Eden, coming in from the
barn-y yard with two pals of foaming milk,
was met by his wife, whose lips were COM
pressed, and whose brow had grown omi-
nously dark.
Rosa has gone again p said she.
"Gone !" repeated Mr.. Eden, setting
down his pals and starting. Gone
where ?"
" How am to know" said Mrs. Eden,
sharply. "To the fair suppose. There
never was such willful child"
- That wasn't right" said Mr.. Eden,
mildly. Rosa knows"
q Rosa knows quite enough to outwit
two old folks like us, said Mrs. Eden.
We were fools for taking her, Joshua,
and we're fools for keeping her. It's the
last night she shall sleep under this roof
"My dear" demonstrated the farmer,
" she's only a girl of IL"
" She's old enough to know better, said
Mrs. Eden, who had by this time placed
pan of frizzling bacon upon the fire. i've
put up with her freaks and follies long
enough. I've talked to her and talked to
her, and it does just about as much good
as the wind blowing over yonder field of
timothy grass"
" But, Sarah" said Mr. Eden, "you
never would turn little Rosa out of doors p
Yes, I would, said Mrs. Eden.
There She's tired me to death with her
wild ways and shan'5 put up with them
no longer. Call the men in TO breakfast,
joshua and I'm goin' to fit up her little
room and let it to city boarders this sum-
mer"
Look here, wife, said good Mr.. FL
den d" don't be too sharp with Rosa. Re.
member Shea young and p'r.haps there
have been times when we held the reins
pretty tight. I'd have taken her to this
County Fair myself if you hadn't said No
SO positively"
o. And spoiled her worse than ever, said
Mrs. Eden mo, Pm done with her
out she goes p
" But, Sarah, think again." urged Mr..
Eden. What Is to become of her? a
pretty young creetur' like that thrown
adriit upon the world p
" She should have thought OF that before
she deted me, said Mrs Eden.
d" won't have her treated so roughly u
said the farmer little CURLY. And all
for a mere girlish freak. You are my wife,
Sarah, and you must obey me in this mat
ter.
81 an your wife, said Mrs. Eden, set
ting down the bright-blue milk. pitcher
with such energy that it cracked from spout
to handle; Z" but there are some things IL
which will not obey any man 1 choose
that Rosa May shall go.
And choose that she shan't," said
Mr.. Eden, reused into unwonted spirit.
" We've brought her up fur baby, and
she's just ike my own child.
3" You must choose between her and
me, said Mrs Eden, the hard lines around
her mouth growing grimmer and more
grim. Aunt Amanda wants me to come
to the Uphill Farm and take care of her.
l amt one to depend on anybody for my
daily bread and she's got money to leave,
The hired men, as they sat at the break
fast table eating bacon and eggs, hot johnny
cake and cold boiled beef, had vague idea
that something in the household machinery
was wrong
Mr.. Eden was unwontedly silent Mrs
Elden's lips were screwed up, her cheeks
flushed.
where's Rosa?9 Hugh Hardie asked,
starting around, az he bit into huge slice
OF bread and butter
1--WE DO not know" said Mrs. Eden,
primly,
We calculate likely she's gone to the
County Fair with DR.. Duganues daughter,
said Mrs. Eden. Girls will be girls !"
And then ensued another silence, until
finally Hugh and Joseph numbered off to
the bayfield,, and the husband and wife
were LETT alone together once again.
Come, Sarah-come We've been hus
band and wife too long to quarrel now,
said Joshua Eden kindly. 81 own little
Rosa is provoking piece; but she's our
Rosa, after all. S'pose we harness up old
Gray and 20 after herr" It's three years
now since you been TO the County FAIR
"And it'll be three years more before I
go again, said Mrs. Eden. "No, I shall
go to Aunt Amsnda's and let you and Rosa
settle things to suit yourselves"
Mr.. Eden gnawed his lip. Patient soul
though he was, his wife's obssinacy nettlsd
him.
"Of all tryin' creeturs, said he, 81 do
believe that woman is the worst /"
ITS all Rosa's fault, said Mrs. Eden
Sc No, it amt, stoutly maintained the
farmer Rosa has faults enough out
1 won't have her falsely accused in this
case"
You're an unfeeling brute, said Mrs
Eden.
You're an obstinate woman, retorted
her better-half
" Very well, said the lady, I'm going
up stairs now to pack my trunk. If things
have got to this pass, it's high time LETT
the house.
" just as you please. said Mr.. Eden.
Aud his wife went away, too angry to
cry, and Indignantly questioning herself
why she hadn't married Hezekiah Will.
Jams, twenty-odd years ago, instead of be-
slowing her hand on Joshua Eden.
All day long an armed neutrality per.