The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-08-09

pending interview by saying:
sNow, Rebecca Warner, do you mind
your own busine IS! Reason won't be
heard by that woman, and you're not
called upon to make her quarrel yours. J"
Mrs. Brewster entered after the
preface of knock.
SIS John here?" demanded she.
"John? Why he's in the bayfield,, /
expect. He came and wanted to hire
out for haying. and Eli was glad to get
him"
Mrs. Brewster seated herself, but
there was fire in her eye.
Eye don't mean to say Els hired
him, kuowin' how he's ben actin an
behaving"
ELI hired him because he knew he is
a good hand and we need help, but not
with my consent until / was told he
must work out somewhere, having been
turned away from home"
"He want turned away from home
to find better quarters to a neighbours,
but to discipline him. We felt obleeged
to turn him out to shift for himself till
he'd know how to 'preciate a good
home, an be willin' to be advised by
them t ort to know what's best for
him"
Miss Becky held herself from reply
ing.
Il suppose We know how he's ben a.
behaving" inquired Mrs. Brewster.
mo, except that he intends to marry
Mercy Lawrence"
"Well, land O. Goshenl amt that
enough? Mercy Lawrencel A girl
'thout kith or kin, or a home of any
kind, or a cent to expect from any
quarter, 'ceptin' what her own hands
earn. Teachin' deestric' school sum-
mers an winters, and workin' for her
board tween times. Mercy Lawrence!"
and Mrs. Brewster famed herself Wig
orously in her disquiet at the situation,
and then continued
"An' John might hev' his pick of all
the girls in town, or, for that matter,
in the county. There's Alminy Briggs
that's jest Iotted on havin' of him, an
see the settin' out she git on her we'd
din day! She's got chists full o things
all trimmed up with tattin' an rick
rack an crochet trimmin'-an' that cab
met organ to Briggses is bern! An
she's got a good watch an chain, an
She hev' no end O. feather beds an rag
carpets from her folks, not to speak O.
boughten ones for the parlor an spare
bed chamber. dear!" added she, with
despairing sigh, "'T seems as eff John
was jest sot on goin' d own hill when he
might go up!''
perhaps John thinks more about
the girl than her possessions" said Miss
Becky.
''Supposin' he doesl Jest compare
them two girls! That ere milkfaced,
slim built Mercy, an then - Alminy
Briggs! Why Alminy Briggs checks
are like two pineys-"
"And her hair like bunch of orange
carrots" mentally commented Miss
BECKY, while Mrs. Brewster went on
with her inventory of Miss Briggs
graces and gifts.
AN Alminy's allus crochetin' or
a-tattin' or sun thin, while Mercy Law
rence-well, / don't kno w what she docs
do She hain't nothin' ahead, not even
patch quilt. 1 was a sayin' to Mr..
Brewster this mornin', it might be a
blessin' to John to come here, for you
know the value of calc'lation an in
dlstry an could show him how foolish
he is"
mo, never meddle nor make NY
father married to suit himself, and it's
pretty certain Johns father married to
suit himself, both times, and don't feel
it my duty to interfere with John. As
Eli says, he's about old enough to be
his own man. AS for Mercy Lawrence,
l liked her when she taught here last
summer, and she seems to be well
thought of, and to have plenty of
friends"
Its plain to be seen you're in SYM
patty with that girl. but eff she merries
John Brewster she'll git nothin' but
hired man for husband, for his father
shall never give him a cent o property
eff he goes and merries that shiftless
nobody. An eff you an the neighbors
wouldn't harbor nor help him, he'd be
glad to eat humble pie an do as we
want to hev him"
The irate woman rose in her wrath
and continued:
'P'r'aps you like that putty face so
well, youW give 'em settin' out! Meb-
by y0uU give 'em homel No danger
O that, but you'll take his work when
his father needs it, an encourage him
to make a fool of himself merryin' a
beggarl Let him do it, but tell him
never to set foot in my house, or on
Brewster farm while I'm alive, or I'll
scGld him! An what's meant for him
is meant for them t harbor him.
And trembling with wrath the virago
bounced out, leaving Miss Becky aston
ished and indignant. She went about
her work, her thoughts in a tumult, but
presently sat down ito have it out
with herself" as she would have said.
'Well, l never!" she CALCULATED; land
that's the woman John Brewster mar
ried, and that's the mother young John
has had since he was fifteen years old,
Poor boyl OF course I'll hire him. and
of course III 'harbor' him. Amy
Brewster's boy shall not 60 homeless
nor friendless either, if it comes to that"
Her thoughts took another channel
and she continued:
"Almiry Briggs, with her trimming
and her fol-de-rolsl OF course she has
chests full. l haven't a doubt but that
she's sitting making more this minute,
while her sirnpletnn of n notber ;e