The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1884-06-19

1A1 oOh 1AoI
strappin' fellow ~enough.n
you must remember,D struck in Mrs.
Fuller, "that Mr.. Phillips isn't obliged to
nave his son work, unless he choosess and
II Robert would rather enjoy himself
On a pleasant evening, and take Eva for a
it's nobody's business"
mo, no, mother" and her husband shook
his head; ga man that won't work oughtnst
TO eat, I say. Not but what Pm willin' for
young fellers to have their pleasure, and
all that; but if / had the fortune of Lazarus
should bring up my sons to work"
well, II other people think. different, it's
nobody's business, as l said,o
"fCf course, SO far as the work goes Pm
not meddlin' with other peoples business.
IL they want to let their children go to bed
without bein' sleepy and sit down to the
table without bein' hungry that's their
to galivant all over the country just
as corn weather is comm ON the strongest.
and the barley's ready to cut, and the oats
pretty near ripe, and the wheat turnin',
why, it's none o. my business. But when
but when, I say" and Fuller laid down
to his words and mark the elaboration
with which they were uttered-'when you
go further'n that and say it's nobody's
business when he takes Eva out buggy.
ridin' You go too far"
swell, it's uobody's but hers,n retorted
Mrs. Fuller, decidedly; "and il she didn't
choose to go she wouldn't. But she's tickled
enough TO go, poor girl, after workin' in the
kitchen all day :" and the gray eyes looked
right through Billy at Tige, who was pa.
tiently waiting behind his masters chair
for his supper.time to come. Mrs. Fuller
was not sorry to get in a back-hander, as
Billy mentally designated this speech, at
her daughters lover. He WINGED momen-
tarily, but frightened up and nodded his
appreciation theoretically when the old
farmer continued his protest.
Now you don't go far enough, mother
that's always the way with youi you either
too far or you don't go far enough.n In
ing there was a sound of impotence in
his voice which his wife knew better
than to provoke further. So she silently
busted herself over her plate while he con-
tinued: "Here's Billy, now, has been with
the herder's business mot that 1 approve
of the wild sort of life they carry on, but
he vas used to it and liked it), he quit it,
I say, and came to work for me-and a
good hand he's been, no one can deny[be-
he happened to take a fancy to Eva's
pretty face; and he was about right there,
too; and he has stayed with us through two
harvests, and been a faithful hand. He has
saved his wages and pre-empted as good a
quarter-section of and as there Is in the
South Platte valley; he's got Eva to likin'
him and we've told 'em God bless 'em,'
and for him to lose her now through your
worldly and un~considerate notions about
this Phillips chap-just as if he was better
than other people because he's been away
to school a few months, and his fathers
got three or four sections of and and a few
more head o. stock than the balance of US
why, !! say it would be just like presentin'
him with the cup o. Cr6sus"-
"Cup of Tantalus, pap interrupted a
merry voice behind Billy's chair, that made
his ears tingle with pleasure. He hoped
that Eva had not caught the drift
of the conversation, however, and was just
going to run round and feast his eyes with
the sight of her, and let her see the joy in
them, when he heard her ask some n to
come in and have some supper; SO he
speared another potato and almost scalded
himself with hot coffee instead.
"Billy, will you go out aud drive Mr.
Phillips horses around to the stable?'
asked the young lady carelessly, as she
laid aside her smart bonnet with the bright
pink ribbons.
Billy muttered something very low, but
was pushing back his chair whent the ole
farmer began:
you'll do no such thing, Billy; you jus
sit where you are and eat your supper.
Tell the fine young gentleman, Eva, that
the hitchin'-post he can drive 'em round
to the stable, and put 'em in the empty
stallu@
"Why, Rufus" exclaimed his wife.
-.and hat he'll have to excuse Billy
and me-" went on Rufus; sfor we're eatini
tion to be disturbed at meal-time,"
Eva was somewhat surprised at this
for her father was usually very scrupu'
lous on points of hospitality; but she de
livered his message, choosing her wi way
of expressing the matter. Mr.. Phillips
hauvaxot had o1raoIu dortdaA not ~ a.
cept the hospitality of the Fullers, ant
after a brief conversation with Eva, O
which the others could hear, now and
then, a little silvery laugh accompanied BY
a great guffaw, he drove off.
Finally, when she came in and took he
place at the table, Billy ventured to lool
at her. She did not deign to offer him
description of her ride, addressing hersel
in a general way TO her father an,
mother. OF course Billy could listen
he was sitting opposite her an,
could not well help hearing : he
lively chatter without leaving the table
he had satisfied his appetite. He tried ii
vain to keep down his rising indignation
and wrath at her and young Phillips, an,
the persistency with which she avoide,
meeting his eyes brought him several time
to the verge of choking. He soon came t
the cOQCluS1Ou CQdb sue QdQ nedfQ ana wa
offended at the remark her father had bee
making when she came in. But when sh
had exhausted the topic of ner drive, an
had ir~retrievably plunged Billy into a fit @
the sullens, she suddenly turned her blu
eyes on her father, and throwing her hea
back until her yellow hair was lighted u
by the last rays of the crimson sun throug
| the open door. "What would be like givin
some one the cup of Tantalus, and who wa
the some one 2" she asked.
"O-yes,n answered the old man slowl,
| without showing any of the ~ervousn
he felt; for this fair-haired young girl we
| accustomed to having her own way, an
had a pert, charming manner of maxim
the rest of the household uncomfortable
when she was crossed in it, which almos
never happened, or when her right to do S
was wen remotely questioned, which di
occasionally occur. "Yes," said her father
81 always get Tantalus and CrRsus ar
| Lazarus and Dives all mixed up, whe
you're not round to straighten me GU
| Eva."
"Bur what was it you were talking of
Billy felt relieved. She had not hear
and he knew that her father could be d
pended upon to keep her from finding GU
His s~weetheart's disposition was known
him well enough to make him wish not
excite her opposition. nor let her feel tn
she was in the least constrained.
so, I was just making a general r
mark" said Mr.. Fuller.
ayes; but it was about some one
particular" persisted Eva. "You wei
talking about Mr.. Phillips; 1 know yc
were. You would never have said !
might put up his horses himself, if yo
hadn't been running him down just befor
Yon know you wouldn't say such a thir
unless you had been working yourself I
to it by talking unreasonable"
"Now, Eva, how you jump at concl
clusions! That's the trouble with you ar
your mother; you're always jumping
conclusions. It's the fault with your Sc:
too. Now I never knew a woman tn
didn't
80, you can't deny it; can he, ma?
felt sure you had, at first, and now l kno
it. But I am glad of it."
"Why?' inquired her father, taken
surprise.
$50 1 can stand up for him. 1 think
is ever so NICE" and the young Lad
dropped her eyes and went on with b,
supper. She stole a look at Billy, and fl
a moment was almost frightened into r
lenting by what she saw in his face.
"Your father thinks it wrong for you
go out ridin' with Mr.. Phillips" said Mr.
Fuller, not sorry to renew the engagement
noun, hot cha woc raipf0rpal