The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1886-09-23


tains to the fat meadow land and low
lying pastures about the river, and then
he was really overworked for a time in
helping to place the new machinery
move the old, and settle his mother in
this strange place, where he knew no
one to whom he could apply for help
or suggestion. 1t was not Sunday to-
day when he peeped through the fence
at Nanny, and suddenly, as if by a
stroke, lost his honest young heard
for, beloved reader, this is only a love
story. Only a love story; only a record
of the great world song, the event of so
many lives, the finality of all.
That tolls one into heaven or he'll"
as the old poet sings. When I hear
people say, ''Only a love story" l think
of that couplet of Tennyson's:
One drew a sharp knife through my tender
throat
Slowly, and nothing more"
Quite enough for once! muses. the av-
erage reader; and SO is this matter of
love, be it in the passion of Romeo and
Juliet, or the less wordy and more COM
monplace emotion of a foreman in a
factory and a farmers daughter for,
after all, "do the best that we may"
It's love, love, love, that makes the
world go round; yes, that makes our
sad old world a merry-go round.
"Love will find out the way" says an
ancient song, and Joe was no exception
to the rule of the Pathfinder. He per-
suaded his mother to send him over to
the neighbours, the very next night, for
a pitcher of milk, and also to negotiate
for their daily supply. This being sue
cessfully effected, he went daily for the
milk before mill hours, and his pail was
filled by Mary Ann, blooming with the
sweet morning air, neat, trim, and
lovely at 6 o'clock a. m. as a city girl at
her late dinner. Joe grew worse and
worse. He thought of Nanny in mill
and market; her face shone above the
mill bell. he made friends with Peter
also; for cats know lovers-when they
are cat-lovers-just as well as children
know their Friends. Tiger was still kept
in the high-fenced c~hicken-yard on the
ens-as a of precaution against
his straying; he was too dear to his mis-
tress to be ventured at large yet. 1t is
not to be denied that Nanny looked
with favorable eyes upon Joe
Parker; a %personable young fellow
with a good position does not fall at the
feet of every farmers daughter. even if
she is a beauty. The ''anxious and aim
less" have in their ranks many a lovely
face and capable character. Nanny had
been no farth r than the district school
for her education, and her home train
ing was too hard, practical, thorough
work. She read no novels or ''story-
papers, the Weekly Couramt and the
Puritan Recorder helped her through
Sundays, but ON weekdays she had
work to do, and at night was tired
enough to go to bed early. So she was
simple as well as sensible, in the best
sense of simplicity. and did not coquet
with Joe any more than was natural to
any girl. She dimpled and blushed
when he came in, pretended to be vexed
when Peter preferred his knee to her
lap, called him an lawful thing if he
caught her hand in his with the milk
pail handle, and was always ready to go
to singing-school and evening meeting
with him, so that his true love ran om-
inously smooth.
But, alas! there was trouble coming.
Tige, the Parker cat, hurt herself Sc
riously in an attempt to climb the pal
ings of his jail-yard, for they were old
and rickety, and could not bear his
| weight. His mistress nursed him in the
house for six weeks with great care,
and when he was quite well again, and
| stronger than ever with much feeling.
he was turned out-of-doors, and allowed
| 70 r0orn onH rouoCo 90 ha runp1lA on6
at once he lit upon Peter.
Dire was the conflict, but Mrs. Parker
fastened to the rescue with a pail Of
water, and the astonished Peter, quite
drenched 10 the skin, fled, while Mrs.
Parker picked up Tiger and carried him
into the kitchen, lamenting owe him as
if he were a hurt child. Now Mrs. Par
ker was a shy and silent woman, but
very resolute; she at once made up hel
mind that the Mays cat should not in
trude on her premises to disturb Tiger
She had the garden fence REINFORCED
and even a strip of wire netting added
to its height on the Mays side; but she
could not cabin, crib, or confine Tigel
himself circumstance that vexed he
much. And when Peter came home t.
Mary Ann after that first duel, dripping
like a drowned rat, she too was indig
nant; but what could she do? Battle
set in, howls by night, skirmishes b,
day; a piece was soon bitten out o
Peters lovely waving tail, and Tige
lost half an ear. Nanny made invidiou
remarks about Mrs. Parker's cat ever,
day of her life, and Mrs. Parker mad,
Joe's meals bitter to his soul with evil
speaking of Peter and Peters family
meaning the Mays. Yet they wer
friendly enough except on the cat ques
ton. Mrs. May taught Mrs. Parke
how to knit new heels into Joe's var
stockings, and Mrs. Parker Shove,
Manny's mother the last pattern Q
crochet edging: they exchanged sam
pies of cake, talked skilfullt of pickle
and preserves; in fact, Hd a likin;
and respect for each otherNan but tn
cats.
Before the last pleasant autumn day
were gone Joe had gathered courage t
ask Mary Ann to marry him, and sh
had p~rettily consented; they wer
"keepin' company now, and the oil
folks looked on well pleased to thin
that neither of their children woul
stray far from home, though Joe insis
ed on having a small home of his OWL
if only a tenement in the village, prof.
erly remarking: 1--WE won't mix folk
!, Manny-it don't succeed; besides,
want you all to myself''-a peremptor
sort of logic that pleased Miss Mar
} Ann, and made her assent hearty an
prompt.
They meant to be married in April;
no less time could the modest array
clothing and house linen be made read,
for chiefly it must be sewed by Nanny
> deft hands; and sewed it was, with I
Intervention of machinery, and almo
ready, when-how shall l tell it!-or
, pleasant February day Peter trailed in
, the house with a bleeding ear, a bin
e ing eye, and n leg SO hurt that