The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1891-06-05
A CLEVER RUSE.
Aunt Kate's Novel Way of Man
aging Her Obstinate Brother.

1t amt no uSe in a-goin' agin your
pa, Icnnic-hc'S had his own way
round here cOntinal, for morc'n thirty
year.. an you'll jest hcv tn give in, no
use talllin at him. It only makes him
wuss.'
Poor little MrA Olcott had been ac-
cuStomed during the whole of her mar
riod life To Jest give in, and her only
chance of peace was in yielding tn her
selfiahly-drtcrmined husband, and al
lowing him to carry his point without
opposition.
Jennie was differently constituted.
She inherited her fathers strong will,
and hc had, much to his surprise, sud-
denly discovered an opposing force in
his youngest child
She had been away from home for
nearly three ycars-this pretty, brown
haired girl with the determined face
and graceful carriage, and the father
secretly admired and almost feared her
y wealthy and childless aunt IN the city
had bcsouEhf Jennie t. share her home,
and Hiram Oicott's pretty daughter,
though clinEing To the farm, with all
its dear memories of childhood and
childhood's joys, chose wisely when
She yielded to her amt's request. 1t
was bettcr--far bettCr-ior her, for
cvon after her going, there were plcn-
ty of children To keep tho Inisorly old
farmer in = perpetual grunble about
money matters.
1t was May and the country wore one
glad smile, and jennie hailed with de-
light the prospect of a visit to her
home, assuming very willingly the re-
sponsi bility of housekeeping while her
two unmarried sisters attended the
wedding of cousin in distant town.
This morning she was cooking, and
with her sleeves rolled above her
elbows stood beside the kitchen table
In one hand she held an carthen plate,
while the clip, clip, clip of Il fork
sounded noisily as she whipped some
eggs to a froth.
Yer sisters he'd to marry to suit
him. walled the nervous little woman,
IAN you'll hev to, too; cf you don't
thcrell be awful fusses, SO you'd jes'
better give in"
That morning the father had spoken
to Jennie of Il young farmer, whom he
termed a ''il1cly catch. She had cx-
pressed her opinion of hi1a in SO decided
a way as to alarm Mr.. Olcott for the
safety of his much priced authority.
He was wont to speall of himself as
marvellous example OF the patriarch.
Make EN- mind" he would say.
Keep yer household beneath yer feet;
govern EN- well, an they'll git along"
Jennie's boldness in opposing his
judgment So stupefied him that his
anger had not yet had time 10 blaze
forth; but Mrs. Olcott knew il would
come and So after her husband had
left the kitchen, she pleaded with the
girl to- give in" Jennie had been very
thoughtful during the little woman's
appeal, but now she was resolved, and
it was the Olcott in her nature which
spoke: Il wouldn't marry Jordan
Moggs though father should threaten TO
murder me"
The eggs were stiff now, and as she
set the plate down on the table, she
turned from her mother and busted her
self among the ingredients for cake
baking which were before her. Jennie
was blushing, as she began softly:
There il some ono in Poole like very
much, mother, and he's coming out
here to
''He needn't mind comm" said
Farmer Olcott, grimly. as he stepped
quietly into the kitchen His face wore
, cunning leer. and his Nvind-reddened
checks were distorted by the sneering
curves of his hard-lined mouth Seat
ing himself on one of the painted wood
en- chairs, he drew the boot-jaclI toward
him and took off his heavy shoes with
n calmncss and deliberation that
warned Mrs Olcott that he was thor
oughly aroused. The poor, little. ner-
vous, broken-spirited woman had
that this particularly quiet and
inoffcnsive manner of removing his
footgear always preceded "A burst of
passion.
Hiram Olcott set his coyvhide boots by
the stove TO dry, kicked the jack under
the table, and turning toward his daugh-
ter. shouted
Don't let me ketch none q yer city
fellers comm to see you. Ef they do,
III talk to 'eIn; not word now" he
goowled, shaking his long finger mena-
'ingly at Jennie, as she essaved to
peak. 'I'm master in my own house,
IN you'll not talk till such time as I'm
lone. You've been away an kinder
orgot how things Is run here, but Won
night as well get broke in now. i tell
GU won't hev any city fellers fol-
erin you; an ef ketch your Aunt
late maxim matches fur you, I'll jest
Itch you home from bein' fine lady
own there an set you worisin." Be
ore Jennie could speak, he had gone
ito the dining-room, slamming the door
ehind him.
Tears of modification and rage stood
her brown eyes and hot words
apcd 10 her lips, but rs She glanced