The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-09-13
ingly under her window where the sweet
scented honey suckle was in bloom:

/ Hast thou feeling
| To see me Kneeilng.
Ny love revealing
Day after day!
When the lattice above was softly opened
| and {. hooking little voice took up the re-
frain to the words:
81 love another,
| But you may be my big brother,
| So now run home to your mother
| And think no more of mev
Poor Patty, however, never had any
| beaux. Nell averred that it was because
| she had no tact, but Fan insisted that it
| was because she was so fat that ugly
| clothes We're more conspicuous on her.
And it was true, Patty could not put on an
old jacket and a battered fur cap and look
| lovely, like Fan, or iron out Aunt Polly $
old sprig muslin to wear with a blue rib
| bon on a summer evening and look like a
| blush rose; and it may have been for this
| reason that she was the first to realize the
| necessity for some one to turn wheel to
| further the family fortunes True enough,
! something was necessary to be done. I'm
| Gle Ephs tinkering round brought in bat
| little income, and the frequency of Aunt
| Pollys tantrums had the most demoraliz-
ing effect upon the domestic economy which
had once borne such substantial fruit.
There was but one steady dependence,
| and it was one which dispIea sed Aunt Polly
I
| Uncle Eph fished more assiduously than
| ever, spending long periods upon the creek
end bringing home supplies of spotted bass
| and river salmon that would turn modern
| fishermen green with envy to behold. But
| Aunt Polly maintained in her most en-
i phatic manner that she never expected to
| see the time when she would thank the
| good Lord for bite of fish Fishing, she
| said, had ruined Uncle Eph, and fishing
| would be his end, for she always prophesed
| that he would be drowned.
1t was in view of her awakened sense of
| responsibility that poor Patty accepted an
| offer from a friend of Aunt Pollys to stay
| at her home a year and attend school at
| a celebrated seminary, with view of
fitting herself for a school mistress. At
| the end of that time she returned with the
| coveted recommendation which gave her
| countenance in starting a subscription
| school, which she at once prepared to do.
| There were happy times in the old cottage
| for a few days after Pattys return. Aunt
| Polly, encouraged by the prospect Of d
more hopeful turn of affairs, seemed once
| more her old dignified self Uncle Eph, al
| ways an affectionate soul, welcomed Patty
| warmly and actually went to work in or
| der to procure some extras for her enter
| tainment But. alas, when the paper" for
| the subscription school was circulated, 1t
| was found that the patrons had already
| signed to some else The blow fell
| hard upon Aunt Polly, who had not the
| faith to symDathize with plucky Patty's
| determination to try another field, and she
| at once retired to the smokehouse, where
| she gave full swing to a tantrum of I'M
heard-of ferocity and duration.
Under the general depression Uncle Eph
degenerated into his normal condition.
company of his boon companions was pre-
pairing an elaborate fishing excursion, and
Uncle Eph at once cast in his lot with
them, making ready for fortnights alb
sence. Inside the little cottage everything
gave evidence of the downfall of its mis-
tress. The larder, once so bountifully sup
Piled was in the last stages Of degenera-
ton. Only a few glasses of currant jelly
and one small jar of peach preserves re-
manned. Even the poultry yard was de-
populated. Save for a few persistent set
ting hens, there was but one inmate, a late
fall pullet which was fattening against the
coming of old Father Burford, a retired
minister who had taken up the business or
colporteur, dispensing Bibles and sacred
works on his visiting rounds. For the col
porteur all that was left to the rem
nant of Aunt Polly's passionate hospitality.
The business of colporteur falling into
decadence went hand in hand. She and
father Burford could ming1e their tears,
and the old man, beginning to miss the cor
diality with which he once welcomed
in other places, warmly appreciated Mrs.
Beasly's entertainment His annual coming
was to her a pleasant reminder of the
past, when she could still afford to indulge
her taste for society, for it was now sew
eral years since she had ceased to enter
tain all visiting ministers invite Colonel
Sutherlands family for tea, or even enter
tain Mrs. Judge Crawford and Mrs. DR..
Derrnger with the mild dissipation of
spending the day
Upon one particular bright May morning
Aunt Polly, her clothing in widest disor-
der, her hair in strings about her face. lay
upon the smokehouse floor, seemingly I'M
conscious of all passing events. Uncle Eph
was busy slowing away his traps in old
Virginia wagon, which was to convey the
fishing party. The girls were passing the
time away in a manner acceptable to their
various tastes; Nell having chosen her IA
vorite retreat in the boUghs of a great old
apple tree that offered splendid seats to
young persons of an arboreal tendency.
Here she sat, busily scribbling on the blank
pages of an old account book that had once
graced Uncle Eph's desk in the wagon
by the elegan Mr.. Tom Derringer; just
home from college. He came sauntering
down the street and paused by the fence,
which was overhung by the poisoning
branches.
Come down a minute. Nell" he said;
II want to see you.
Cant do it, Tom" she replied, aggra-
vatingly; I'm busy
"Ohl too busy to talk to the likes of me-
I suppose said the young man. "All
right, missy"
"Oh, so along, won't you, Tommy" said
Nell. still scribbling; I'm writing poetry
and can't bother with you"
"Oh. you are; well, throw it down here.
l want to see it,
ooh, couldn't for anything" said Nell
Its about my beau
Tom scowled. Very well Them he said;
I'll come and get it,
Nell laughed defiantly, but in moment
the young man was sitting on the limb by
her side.
Now give it up" he said, give it up,
Nell; / mean to see it. You know / have
a right to make you do things and, be-
sides, you said that you know, and if it's
about me I ought to see it,.
II didn't say it was about YOU" said