The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-08-03
PRIZE pETEcrIv STORIES, No. Ie.

"A lllIle Mnlle ago, n young ana
girl came TO Digby 10 teach the school in
the south district. She boarded in the
same house with Henry. / heard that he
was somewhat attentive TO her, and L
made up my mind / would not interfere.
AT the same time 1t seemed to me my
heart was breaking. heard her people
had money, too, and she was an only
child. l had always felt that Henry
ought TO marry a wife with money, be-
cause he had nothing himself, and was
not very strong.
School closed five weeks ago, and l
came home for the summer vacation.
The night before l left, Henry came to
see me, and urged me to marry him. l
refused again; but | never before had felt
that my father was SO hard and cruel as l
did that night. Henry said that he
should certainly see me during the vaca-
tion, and when / replied that he must
not come he was angry, and said-but
such foolish things are not worth repeat
ing. Henry has really a very sweet
temper, and would not hurt fly.
The very night of my return home
Rufus Bennett and my father had words
about some maple sugar which Rufus
made on his Vermont farm and sold to
my father, who made a good trade for il
to some people in Boston. That was
fathers business. He had once kept a
store, but had given il up, and sold a
few articles that he could make large
profit on here and there at wholesale. He
used to send to New Hampshire and
Cousin Rufus thought father did not allow
him enough of his profit on the maple
sugar, and in the dispute father lost his
temper and said that Rufus had given
him underweight. AT that Rufus swore
an oath and seized father by the throat.
Rufus wife screamed, "Oh. don'tl
don'tl Oh, he'll kill him!"
4 went nm Ru fms and tOOk hold Of his
arm.
"Rufus Bennett,,'' said /, "you let my
father gcl''
But Rufus eyes glared like mad
mans and he would not let GO Then 1
went to the desk-drawer where father had
kept a pistol since some houses in the
village were broken into; i got out the
pistol laid hold OF Rufus again, and held
the muzzle against hs forehead.
'You let go my father,' said i, "or
I'll firel''
Then Rufus let go, and father dropped
like log. He was purple in the face.
Rufus, wife and L worked a long time
over HIM to bring him TO.
"Rufus Bennett" said /, "go to the
we'll and get a pitcher OF water" He
went, but when father had revived and
got up Rufus gave him look that showed
h was not over his rage.
s"pH get even with you yet, Martin
Fairbanks, old man as you arel' he
shouted and went into the outer room.
We got father TO bed soon. He slept in
the bedroom down stairs, out of the sit
ting room. Rufus and his wife had the
north chamber, and i had the south one.
left my door open that night, AMI did
not sleep any. | listened; no one stirred
in the night. Rufus and his wife were up
very early in the. morning, and before
o'clock left for Vermont. They
had a days journey and would reach
home about 9 in the evening. Rufus
wife bade father goodbye, crying, while
Rufus was getting their trunks down
stairs, but RUFUS did not go near father
nor me. He ate no breakfast; his very
back looked ugly when he went out OF
the yard.
That very day, about O'Clock in the
evening, after tea, had Just washed the
dishes and put them away and went out
on the north doorstep, where father was
sitting, and sat down on the lowest step.
There was cool breeze there; Ii h. been
very hot day.
81 want to know IL that Ellis fellow
has been to see you any lately" said
father all at once
mot great deal" / answered.
"Did he come to see you the last night
you were there2' said father.
Yes, sir, q" said i, she did come"
III you ever have another word TO saw
to that fellow while l live I'll kick you
out of this house like dog, daughter OF
mine though you bel" said he. Then he
swore great oath and called God 10 wit
ness. 'Speak to that fellow again, IL you
dare, while live, ," said he.
did not say word; Just looked up