The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1895-11-09
STEVE'S WEEDY EIGHTY.

aiiuoSt tOucEeu MIN.
There was an awkward pause between
them for while Crissie worked away
very briskly, looking down at the creamy
lid OF her churn. Not for worlds would
she have raised her eyes to Steve's face
Pretty soon a big Maltese cat, which had
been licking the cream drops from the
grass, approached the churn. Crissie made
great show of driving him away, then
returned to her dasher.
"l GU didn't go to the old settlers pic
mic to-day, " she remarked, by way of saying
something.
mo, | Lad the wire to stretch along this
fence" he said, Hand thought I'd better
stay home and do it. Why didn't you 90 /?
l saw your folks go by in the spring
wagon"
Il had this churning to do " said Crssie,
telling only part of the truth. Then by
way OF teasing him little about his girl
she said, 81 thought you and Edith Ross
would be there together to-day"
Steve gave her hard, resentful look out
OF his brown eyes, but said nothing. There
was another pause. Crissie grew more self
conscious every moment and frequently
dived after the cat, whether he was ap-
preaching the churn or not. Then pretty
soon she thought of another remark:
THAT new fence you re putting up looks
nice, she added. "lou' re getting your
eighty fixed up awful fine this year"
eyes, I've been trying to get it cleaned
out little" he said. And he glanced at
her suspiciously, as if he thought she
might have some hidden meaning.
at doesn't look like the same place since
you got the old hedges down and the house
and barn painted, Crisse said. you'll
soon have it fixed fine enough for"
Crissie hesitated. She fell. it would be
bad taste to mention Edith again
"Pll soon have it fixed fine enough for
WHAT demanded Steve.
ooh, nothing said Crissie, awIiwardly.
'only | was only going to say you'd soon
have it all ready for Edith to step light
intow
Steve regarded her frowningly momen,
before he spoke. Then What a'c you
talking to me about her for all the time -
he wanted to know. 81 haven't got any
thing to do with her.
"Why, you took her to the fart said
Crissie.
''Because had to- said steve. "She
was visiting at our house, and she com
planned of having no way Of going to the
fair, and grandmother asked me before her
if wouldn't take her, and said would
That's how | came to do it, Anyway, You
knew better than that, Crisse." said Steve.
almost sternly. He got up and stood right
IN front of her with nothing but the churn
between them. 'You knew which girl it
was that | fixed up my farm for! You
knew it wasn't Edith Ross
Crissie was frightened and she churned
away very hard without saying anything.
Steve put his hand on the dasher. "Dont
churn so hard, Crisse' he said "Sce,
the butter has come. 1t don't need it. |
want to talk to you
Crissie tried to move the dasher. but she
could not. Then she just stood there,
looking down, and twisting the corner of
her cream-bespattercd apron. She felt very
naughty and unworthy, though she hardly
knew what she had done.
at was on account of you | weeded out
my eighty, Crissie' Steve said ''You
know it was because | was such IA bad
farmer that you gave me the mittcn last
spring; you know that was the reason,
Crissie.''
Crissie gave him Il quick, astonished
look However in the world had he found
that out? She was sure she had never told
anyone outside her own family.
at was all right of you to give me the
mitten then, Crissie," Steve went on.
"When | think of the way | used to farm
I'll own up you were right though it about
killed me at the time. 1t made man OF
me, too, for Pll never again be the kind Of
farmer | was, whether you have me OF
not But, Crissic, haven't anything
against me now, have you: You like me
a little, l know you do, and you can't say
any more that | raise more weeds than
corn. Crisse, is my eighty nice enough
for you now ?'
Crissie wanted to yield, but she could
not say yes simply and plainly like another
girl.
While she was thinking about it Steve
reached out his arm and drew her to him
creamy apron and all The old Maltese
approached the churn and licked the cream
from the sides; then he stood upon his
hind legs and licked the lid. lie ever
gulped down the Jumps of butter that had
come up through the hole. No doubt ht
wondered greatly what Crisse was about tc
let him do it, but Crssie had no eyes fol
old Malty just then.
She happened to catch Il glimpse OF
Steves face as he drew her 10 him, and
something she saw there put Il strange new
feeling in her heart. 1t was Il feeling Of
wild, hcadlong alteration for Steve. She
forgot all about being pert and saucy. She
even Grew tender for Il moment ''rll