Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1892-09-29

: kitchen table knc3ding the bread. a
/ snowy cap surrounding her sweet old
face like a sort of working day halo, a
! white apron tied around her ample
, waist. At sixty her color was as
7 fresh as that of girl, her eyes blue Us
| the blue heavens above.
Ezra, her adopted son-Friend NIinton
! and his wife had been childless-hatl
! just brought a basket of russell apples,
! the very last in the corner bin Of the
barn cellar. He leaned against the
kitchen window, playing nervously with
the big, velvety leaves of the monster
fish geranirlm that blossomed there. He
was tall, manly looking young fellow,
with clear brown eyes, a fresh complex
ion and hair that grew in a curly mat
all over his head. Friend Mary's glance
softened as she looked at him. 1t was
evident that he was the very apple OF
her eye.
why not, mother?' said he Il
know the village gossips don't like
the Calverly family; but you're not
one of the gossiping kind"
''Shes very young. Ezra" meditative-
iy answered Friend Mary, land very
pretty"
/ ooh. if you call these crimes
"Wait a minute, Ezra; thee has not
heard me out. I regret deeply that in
stead of going to live with Friend
Warburton, the minister's wife, she has
+ preferred to enter the factory, where
there are so many giddy girls and care
less young men,
But the pay was so much better,
mother"
Man doth not live by bread
Alone" Oracularly answered Friend
Mary. "Thee has been carefully
brought up, Ezra. Thee must consid-
er what is right and seemly i'll the way
of matrimOny. Thy father and I
would break our hearts if thee went
wrong after all our hopes and prayers. .
Il trust l shall never do that. moth
en-"
But thee must remember, Ezra, how
powerful an influence the wife exerts
over the husband"
Mother, you are very much set
against EveIine Calverly?"
Friend Mary hesitated for a moment
81 think it would break my heart,
Ezra" she answered, eff thee were to
wed with a daughter of Heth, like Eve.
line"
"Then that settles the question: >
said Ezra quickly. you have done
everything for me, mother. I was
hOuseless, homeless, friendless when
you took me, and I should be an migrate
indeed to turn against your wishes
now. But, mother, let me go away for
awhile. Let me go to Uncle Aaron,
out in Montana, until-until [ get over
this"
Friend Mary lifted her tender blue
eyes with Il plying light to his face.
rs it so hard with thee as that. my
SOM" said she. ooh, am sorry! 1t
could almost find it in my heart
although he interrupted, with a
forced laugh, I'm not by any means
so certain that Eveline would have me-
even if | asked her. Gerard Winthrop
is going there a good deal of late"
Yes" quietly spoke Friend Mary
white, firm loaves into shape in their
shining oblong pans, all ready for the
oven, ''and that is one thing [ do not
like. He is interested, they tell me, i'll
a great lottery scheme; he is the agent
for a company down south. The
factory people have bought tickets
Eveline among the rest"
EENTOthn1. T 017l n 0,.(1Ju I1oIioy-o
''The superintendent himself told me-
Ezra" said Friend Mary. closing the
oven door with a gentle click. He re
GREETED exceedingly that Winthrop had
gained such a footing there. Yes, my
son, perhaps thee had better go to
Brother Aaron for a few months. Thee
needs change"
So Ezra Minton decided to take the
step that seemed like wrenching soul
and body apart. Friend Mary counted
out his socks, saw to the buttons on his
shirts, refined the little leather trunk
with pretty paper and shed a few tears
into the neat box Of handerchiefs as
she packed them away.
IF Montana were not a distance
off, she sighed to herself. 'Or if he
could go any other way except by those
dreadful flying trains! Thank good
ness, I never was on one, and, please
heaven, I never will be! To me it
seems little short of a tempting of
Providence"
She sat sorrowfully in the chimney
corner on the evening of Ezra's depart
ure pairing the russell apples to make
a dish of apple sauce. How loud the
kitchen clock licked! How lonely the
great silent room seemed!
81 think I did right" she said to her
SCI, land yet
Hush! There was a knock at the
door. The minister's wife perhaps, or
Janet Golbe. the carpet weaver who
lived under the mountain, come to ber-
row the dye kettle.
Come in, friend, whoever thee may
be- said Friend Marry.
And Eveline Calverly entered the
room, looking, under her little daisy
trimmed bonnet, like a veritable dais 7
herself.
Are you alone, Mrs. Mintsn?' said
she, glancing timidly around. ooh,
want to talk to ysu so much,''
Il am alone, Eveline," said the
widow, her heart Involuntary warm
ing toward the pretty, fiowerlike young
thing whom Ezra had cared for. 'sBut
if thee does not mind thee may call
me Friend Mary It sounds more suit
able to my ears
IF it isn't too familiar" faltered