Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1890-07-25
pleasant than otherwise The lineman

was In desperate nOOu
What next occurred, though, was not
the result of recklessness. How did it
happen7 The ineman could not hare
told them then or after.
He neared the lowest crosspiece aud
threw his right leg over it. The grasp
of his hands might have been un-
Willingly weak one, for the lowering
of his body as he hoisted his leg over
powered it.
His hands slipped, with singing SEN
sation, and his head began TO reel. He
was falling-falling in awful truth, as
be had once seemed to fall in a night
mare; and in half minute he lay sense
less and mOtionless on the green grass Of
the roadside.
1t was to the lineman like the scheme
of sarcastic fate that tie first sound he
should hear, on regaining consciousness,
should be the loud voice of Mr.. Bald
win.
"Hello!" Fiducia's cousin was shout
ing. "Just as told you. He's coming
to already, clipper as you please"
You call that clipper" Fiducia's
agitated tones demanded.
She was rubbing the linesman's fore
head with camphor. He saw that the
lamp on the table was lighted.
oval, he amt hurt bad; that's the
point, said Abner. "It's that funk on
his head knocked him under"
Hell come round" said Mr.. Bald
win, cheerfully. you've been keeled
over for half an hour" he remarked to
the lineman. "You can be thankful you
are here. A man going along there in a
wagon saw you lying there dead-that's
what he reckoned-and picked you up
and brought you back, knowing this was
where you was putting up. Land alive!
You might a laid there all night. Eunice!
l do believe that girls a sniveling.
Eunice, march yourself here! Your fell
ler's all right-right as trigger"
Fiducia demonstrated; but Eunice
came.
That was all the lineman was conscious
Of
Was it by preconcertion2 Abner and
Fiducia and Mr.. Baldwin somehow got
out of the room-Fiducia gracefully,
Abner awkwardly, the fat grocer ium-
beringly; and the lineman was alone with
Eunice.
In spite of his Jared lameness he sat
up-sat up and CROPPED for Eunice's
hands. Yes, Eunice had been crying.
"Eunice," said the lineman, "let me
hold your hand just this moment, while
II tell you. 1t was my own fault get
ting my head bumped, and I deserved it.
| was Just a coward, Eunice. I wasn't
man enough to face what knew I'd have
to face. I didn't want to come back
here and see you-and him together. 1
didn't feel as though could stan it. So
I went to working on that pole and fell
down, just as I'd ought to. There! I
wish you we'll, Eunice. He's a good
man and he's rich, and-and you'll be
happy. I know you will. There, l
won't say no more. I was kind O des-
perate, Eunice; but l want trying to
kill mysely. No, I'll live right along!"
Though she was crying again, Eunice
did not take her hands away. They
seemed to nestle in the linemans.
"Wnat do you mean?" she cried, half
Indignantly. "Do you mean Silas Bald
VIM"
'Why, yes" the lineman stammered.
'OllaS bdluWln! Salu EunlCe, With
amazed eyes on the lineman's upturned
face. GIVE known him all my life.
He's about forty, Silas is, and he's a
married man, but his wife's off visiting
her folks in Illinois. He runs over here
oftener now t he's all alone"
Then Eunice removed her hands to
wipe her tears.
"Wal," the lineman gasped, dazed,
Inundated, strangely happy, GIVE been
a tarnal fool!'
The lineman got well, though it was
discovered that he had fractured one of
his ribs. He said he was glad of it; he
took it for judgment upon him. Besides,
being nursed to recovery by Eunice was
far from being an unpleasant state of
affairs.
He and Eunice were married as soon
as ever he was able to be, and Sammy
and Molly, in high feather, stood up with
them.
The tall, silver lamp, presented by FL
ducia's cousin, Silas Baldwin, and his
wife, was the finest of the wedding pres
9nts by all odds.-Saturdoy Night.
A FrOlic Of Fashion