Waterbury evening Democrat., 1890-03-24
CHAPTER xxx 1T.
THE LOVERS MEETING.

Although having said, in his letter to EraStus. that he expected h's wife and daughter soon and must prepare for their coming, John Parsons didn't really look for them yet for some hours.
 It was fifteen miles to Phippsburg over hilly road. and it re iuired the whole of a long day to make the trip, dispose of the articles taken, and re- turn and it was pot yet the middle of the afternoon when the letter was tin- ished. Yet John Parsons had no inten- ton of telling falschood. Liars and towards were his especial detestation, and this slip of his from the path of truthfulness. like nine-tenths of the white lies so common among all classes, was the result of an inability to readily command language i'll winch to express his thoughts.
 He had given the "hint" which was the purpose of his writing, and could think of no proper way in which to close his letter and at the same time tell Erastus not to mention, to Lucy or to Mrs. Parsons, the fact of his having been written to. The whole affair was intended to be q fine stroke of diplo- macy ny which the father hoped to re- unite those whom he loved. and whom | he believed were warmly attached to | each other, without wounding the mod esty and self-respect of his daughter. It was dusk when Mrs. Parsons and | Lucy returned
 The husband and fat CT met them at | the gate which opened into the incloS- ure where the shanty $; ood, and kissed as he helped them. dusty and tired to des end from the wa gon. Iii, II he l Ol1t ba h,IO Df.l- pS which they had purchased, after waich he cared for the horses while the women entered the house.
 They found the fire burning brightly, the tea-ketii simm ring on the stove, and the tab. set. The ink-spot on the table cloth was not visible, for it had been carefully covered with broad dish; and if Mrs. Parsons noticed it when she removed the cloth and shook out the crumbs that evening" she was wise enough not to mention it, and in the morning 8 clean one was s"bsti- tuted and the stained cloth thrown into the wash.
 Johnny was of course anxious to see the various packages unwrapped, but was persuaded to defer seeing all ex- cept the articles purchased especially for him, until they had eaten and cleared
 
 a look at them.
 As the family sat at supper they talked of the days journey, the prices received for chickens and eggs and vegetables, and what they had pur- chased with the proceeds; of what those who remained at home had done, and of what they would do with the money to be obtained from the next bit o1 produce which they would have tc spare
 "Just as soon as possible we must put up the addition to the house o1 which we have been talking,' said Mrs. Parsons. ''It won't cost much and will add more to our comfort thar anything else we could get with thai amount of money"
 ''Did you ask the price of lumber at the landing"' asked her husband.
 "Why. no; did not suppose we coulc buy it now, and so did not think te ask"
 Well, I d'know; we've got 8 few dollars laid up now, and by sellin the calves we might scrape up enough tt buy the lumber and get it home before the rains set in. The roads Il be too bad for haulin' after that. If we hae the lumber home. then we'd get thu nails and other thin $ along as we wu' able, and i could do the work mysel ; during clear spell in the winter" But can we sell the calves for iai l price? Who is there to buy them?"
 Bob Meeker, over on t'other side o the mountain bout four m les, sac tn other day he'd buy 'em. an pay cash ef I'd bring 'em over any time within t week. guess we'd better let n } have 'em an gi the lumber. It'll b mighty unpleasant be:n' cooped up her , all through the wet season agin', an e , we had the lumber | d manage the res
 of it some way.'