Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1890-02-27
GYPSY ISAIAH'S WIFE,
New York Ledger.l

house was the lOnellest. MOI mouse |
in sight-not so much as barn, atOo.- |
gate or grist mill; nothing but bleak
hillsides, seantily clothed with scrubby
pines, grim, black-boughed evergreen
woods and pasture lands, where the cat
tie huddled In the corners of the fences
to escape the knife-like point of the
keen west wind.
And, of a gray sunny afternoon like
this, with the sullen rush of the river
booming In the valley below, and a
knot of crows eawing mournfullyin the
treetops above the farmhouse roof, 1t
was lonelier still. '.L'.tL- y =.
Mr.. Trott was in the kitchen, with a
solder kettle .bubbling over the fire; he
was mendiDg huge kettle wherewith
he proposed to rifle the sweetness OF a
neighboring grove of maple trees in the
coming month of March. Mrss Trott
was studying out the complicated pat
terms of a new device in patchwork, lent
her by friend, with half dozen blocks
of turkey red, four of white and two OF
corn-colored calico; and Deborah, the
only daughter, was trimming over her
Sunday hat with newly ironed pink
ribbons and cluster of artificial rose
buds, which she had bought cheap at
the clearing-off sale Of the Stockbridge
lnilliner-and all three were silent.
Suddenly the clock struck, with o
whirling sound, like an asthmatic To-
Gust.
ais that 4 o'clock?" said Mrs. Trott,
still puzzlipg over the blocks of turkey
q, "That's A o'oiock,n said Mr.. Trott,
looking into the boiling silvery mass
over the stove.
1--WE shall have to light a candle
soon," said Mrs. Trott. For she had
never seen that modern abominatiOn, q
gaslight, and made it her boast that no
drop of kerosene had ever crossed her
threshold. She burned symmetrical
white candles Of her own running, in
old-fashioned brass candlesticks with
snuffers and extinguishers to match.
II wonder where Isaiah is? We need
new logs for the sitting room fire to-
night. Squire Draper's son told me he
should drop In in a friendly way"
Pretty Deborah frowned over the
bunch ofEosebuds; she was dimpled,
blue-eyed girl, quite unaccustomed to
the business of frowning, SO that y was
: rather an effort for her to contract her
bronze brown, brows.
"Isaiah,n slowly repeated Mr.. Trott,
+ still intent on the kettle. why, I've
sent Isaiah over to Marshall Hills with
that, $50 bill" ...l....s ..-cs-y,.
Mrs. Trott dropped her spectacles.
Thomas Trott! You hain't never"'
cried she. .agA.y.l.l..t5t 4
dyes, I have" said Thomas Trott.
"Why shouldn't II, Whitefoot is lame,
and i've no notion Of walking over to
HIPS with my rheumaticky old bones
And the interest on my note is due to-
day, so I Just gave it to Isaiah and told
him to step lively and get back before
Mrs. Trott drew an ostentatiousl,
long sigh. .''.
"Then you may be very sure of one
thing, Trott,n said she. "You'll nevel
see neither Isaiah nor that $50 bill
again.
why not?'' said her spouse, staring
s1'Isecsuse Isaiah belongs to "a gypsy
race, and because all our neighbOrs
I advised us not to take him ia when W.
did" ........ ........ ..,.....
ssHe's worked just IS we'll as IL there
wasn't gypsy blood In him, hasn't hep
demanded the farmer, sterniy.
Il uOu say Uut "uob AO htsof "N
% rnitted Mrs. Trott. +Iouiy know 'tha
II what's bred in the bohes won 'tAseru'
= : cut of the flesh, and ivll1 be Just dix
GYPSY Isaiah to,cnt and run With tha
$50 bill. And you're'a bigger fool thar
took you for, to trust Q wild fellow
like that with solid money"
But here pretty Deborah rose, fiushe'
and painting, from her chair.
"Motherli' she. cried, her blue eye
ahame, f'you shall not talk 80! Isaiah
is true and good and noble as If tn
blood of kings ran in his veins
"Hoity-tOitv" cried Mrs. Trott, Il
amazement.s sAnd what is Isaial
Blackburn to you2n
"Just this, /" said Deborah, "that In
engaged 70 him.
Engaged to- marry him?"
.'Yes t0amarry him.
q "Debby," said Mrs. Trott, ''are yo'
Il love him, raother. y Debby simpl
~ made response, land he loves me
~ atld We, afe to be married as soon ss h
has laid up little, money TO- rent
= farm OF his own.p s.s EE gs S.1
80 ~ = ssIn-deed!'' said Mrs. Trott. frownin
.darkly. sand your parents consen
,nI suppose, Is q matter Of no consequenc
Whatever2Hs II ysITfs. s'Ttit 0s..A u
"''tWe Thought, mother, r said, Qebb,
with tiowncast eyes, tsthat you woul
offer no objection to what would MAX
:, gms 60 yeryayesy happy;as d 4 CoG 9
80 l1PerhaPss frigidty added Mrs GFrot
'syou don't know that Orlando Drap,
lis coming tonight with The. s.especial ii
.tention Of making an offer Of marriag
to you-Squire Draper's son, with re
{ brick. house and q bank account
a Htockbfidge.n sss
he may go away again. sal
Debhy, ,.fesolutely. "For never, ,nev,
n VIA mary any one but Isaiah Blacl
ASstfay gypsy lad, brought up |
Y the woods, With nobody knows who fo
n This father, and . knack for chicke
stealing at his finger-ends,' sneere
Mrs. Trett. E i9~ ~ tn1t !,
Ss4 sMotherr' pleaded the girl. +
Nov, Betsy, don't, " said the farme
Y Iasslhat aifi't fair.@ Isaiah's. as good
I'D young chap assever stepped. And
eT syou,f justS tSremember. I was as poor |
~ any gypsy oftheAot When fissttwe ma
,sried. Deborah's my only child. ar
she sha'n't be teased. Come hei
Pussy, and give the old farmer, Q kiss