Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1890-07-25
THE LINEMAN.
EV EMMA A. OPPER.

"The hneman's coming" shouted
Sammy.
eyes, sir, it's the lineman!" cried
little Molly, in wild glee
And their Aunt Eunice, who had come
to the door quickly and with heightened
color, saw Sammy's bare legs and Molly's
red stockings flying down the road.
"What is it, Eunice?" said Eunice's
brothers wife, Mrs. Abner Lane.
eth children saw the lineman, Mr.
Miles," said Eunice, rather family.
''Do tell" said Fiducia, smiling.
The lineman lived in the next State,
q when he was not on the road. Two or
three times year he and his associates
passed through Ridgcville, inspecting
the telegraph wires, and repairing them
if need be, and he always put up at Abb
ner Lanes.
He was an old friend now; Fiducia
put out her best preserves for him, Alb
ner talked politics with him, and Eunice
-Eunice put on her best dresses and
. rickracked aprons for him, and with
them a sweetly-welcoming manner.
It was more than remored that the
] young lineman put up at Abner Lanes
because of Abner's pretty sister, Eunice.
The lineman arrived, with Molly on
his shoulder and Sammy grasping his
coat tail.
"Real glad to see you, Mr.. Miles-real
glad" said Fiducia, warmly.
= s'Eunice"
Then Eunice came and shook hands,
with a conventional observation - no
matter what, since it was family uttered,
and since the lineman grew red to his
blonde hair and struggled Intellectually
lover his reply.
81 "Abner IL be pleased enough" said
Fiducia ''Much work to be done here,
you find2"
aE considerable, said the lineman, get.
lfing his anxious blue eyes as far up as
Eunices collar button. "Stoke's at
work already, down street."
III "Haye you shot any more wild turkeys
asdown homer said Sammy, between his
A1lnees.
i CLOVIS that little girl that had
8fmeasIes and whooping- cough together?"
said Molly.
''Real glad l made that raised cake
d yesterday! | recollect how you like it,
/, Mr.. Miles, said Fiducia.
81 Among all Of which the incman con-
Atrived to murmur: "NIiss Lane, you're
Riwell" and Eugene to admit that she was.
a1ndeed, she looked SO, with her bright
dark eyes and raised color.
I8 Abner came just before supper. He
was not alone The tall, stout, black
haired, tlord faced-man who followed
him appeared to fill the doorway solidly
ks "Surprises don't come singly!" cried
Fiducia. "Silas Baldwin. Mr. Miles,
.OIr. Baldwin. A sort of cousin of mine, i"
. 1Fiducia explained to the lincman.
Mr.. Baldwin sent a great laugh into
the room apropos Of nothing, kissed
Fiducia, and took Eunice by both hands
ii. blooming as ever," he said, with
blunt gallantry.
Abner was glad to see the lineman.
"'You generally get around with the
grounding, don't you" he said, not
POLITICALLY, but heartily, as he helped the
ineman to ham and eggs.
"Before I'd stand being coupled with
ground-hog said Mr.. Baldwin joviallv.
He was one of those humorously iollv
persons who make irresistible jokes,
/ keep Il roomful of people in good spirits,
land carry all before them without an
effort. All the Lanes liked him.
All. And for that reason the lineman
did not like him.
Mr.. Baldwin-who, it seemed, lived
five miles away, and had run over for
4he fun of it-sat next to Eunice, and
had familiar and proprietary air
"You get handsomer every day,
Eumce, " he avowed. Don't know what
you're coming to-" The ineman had
Thought so, but would he have dared to
say it to Eunice? Never! "Now, I'm
azetting old-old and fat. Too fat to be
real captivating"
sN The ineman agreed with him. But
did Eunice2
Glow are you getting along over there
in your bachelors hall2" Abner inquired.
"Oh, I'm lonesome as a dog" said
Mr. Baldwin, emphatically. "Lone-
amer"
He handed Eunice the biscuits, looking
aat her. The lineman grew red and white
BY turns.