The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1883-05-10
The ~store.keeper Who was also the post

The store-keeper. who was also the post
master, went to the open door and caught
tie leather mailbag as the driver tossed it
to him. "Hain't seen nothin' o. them salt
fish, I s'pose?" he asked.
"Wal, no,h returned the driver. "Th.y
wasn't to the Falls. I asst for 'em. But
them dried apples ye sent, Jabez Washburn
horses started with an ungainly jerk. "See
ye-when I comeback along" he finished
spasmodically.
The store-keeper came scuffling back in
his red-leather slippers trodden down at
the heels. He threw the mailbag down on
the counter and began to hunt for the key
in his pocket. "Ye don't seem to take no
great intruss in yer girl, Cy," he called
out, presently.
"What do We mean?" asked Cyrus, flush
ing suddenly.
"She was on the stage tonight" said the
store-keeper.
"Octavy Freeman was?" asked Cyrus,
starting to his feet, quite regardless Of the
winks and grins and nudges of his friends.
Job, while You was about itr'
job Perkins was a ponderous man, slow
OF speech and comprehension. "Ef I'd "a
ben expectin' of her." he said, heavily,
But, bein' as she wasn't in my mind, an 1
not expectin' to see her, why, it wasn't
borne in upon me who it was till 'Lias had
whipped up. She's sort o. changed, too,
Octavy has. I'd know as twas much
wonder l didn't know her either, jest at
first. She looked-why, she looked like a
summer boarder, Cy; she's changed con-
sld'able sence she's ben in the city. Then
there was strangers in the stage, too-goin'
to Te~wksbury's, 1 guess. 1 must asst 'Lias,
when he comes back along, who they be-"
Cyrus stood quite still for a moment,
watching Job as he unlocked the mailbag.
"SLe has come home Unexpected" he said.
with some idea of pride; 'thet's what she's
done. Her father knowed nothin' of it this
mornin' when he was in to get his sorrel
shod. She's ben am lone it for q surprise
to us ALL" He pondered a moment, then
added: "Thet's so; thet's So," and left the
store, still swinging the key of his new
house upon his finger.
In the early evening Cyrus made himself
smart, and started out along the river-road
to see Octavia. 1t was a mild, damp even
ing, and the air was full of sweet earthly
odors. On the left, behind the screen of
willows and alder-bushes, Cyrus could hear
the river, swollen and angry. with the
spring freshets, flowing turbidly over its
rocky bed. Once he stopped to cut a n
OF little branches from the young willows,
covered with shy, furry shoots. A he went
along he whistled softly. He was thinking
how Octavia's. eyes would shine when he
showed her the key and made her guess
what it unlocked. "She won't want to be
goin' back to Lewistown again, Iguess," he
said to himself; and then he grew blissful
ofCA t4C IloCo uhC1 "oulu IdhO ~ xtO Uu
China to buy their house-furnishings. 81
don't know, rally, what Octavy won't say
when she comes to see that door-bell."
When the great red barns came in sight
he had to stop a moment to collect himself,
his slow heart had begun to beat so heavily.
Before the house Octavia's two young
brothers were pitching quoits, and her little
sister stood watching them. As they saw
him, the boys dropped their quoits and ran
into the harm, and the girl fed toward the
house, crying: "Tavyl 'ravy here's Cyrus
The blacksmith %quickened his steps. He
had hoped to surprise his sweetheart, as
she had surprised him, that afternoon. He
was too late, however, for Immediately Oc-
tav1a ran from the house and came down
the sandy road to meet him. She wore a
pale-gray gown which was wonderful in
Cyrus eyes; there were ribbons and ends
and %f1ounces, which fiuttered and twisted
as she ran, and she had a little red shawl
held gypsy-fashion across her black hair.
She certainly was handsomer than ever.
So, Cyrus!" she cried, as she stopped
painting beside him, show did you know I
had Gomez"
He tool both her hands in his own hard
brown ones, and kissed her frankly on the
lipe. There was no one to see but a mild
eyed young steer looking stolidly over the
barn-yard bars. For a m the lovers
gazed at each other in silence.
