Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1890-12-13

uy HELEN FORREST GRAVES.


rurplsh red; the October wind rustlcd
Loar8ely in the scaret-loaved naples,
and certain chill in the air portended
an atmospheric change ere long.
'"rhere's Almiry diggin' up her
dahla bulbs--she'd Il great deal better
be g9ttin' in potatoes, or harvestln
fcldcorn, What do them posies amount
to, anyhow? ! never could see no use
of'cm. say, Almiry -
eyes, fathcrH'
The girl Strengthened herself up flush
ing as guilty. ~ if her little piece of
amateur gardening were state prison
onenso, and instlnctVcly tried to con
ccai her trowcI in the folds of her faded
calico gown.
What We foolln away your time
for?" snarlcd the old man. "What
with the days CROWN shorter and this
wCddu' nonsense CroWdin' everything
else outGn your head, there don't
nOthin' get done about the house.
Amt supper ready"'
eyes. father, quite ready. The
kettles boiling, and I'll make the coffee
in II minute"
"The kettle boiling! Gracious me!'
groanod the farmer. "Sho talks as If
Gre-woOd growod ready chopped on cV-
cry bush We amt millionaires, to
keep fires roarin' up every chimbley in
thc house Jest to bile a cup O coffee.
IL does appear to me you grow more
Wastcful and CxtraNagant every day. |
wish George Storey Joy of his bargain,
I'm sure -
hlnira sighed.
cit don't take much fuel to keep the
fire going, father" SAID she, "and
picked it up myself in the woods. But,
speaking of my MARRIAGE
ayes, speaking of your marriage"
contcmptuously repeated the old man;
"and wish to goodness it was over and
done with Pm sick o hcarin' ont ~
CANT you going to give me we'd
ding, father, us other girls relations
AO2h
81 dunno what yed have" said
Ieandcr Popplo. "There's the best
room 1t was good enough for your
mother to be married in. | don't see
why it won't 90 for you
Father, YOU know | didn't mean
thntp
'Humph - growlcd the farmer. 81
know what you mean. You want lot
q chickens killod-chickC 5 that'll fotch
twenty cents pound, feathers and all
and cake baked with flour and raisins
at double price, and all the neighbors
invited III to cat and drink ut my eX-
peuso Wei, YOU can't have it, SO that
settles mattersp ~
II raised all the chickens, father, and
did every hands turn of the work my
self in harvesting time this summer,
and saved you all the expense of
girl I" cried indignant Almira.
cit warnt no moro than your duty at
that" said the sour old man. eff
you're bound TO get married, get mar
Red. | can't prevent that. But | amt
no notion O spcndin' money on no such
+omtOOlory, nor rs long rs I'm III my
sober senses. And I've told you so be-
fore, and YOU know perfectly we'll I've
been n-savin' and sCrimpin' every cent
40 buy back that ar thirteen acres OF
land that ! was blamed fool enough to
sell to Squire Storey last year, Just be-
cause il iibed onto the northeast corner
OF his iarm.'
Almira cOlorod.
Father, " said she, ''you've got n hun
dred and ninety acres already. What
do YOU want any more farm land for?"
Leander's eyes scintilated with dull
eovetous light. He paused from his oc-
Gupation Of removing hali-charred sticks
from the fire with u pair of rusty tongs,
and putting them on one side for future
use, instead of allowing them to burn
out IL feathery drifts of ashes, and con-
irontod his daughter.
cru tell you why, Almiry," said he.
"I've discovered secret. | found it
out last spring when was quarryin' out
that there rock for the barn cellar wall
that Squire Storey told me | was well
come to. There's gold in that ledge o
rOcks--lots on it. Deacon HoWe's grand
father always stuck to it there was gold
iutho sile hereabouts, but nobody never
believed him. And | was idiot enough
10 sell that thirteen acres to old Storey
for $50 an acre. But I've keeps my tongue
between my teeth, and I've drlv' bar
gain. and all but bought it back at ST5an
acre. Old Storey thinks IN a fool, but
guess time I'll show that. If anyone's
bein' cheated it amt me /"
'Supper's ready, father, said Almira,
nv she placed the chunk of coid-hoiled
beef, smothered in coarse kale green's,
on the table, with loaf of rye bread,
pat of butter--which was not quite vel
low enough for market-and bowl #
scsntily eweetened apple sauce, and
poured out the cheap infusion which the
village grocer considered u good enough
article of coffee to give in exchange TOR
Farmer topples damaged buck wheat
and gnarly apples;
And so, added the farmer, ms he sat
down and helped himself. courteouslv
leaving Almira to do the same II amt
goin' to scatter no money to the right
uor to the left till get that matter paid
up !"
Almira glanced at him from beneath
her eyelashes.
But, father" she said, nervouslv
stirring her coffee, "what do you want
OF gold mines? OF what use is money
to your Haven't YOU all YOU need 2"
Old Leander Popple uttered n short,
sharp sound, ike an impatient bark