The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1894-11-28
sSsa Copyright, 1895, J. B. LIpplneott Co,
cHAPTER rv.-CoNr1NuEp.

CHAPTER Iv.-CoNTINUEp
Now, 1t happened that Yates, who
had seen nothing of this silent struggle
Of the eyes, being exceedingly hungry,
was making every preparation for the
energetic beginning Of the meal He
had spent most Of his life in hotels and
New York boarding houses, so that If
he ever knew the adage "Grace be-
fore meals" he had forgotten 1t. In
the midst Of his preparations came the
devout words, and they came upon him
rs a stupefying surprise. Although
naturally resourceful man, he was
nqt quick enough this time to cover his
confusion. Miss Bartlett's golden head
was bowed, but out OF the corner Of
her eye she saw Yates look Of amazed
bewilderment and his sudden halt of
surprise. When all heads were raised
the young girls still remained where
1t was, while her plump shoulders
quivered. Then she covered her face
with her apron, and the silvery ripple
OF laugh came like q smothered
musical chime trickling through her
fingers.
"Why, Kittyr' cried her mother, In
astonishment, what ever is the mat
ter with youp'
The girl could no longer restrain her
mirth.
You'll have to pour out the tea,
motherl" she exclaimed, rs she fed
from the room.
"For the lands sakel'' DRIED the as
tonished mother, rising to take her
frivolous daughters place, "what ails
the child? don't see what there Is to
laugh at"
Hiram scowled down the table, and
was evidently also Of the opinion that
there was no occasion for nirth. The
professor was equally In the dark.
II am afraid, Mra. Bartlett said
Yates, ''thst am the innocent cause
Of Miss Kitty's mirth. You SEQ, madam,
its pathetic thing to say, but really
/ have had no home life. Although I
attend church regularly, Of course, !" he
added, with jaunty mendacity, II must
confess that l haven't heard grace at
meals for years and years, and-well, I
wasn't Just prepared for 1t. have no
doubt I made an exhibition Of myself
which your daughter was quick to see" I"
ut wasn't very polite" said Mrs.
Bartlett, with some asperity.
"Ilnow that" pleaded Yates, with
contrition, "but assure you 1t was un-
Intentional on my part"
"Bless the mani" cried his hostess.
IT don't mean you. I mean Kitty. But
that girl never could keep her face
straight, She always favored me more
than her father"
This statement was not difficult to
believe, for Hiram, at that moment,
looked as II he had never smiled in his
life. He sat silent throughout the
meal, but Mrs. Bartlett talked quite
enough for two
"Well, for my part" she said, i don't
know what farming's coming to. Henry
Howard and Margaret drove past here
this afternoon as proud rs Punch In
their new-covered buggy. Things 10
very different from what they was
when was girl. Then . farmers
daughter had to work. Now Mar
Garet's took her diploma At the ladies'
college, and Arthur he's begun at the
university, and Henry's sporting round
IN . new buggy. They have piano
There, with the ergan moved out into
the back room"
1.-THE whole Howard lots stuck-up
set, muttered the farmer.
But Mrs. Bartlettwouldn't have that.
Any detraction that. waA necessary
ahe felt competent to supply without
help from the nominal head of the
house.
mo, don't 10 30 far as to say that.
Neither would you, Hiram, II you
hadn't lost your lawsuit about the
dine fsncei and served you right, too,
for II wouldn't have been begun II I
had been 1t homo At the time. Not
but what Msrgaret's . good house.
keeper for she wouldn't be her moth
er's daughter II she wasn't that, but
II does seem to mo . queer way TO
bring up farmers children, and only
hope they can keep 1t mp. There were
no pianos nor French and German in
my young days"
"You ought to hear her playi My
landsl" cried young Bartlett, who spoke
for the first time. His admiration for
her accomplishment evidently went
beyond his powers Of expression.
Bartlett himself did mot relish the
turn the conversation had taken, and
he looked somewhat uneasily at the
two young strangers. The professors
countenancewas open and frank, and he
was listening with respectful interest
to Mrs. Bartlett's talk. Yates bent
ever his plate with flushed face, and
confined himselfstrictly TO the business
: in hand.
II am glad said the professor, In