The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1885-02-26
LOIS.


LOIS.
The Pathetic Story Of a Life OF
Self-Sacrifce.
An old red farmhouse, with it's ROOF
sloping toward the road, and rambling of
at the back in an undecided way until
stopped by the great barn, whose open
doors showed fnll mQws and made a dark
setting for the vista Of blue hills beyond.
Along the side of the house were ranged
squashes and pumpkins, absorbing thei
last allowance of sunshine, and the wide
south porch was hung with strings of pep.
pers and braided ears of corn. The front
door, with its fan light and iron knocker,
opened on a narrow path leading down to
the road between rows of prim China asters;
but the iron knocker was apparently sell
dom raised, for the path was grass-grown,
and an arm of the tall rose-bush had
reached quite across the doorway.
South of the house the orchard stretched
away, the pyramids Of gathered fruit
making vivid spots of yellow and red
against the brown grass. Through the
still air came now and then the mellow
b u of a falling apple or the sound of dis
tant chopping, and over all lay the soft
haze of an October day, darkened here and
there by the smoke of a brush fire. The
house faced the west, and just now all
its little old-fashioned panes were winking
and blinking at the setting sun as though
there was a good understanding between
them. The place seemed the very heart of
content; but down where the orchard
sloped to the road a sorrowful little drama
uvoo hotnor a,.anfal II ya n
merely the parting of two young hearts
something we smile over every day, think
ing how soon it will be outlived; and the
actors Were no tragedy king and queen,
only a little New England girl of sixty
years & and her farmer-lover.
There had been tears and vehement
pleadings, but they were over now, and
the two stood grayely regarding each other
across the old rail enc The girls clasped
hands rested on the fence, and the young
man covered them with his strong brown
hands and made a final appeal:
Lois, think what you have chosen; think
a it viii be to be shut up there with
your grandmother"
Il know what it win be better than you
can tell me; but that dvesn't alter my
duty" answered the girl, steadily.
"But is it your dutyy' urged the young,
eager voice. "Your father is well able to
hire a housekeeper to look after things and
take care of your grandmother. There's
Sam Johnson's widow, she'd jump ut the
chance of such a home.'
A wan little smile glanced over the girls
face. How long do You think grandma
and 'Viry johnson would agree:" she
asked.
well, then, couldn't grandma go to your
uncle 'Bijah'ss"
mo, David" was the answer. "You
know she tried that once and couldn't
stand the children; besides, she was born
in the old house and saws she shall . die
there. It's no use talking: nobody except
father and me will bear with her, and we
must look after her as long as she lives.o
And the Dunns live to be ninety,n said
Her face paled a little, but she said
"Yes,' quietly.
10. Lois,o he burst forth, scon,t do if,
1t will be a living death. Come with me.
Now that l have this splendid chance I
want Won TO share nv success for I In1u =
1 shall succeed.D
.I'm sure of it, - said the girl. with simnle
faith looking mp to the sunburned face with
loving ewes.
Those sweet ewes! AS he looked down at
beyond their light, he leaped the fence.
and, throwing his arms about her. drew
her closely to him.
But even the sweet sorrow of parting
was to be shortened, for while the girl
elung to him there came a shril cali of
tLois! Lois!" followed by a weak, inn
patient blast on the dinner-horn.
With a few hasty words of farewell. she
broke from his OBTAINING hold and ran
swiftly through the orchard. When sEs
reached the great fiat door1stone. she s.,od
a moment with her hand on the latln and
looked back. Up the roaa IS
figure. How fal. he \ -,lreadv Ths
sun was down. the go aged ora and
bare. there.was a c6ir N the ar snJ as
she shut lie door behind her she seemed to
shut oas forever youth and hone and love
Dunn was in one Of her u,oySt
moods. "Where We been. Loisi,, was the
sharp ~inou;rv.
ssDown in The orchard. 81 ans,verad Lois.
holding ont her hands to tho braae tkI,
fire-nlsce for the chill saamad a sne
crept to her heart ~
0Was We alones tborobt o,oa ~ 4u;.
I heerd yoices.n And the old nvonnan
looked suspiciously at her. ~
.sDayid Price was there.n said tho yir,
quietly. A'
s.Dayid Price was there. was he %, aoho.d
the shrill voice. s.Well. If David Pr;ca
wants to see We he'd better come tn ver
fathers house. In NV day youne men
didn't EXPECT CELLS to 90 p~hi1anderin ,cross
lots to meet ,em: and I shall tell him az the
next time he comes here"
"He womb come AGAIN - Iois
fob ,v;th ,Uhot !. 0So, Ls a'sWered
a vo;n Will wna' d heaVy nearby He's
aWhere,s he goin, ,ow., an.,,o,
cramdnno frn soh n1W.. RENAMED
fifa hod haoa ~ aa unougn ene Young mans
he had neva,. haan fn,.'1 raxei' whereas
peen ior'y mhes from MS
N.sn,s. ~ :" IL, VII u..r
,noIa :; 70 me t ~ tnI, miean,s 10 Qhlo. his
ansma LIE W "Ae I'LL INTO BUSINESS
lynn ., soid Gra,dna D,n,. uou;.,
stun netbe Said No ofa moss Du4 Thsn "a f9tiin !