The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1884-06-21

ton to roll in advance, without stopping
the swinging.
49," she said, after watching him
minute, "ypu had something particular to
say, but have concluded not to say it."
mo; | meant only wanted to talk to
you, and it didn't make any difference
I what we talked about.n
"How lceW she exclaimed, with Sneer
SO slight that it was entirely lost on Billy.
"But them" she continued, "you said at
supper that you had something to COM
plain of to Miss Eva herself"
~ didn't mean that, and, if remember,
that wasn't just what l said"
well, it sounded like that. What did
4 you say, them"
"That if L intended to complain of you l
would do it to you, yourself"
swell, you called me Mss Eva,' and
seemed very high and mighty, any way"
The tormenting and complaining were
going to be more difficult to bring about
than she had thought for-at least in the
way she wished. 1t was easy enough for
her to find fault and be bothered at his
GOODNESS; but the mischievous delight she
had promised herself was not to be had in
this manner.
\ 81 always call you that to your father
fand mother"
Eva swung in silence a few minutes;
then she said, as if taking up new sub
ject: "You don't seem to like Rob Phillips
very we'll"
"No, curse him." Billy muttered, start
ing up. "Whatever we talked about,
didn't want to discuss him with you, Eva"
he broke out.
"Well, you needn't tumble me out on the
ground, and you will please not swear at
my friends" Billy dropped the rope with
which he had been swinging her. When
the hammock had somewhat ceased its
t,vibratiops he began pacing up and down
bysusr side. So - - Z 1870
l "If he is one of your friends''-he said,
Il at last, quite mildly. He was evidently
;, going to humble himself; but to see him in
II this attitude was not so pleasant to Miss
/ Eva as to see him naughty and defiant.
Then she was not yet ready to make him
$ happy, and had found the way in which
she coult torment him to her hearts con-
= tent.
! "Well, ae is" she interrupted him, tone
u of my very best friends; and he is one who
: knows what is due to others, besides being
: a man who has ideas about something else
than corn and CATTLE"
"And he's got a new buggy and fine
horses" went on Billy, taking up the note,
: and giving it bitterly caustic tone, land
u his father owns over two thousand acres
9 of land-it don't make any difference if he
did jump a poor widow-woman'S claim,
I just so he's got the land-and he's been
q away to school, and he knows better than
- TO waste his time plowin' corn and savin'
up his money for the sake of any one he's
+ in love with. His father will give him a
} farm and plenty of stock, when he's ready
n to get married, and he can afford to have
u ideas above doin' that | know" he con-
y tinued, disregarding Eva's efforts to in
!. terrupt him, and stopping his walk-Eva,
= frightened at his vehemence, had raised
u herself in the hammock, and was holding
" on by the meSheS-"I know your mother
g wants you to throw me over for him; she
% | hac CHI n
. to, and she thinks Pm not good enough for
~ you, which God knows | amt; but | am
5 better than he is, and | will swear at him,
L out of your hearin'; but L want you to
: know | will, even if he is one of your
u dearest friends. rve got ideas above
a bein' clodhopper, too; and if bein
Il faithful, and steady, and hard workin'
!" and lovin' won't win you, Pll carry ZEN
out. Rancho life is glorious and free, and
II the best man wins. You can go and have
u your best friend, if you want him; but
l. I'll not go down on my knees to him, MOI
put up his horses for him, and I'll swear al
" him all please"
- just then some one rode up. 80, it,
Mr.. Phillips !" exclaimed Eva, in fright
ened whisper. "He said he didn't think he
7, should come over tonight. What shall
u do? DON'T go away, Billy; you are al
u wrong" and she put out her hand with {
= OBTAINING, almost an imploring gesture, az
= - I'd to speak to Mr.. Phillips, whc
"a had ~uf5mounted, and was approaching
y them, with the bridle-rein over his arm
u But Billy had strobe away without noticing
!! her, muttering to himself: 'I'll swear a
l, him, curse him and if he says anythin,
q to me I'll shoot him." He passed the hous
Z absently, and as he came opposite the opel
% window he heard Mrs. Fuller'SvOice, SaYin
3 to her husband, EVA told me he was com
II ing either tonight or tomorrow to ask he
u to marry him :" and Billy struck out owe
e the prairie, not caring what direction h
~ took.
His heart was full of rage and bitterness
y He thought for a time that he would stea
~ back after they had all gone to bed, put
~ few things together, and start for the graz
~ ing grounds; then he felt that he must Sc
y Eva once more; and when he had some
IN what recovered his equanimitv he decide
4 to do nothing rash. He knew the old farme
"a was on his side, and he had Eva's promise
IS he remembered that harvest was comm
ee on, and that it would be rather mean
y leave the old man in the lurch, with n
u hands to be had in the county. He ha
ell never met this Phillips; had only heard o
X him through Mrs. Fuller and Eva, and ha
@i seen him once or twice at distance. H
" would be sensible and strong; he would d
VI his best; and if Eva married Phillips fo
"a, as his money, why, he would be fortunate i
Nv losing her.
as SO he turned and went back to the farm
en house. But when he saw that there wa
ns still a light in the front room all his wrat
ns came back to him. He knew it must b
"a late; for though, in his excitement, he ha
up not noticed the lapse of time, yet he ha
watched the moon go down, and he reaS
az oned that Phillips must have received Ell
lie enlargement, or he would not have stage
zee so long. He could not get to his room with
al out disturbing Eva and her companion
ny and he determined to wait about the ou
le- buildings until Phillips had gone, and the
US carry out his first plan. He would not eve
De- try to see Eva before he started away t
'et resume his old and favorite occupation.
50 He wandered aimlessly about, taking hi
ntS last look at the dim outlines of the hous
e On and stable and the tall, slim frame tina
W supported the windmill, and at the grant
=, lries and corn-crib. 1t was in the shelte
'n of the last low, broad building that he ha
- asked Eva to marry him, the Novembe
~ before. He remembered exactly how
ne had happened: how he had been sortin
rd out some of the best ears for seed-corr
IS while the first snow of winter was hyin
oII fitfully about the corners of the buildings
Ge' and the wind whistled sharply through th
mt open boards. He recalled how Eva
mt bright smile had lighted up the little cav
IRE he had made at the door of the crib, whe
ny she came TO ask for few ears to parch-
IN, she always parched corn on the day Q
as the first snow-and how her presence ha
me shut out the cold and storm, as the golde
IL corn piled high around them, had SCENE