New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-04-12

through the SlantlflS ram, inc "NfO'
i' did a." not thin anything about this fact how
ever. and | stood in the shelter, ldl! ,hlihI ME-
that it could not rain long Win sue" |''' ''
Somebody in the barn said: "Hulo, Bill, that
you? Amt We bout bowed? Got any passe"
:ers?' 49,. ,h,s
zone. He's goin' to git out here. Amt ms Us
the nearest to that cart with them women III IL
Yes guess tbs. H., .,o,
Something more was said, but the wlha oeSah
a still more violent shrek and vail ..,.,,x 90
What, still another visitor was saying ~
myself ... ,.,.o
The next moment a man spoke. he must nave
been close to the other side OF the boards Oh the
barn wall. He asked: ,, .h
Bout how fur is it to that wagon where the
wOslen stay?' y os
when I heard the question jumped. 1t was
my father who had made the inquiry Att. s.o,
stood still for an instant 10 take IN TINS iac..
Then / around to the entrahce p'1" rnn
AGAINST the wind as against n solid wall ran
up to "a Their and caught hold OF MS arm lis
question in my mind was so dreadIui co"'
hardly speak II. o ,.r,,y .be
Father" ! cried out, rs there any'niiis '''1
matter with mother?' 81, o
Father had his big rubber coat on ana MS cap
tied over his ears. ~ Ill , ha
kissed me resoundingly. The milk ceased g9nns
into the pail and knew the man on the mixing
stool had stopped work to listen to us
How il mother / asked ahdlii' -
"Oh | guess she's all right, "dS '"c """"'''
"She amt got home yet
| grew weak with the relief felt. ! had not
heard from mother for nearly thTge wsr ra,,rr mo
gaze He moved toward the horse stan, slapped
the animal on the hip. then walked III peS''c It,
opened its mouth and looked q. us 'e,'n;
| began to feel IN ill-deiined nut decided re,
sentiment stirring within me. Then | reproved
myself for that resentment.
Father came from the stall and stood beside
me. He took pipe from an inner poSke, anu
carefully examined the contents OF the bowl:
then he tapped the bowl against the timber at
the end OF the stall
doing and vet ] suddenly imagined that | de-
tected a slight embarrassment in his manner
As for me- resolved that would stand there
and choke with my rising curiosity before would
ask why he had come.
I could not understand why there was a cur
rent of rebellion or Indignation in my mind a
rebellion growing stronger ever y, moment,
Terrible hard wind amt it?' asked father
Eyes" answered.
He pu; his pipe back in his walstcoat pocket.
He spat on the floor. Then he asked:
Amt there no place where yous'n' en- talk
minute?'
reflected With stranger already at the car,
rage there seemed no room there. And the wind
blew so-then thought Of n place
1--WE can be sheltered on the north side Of that
cliff" pointing.
"All right: come on. then.
Father started and ! followed. The rain had
ceased. The wind blew Us on. In ten minutes ~
We were standing safely under the big sand cliff
Father pulled out his pipe again THIS time ne
filled and lighted It.
81 nope nothing has happened" | said.
He looked at me and laughed.
"Oh. yes something's happened. he answered.
Its something that happens to most girls some
time or other" and now he winked
What in the world did he mean? decided
that he would tell in good time. | waited In 81
- s'pose you've kinder understood young Blake
all this time. amt yer he asked.
Understood him?
yes You amt no fool We know OF course.
yo- knew he wanted to marry YOU
"No. didn't know It
Father chucklcd as If this were a grlish de-
nal felt the blood rising 10 my head And IN
my mind was tho porpl"Xing question as . why
seemed 10 feel differently 10 father from the way
| used Ia feel. There was some remorse In TINS
question.
Course. you want to say that; that's all right.
you know" was the response. wall, BIDS been
comm over n good deal. N smokn With me on
the back stoop there. n 50 finally he told me-
how twas with MIN. He SAID he never ct
screwed up to gpcakin' To- YOU lie was Ia a great
s..tc now en- tell YOU. n you gDln' III = You
be- n so on. You en- imagine all that The
long n short is. he thought III better come n
see you fore you went stu further away. 50
here be"
"Bidwcl needn't have sent YOU. father said.
with rather high air
"Why not
Fathers tone was short
Because sha'n't marry him"
"Sha'n't you?'
This question was followed by a Sigh, laugh
different from fathers ordinary laugh
Father leaned back asains, the Gin with his
hands In his pockets. IL was looking az me with
narrow eyes.
81 d'know how much ~ your mo;'er you've got
in YOU" he said after a momcntary silrrce. but
! guess wen have one good. square t9lH Then
wen know how We stand. n what kind OF
trade We en- make. Amt that sOT
nodded my head.
You know the Bakes have got the biggest
n best farm ~ the county. N Bias the only
child. Now I look at II II. this way: There's
nothin' more uncertain under the canopy than
whether you'll make "A 60 OF this sin6in' husl-
ness. The chances are YOU won't There can't
be only bout so many bis singers. n we cant
expect you to be one Of 'cm. II you should
turn out one. why. course. you couldn't
hardly be expected 10 marry Iid. Now.
should say 'twould be- capital pan to give
Bid your promise-you see thatU be security.
so to speak. You en- fall back on Bld II you
don't make a go. ana II you do make ten
strike. why how could a teller expect a first
class opery singer 10 marry him. n settle down
on a farm? can't live forever. n Amt 50
well OFFS some folks think | am
Fathers pipe had gone out. Ne lighted three
matches before he could kindle 1t again |
watched each tiny flame start and grow az n
| were thinking OF nothing else Ny heart
was like lead How expressive that old phrase
is, heart Ike lead
wall. what do you say, Billy" when H.
could pun out the smoke once more.
mo" / answered again. | wanted 10 tell
father that | understood the proposition he
had made. but my tongue just then could only
utter monosy liaLles.
"What?"
NO"
Several pulfs Of smoke and then father re
marked In IA very mild voice
"P'raps you've ben N got notion for that
singin' feller-the one that was laid up at Rd-
chel Cobb's. n that made love to you fore
'em ALL"
No answer TO this.
Have you?" he insisted. sill In the mdcs,
possible way "Gals'll do awful queer things
sometimes ! don't expect you 10 be more nor
less than gal nohow. Billy. Have you?'
mo"
Fathers eyes. still narrowed. were on me.
] did not blush in the least as ! answered
An right. did hope you wouldn't be such
n thunderin' fools that. That fcllcr didn'
mean nothin'. | guess he was rehcarsng'
YES" responded promptly, "he was re
hearslnE.''