"How brown he isl" thought Octavia.
"How beautiful she has grown!" thought
Cyrus. Then he spoke. 81 brought We
some pussy-willovs-dear," he said; 'you
used to like 'em."
She took them absently. "Let's walk
down the road a piece" she said, as
thin to tell you before we go into the
house."
81 don't care nothin' about goin' into the
house at ALL replied Cyrus, ''as longs I've
got you. We can be more alone out here.
II Dat rrrn prr.a -01ry nrr M. Orl -I~~,
with only that little shawl You amt sick,
Octavy, be yei" with an anxious tone creep.
ing into his voice. "You hain't come home
SO unexpected OWN to gettin' sick with
workin' in the mills?"
80, no." said the girl, quickly; "I'm
we'll; Pm very well, Cyrus, an 1 hope" he1
mind falling upon her accustomed sci
phrase for letter-writing,-'I hope you are
the same. live got somethin' to tell you
Cyrus"
"Wal," said Cyrus, happily content
"I've got somethin' to tell you too, Octavy
You tell yours first, an then PHI tell mine.'
He took her hand; it was a cold and re
luetant hand, but he was too happy to no
tice it, and they walked along in silence til
they reached the meadow-barS.
They heard the plaintive bleat of th'
young lambs in the sheep-fold, and the
high, continuous thrill of the frogs in the
neighbor1ng marsh. Suddenly Octavia with
drew her hand, and, STOPPING, picked tive
| vi IL b1GOCS VI oloWh las I'LL CDlIl
pared their lengths with great interest.
"We-you know we've ben keepin' com
pany now most five years, Cyrus" sh'
began.
"Yes," assented her lover; 'thet's So"
"An', you see, we might go on am on
Cyrus, in just the same old way. AM thel
the city is so different from here; it make
the village look SO small an mean. Yol
don't know how it looks after you've bel
away in the CITY,"
CS-,. I.I- .-,n.lol H. oa.1I 80 4.
the least catch the drift of what Octavia wa
saying. "No," he agreed, 81 don s'pos
1 do"
The girl began 70 pull her blades o
grass into small pieces. II amt n
hand to beat about the bush," she brok
out suddenly. 81 never was. Their
was a gentleman down there to Lewiston
he nae a grocery, not a bit like Perkins
!, store, Cyrus, but a real elegant store, witt
two front windows, am his name in gol'
+ letters On the sign, you know"
The blacksmith looked at her steadily
r "Go on" he said.
"Well, he was sort of keepin' compan,
; with my cousin, JinnyBuck, though he say
r henever had spoke a wordto her aboutmal
i ryin', an'-well, l couldn't help it if h
! liked me bettern' he did jim. 1t wasn't m
fault, as | told her. | never did nothin' t
draw him toward me; of course l wouldn't
. Jinny's the meanest girl! She cast it IL
I m-V
2 olUp u lnihuee, SyIuS IuppCus
= Il guess I wouldn't mind about jimmy,
1 was you, Octavy. 1t amt about her
, want to hear. 1 don't knoao jimmy, y
n see."
: Octavia turned away and looked dow
the long country road. There was nothin
to see but the stone walls and naked elder
bushes; but, somehow, she did not want t
look at her lover just then. 81 s'pose
may as well tell We first as last" she sait
"He KEEP a-comin' all the time an he woul
+ meet me at the mills every night, just t
walk home with me; an he would ask I
go everywhere an keep buyin' things fo
s me-there! he did just poster me so-al
r jimmy was so hateful all the time, am Aur
Buck went am said I'd behaved bad t
n jimmy, an must find some other place
q board, am l didn't have nowhere to go, al
a so-well, he's dretful masterful anywa.
Jim Haskell is, an he'd made up his min
a to hev me whether or no, an'-well,
couldn't stand out agin him, an the trutl
an the whole truth is, we was married la