Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1894-12-13


hair Of HE head no wore somewhat
long, except only on two occaslons
when he had his hair mown by the
blacksmith at Widdecombe; one oi
these was Christmas, the other mid.
summer. Then for q while he was
short-cropred; but his hair grew
rapidly again.
He was quiet man who did not
speak much. reserved with the
farmer. and not seeking companion
ship ut the nearest hamlet OF Post
Bridge, where was the tavern, the
social heart OF the region.
Ephraim was the youngest SON OF
small farmer at Walna, house
with bit OF land that had been
parted of from Runnage tenement
mt some time in the tenth century.
Walna could not maintain four men,
beside the farmer and his wife, con-
sequently the youngest, Ephraim,
was obliged to seek work away from
the parental house; and he had been
employed repairing fallen walls and
constructing new ones, till Quintin
Creeber had engaged him as laborer
on his farm. Not for one moment
had 1t occurred to the owner OF Run
mage that this might lead to results
other than those OF business between
master and man--that it was possible
Ephraim might aspire to Sysly, and
his daughter stoop to love the labor
ing man.
1t was quite true that in the mat
ter of blood the Creebers and the
Weekeses were equal but a moor
man is too practical q man to con-
slider blood; he looks to position, to
money. The husband he had in his
eye for his daughter was man who
had capital wherewith to develop the
resources Of the farm, to enlarge the
new-takes, to break up fresh soil, to
buy well bred horses, and double the
number OF oxen, and quadruple that
OF sheep kept on the farm and the
moor over which he had free right of
common. Quintin would have hest
tated to take into his employ Kill
cas-, that is to say, Archelaus Weekes,
the eldest son of his neighbor ut
Walna, handsome fellow, with a
song or q joke always in his mouth,
who loved to romp with the girls,
who liked his glass ut the tavern
but Ephriam was different. What
girl would care for him, plain, silent,
without wickedness q. e., mischief)
in him, who never made or under
stood Joke?
Sysly was aged seventeen when
Ephraim, man Of twenty-three,
came into the service of Quintin Cree
Der. He served faithfully for seven
years, and never gave the farmer
cause to reproach him for inactivity,
was ever docile, obliging and indus
trious. Such a man was not to be
found elsewhere; such combina-
ton Of great strength, skill and So
briefly, Creeber esteemed himself
most lucky in having such a servant.
Ephraim did more than two other
men, and never asked for increase of
wage, never grumbled at the tasks
imposed upon him.
When seven years were over, then
Sysly was twenty-four, and Ephraim
was thirty. There had come suitors
for the girl-among them the eldest
son of the farmer Weekes, the light
hearted, handsome Killeas. She had
refused him. The young farmer OF
Hexworthy had sued for her, and had
been rejected, greatly to the wonder
Of Quintin. Now. when the seven
years were over, then Ephraim, in
his wonted quiet. composed manner,
said to the owner of Runnage
Master, me and your Sysly likes
one another, and we reckon us'll
make one. What SEE you to that,
Maister?"
Quintin stared, fell back in aston
ishment, and did not answer for three
minutes, while he gave himself time
for consideration. He did not want
to lose valuable servant. He had
no thought of giving him his daugh-
ter. So he said: Pshaw! you're
both too young. Wait another seven
years, and if you be in the mind then,
you and she, speak fit again" Eph-
rain took Quintin at his word, with
out remonstrance, without an at
tempt to persuade him to be more
yielding.
He remained on another seven
years.
Then Sysly was aged thirty-one,
and he-thirty-seven. On the very
day fourteen years on which he had
entered the house at Runnage, ex-
actly when the seven years were con-
cluded, at the end OF which farmer
Quintin had bid him speak OF the
matter again, then Ephriam went in
quest of him. with the intent OF
again asking for Sysly. He had not
wavered in his devotion to her. She
had refused every suitor-for him.
He found the old man in the outer
barn or entrance to the house; he
was filling sack with rye.
Il say-Ephriam," he spoke, as
Weekes entered: there's the horse
gone lame, and we be out Of -four.
What is to be done? Sysly tells me
there hain't crumb OF -four more in
the bin, and her wants to bake to
once"
MASTER" said Ephriam, "I've
waited as you said this second seven
years. The time be up to-day. Me
and Sysly, us amt changed our
minds, not one bit. Just the same.
only us likes one another thousand
times dearer nor ever US did afore.
Willy now give her to me?"
at only here Ephriam Carrv