The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1886-05-27

have any Sinking this season. Louise
sat silent, smoothing down her black
alpaca-Lyman had come before 7:30-
and saying nothing. But when he fin
ally got up to go. she rose also.
.Be you certain it was himp" she
said.
"WhoP" said the young man.
s.Be you certain it was Biarp"
THAT l met walking with that girl
that's to Baldwin'sp Oh, land! yes"
Lyman responded.
The hired girl looked sharply at
Louise where she stood without moving
after Lyman had gone. She was not a
cook nor a servant-she would have re-
sented being called sucki she was q
'.hired girl" She was on equal terms
with the family; she ate at the same
table, occupied the sitting-room when
not engaged in the kitchen, and entered
into the family discussions.
Il declare fort Louise, I" she said with
sympathizing asperity' .'if I'd take on
to worry. Biar Gilfett amt the only
Teller in the world-great spindle-legged
thingr'
Louise only looked at her silently. 1t
was beyond her power not to worry; it
was beyond her power to be any thing
but utterly lost and miserable under this
great calamity: and she was too simple
and honest to pretend to any thing else.
She had never thought much about her
feelings toward Biar Gillett, but now
she realized dimly that the pale-haired,
solemn-faced young man was in some
way necessary to her only happiness,
and that now it was probable she had
lost him. She did not give up all hope.
Sunday afternoon she put on her black
alpaca. and her red andblack shawl, and
stood watching for him in the front
window. She could mo- believe that he
would not come; and when she saw the
t~wo-seated buggy coming down the
road, with BARS lanky form on the
front seat the dull weight at her heart
lifted, and left her in a joyful glow.
The mud was dried to-day; the wheels
of BARS buggy were black and shiney;
Biar himself had an unusual air of
smartness, and wore a new hat-a wide
brimmed felt. But he drove straight by
without turning his head. The hired
girl had been watching from the other
window.
"Wal, I never!" she calculated.
"He's going down to Baldwin's after
her, said Louise unsteadily.
oval, there-r the hired girl be-
gan, with some motive of consolation;
but she stopped then, powerless before
the look of suffering in the girls face.
She watched her with helpless sympathy
as she went upstairs to take off the black
alpaca.
Lyman Baker came in the next even
ing, and again three days afterwards.
On that occasion Mr.. and Mrs. Pinney
and the hired girl went out into the
kitchen; it looked as though Lyman was
going to be steady company. The
Young man sat in a large rocking-chair
with figured calico cushions and GRO
cheted tidy. Louise had been sitting at
the table, with its stamped oil-cloth
cover and its red-wicked kerosene lamp,
with a small p~aste-board box before her,
whose contents she had been soberly
lingering over. 1t held all that Biar
had ever given her, a plain silk hand
kerchief, a small tintype of himself and
a red carnelian bracelet. She put the
cover on the box and dropped it into
her lap when the visitor entered. She
knew quite well that Biar had deserted
her; that he was drawn away and held
fast by the superior charms of another
girl. and that he was s'going with" her
steadily; that there was no hope OF re-
gaining him. She had settled down
into a hopelessness which was worse
than the first sharp pang; and her de.
spair had developed a quiet passivity.
She was not troubled by Lyman Bakers
visit; she had not the jealousy for hel
trampled hopes nor the se~lf-assertion
necessary for rebelling against him,
even in thought. She accepted him as
part of her misfortune.
Lyman broke the long opening 81
lence by a remark concerning the
weather. He followed it up, after an.
other pause, with a piece of informa.
ton.
"They say that Biar Gillett and that
girl to Baldwin's-what's her nameP"
stMandy Sawyer" said Louise, rails
ing her eyes in quick apprehension,
They say they're going to be mar
ried. They say BARS been over to the
Center and got a license, and they're
going to be married next Sunday night
after meeting"
"You don't say SOP said the girl. Blu
she felt no astonishment. The sudden
ness of the contamination was a fit ele
ment in the crude young courtship, anl
she felt it vaguely. Her hands wer,
unsteady, and she rubbed them up ant
down the little paste board box. Thel
she put it on the table and showed i
away, without anger. 1t did not seer
to belong to her now. Lyman Bake
looked at her undisturbedly. He knew
ing company, but he had nc suspicion
that she could have given Biar Gillet1
more than a passing thought, in tn
face of his W superior attractions. !
sudden idea occurred to him-an ide;
which was encouraged by recollection
of Tilley Dillingham; and the last SO
!, ciable. He moved about briskly on hi
. calico cushion, staring at Louise. Tn
: : idea, considered in the abstract, please
: him. his small, dark face Redeemed eS
! citedly and his mouth drew back in
smile over the prominent tooth.
, 81 guess Biar Gillett don't suspicion
, but what you're worrying some abou
: him and that girl to 2aidwin's," h
: said.
He was thinking that perhaps TIL
Dillingham; fiattered herself that he "a
:. worrying about her.
> '.It'd be a pretty good one on him
you sh'd-if you vas to''--he rubbe
: up his hair and cleared his throat
, ~..S'posing 1 run over to the Center an
. get a license, and you and me was t
get married next Sunday night afte
: meeting. same as him? l guess he'd b
: considerable surprised" 1t was Till
= Dillingham's figure, however, which h
pictured wildly to himself. Louis
. stared at him.
II s'pose it'd be rather sudden" tn
young man pursued; he was emboldeI
ed by her evident amazement and awe
and he spoke patronizingly. But L