The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-06-06


young man of his generation. He
was sent to the State Legislature be-
fore his thirtieth year, and afterward
he went West, where, Infant heard,
he did tremendous things.
She was suddenly conscious that
her rose studded braid was not
wound up in decent lump as she
wore it before her class of young
ladies in Sunday-school. She felt
contemplate and out of her place in
the human procession, although the
Honorable Truman turned his horse
straight into the fence corner to
shake hands with her.
"Pretty nearly the same Infant
Baldwin" he remarked. "But I do
see some lines on your face"
81 suppose I've vegetated instead
of lived all the time you have been
doing so much" said Infant.
ooh, l haven't been doing so
much"
"We heard you had"
"We means Rilla and you. And
you didn't marry?"
"No," said Infant, feeling it
singing indignity that he should
mention it, after that courtship so
long ago buried. He had married,
and reared family out West. Rilla
was probably right when she said one
woman was the same as another to a
man.
"And how is Rilla2 Is she as hard
on you as she used to be-"
"Oh, Rilla was never hard on me.
She is quite well, thank you. You're
coming up to the house to make us
call and take tea, aren't you?"
Il thought 1 would"
Infant looked anxiously at the
westering sun. She hoped Rilla
would have the cold soap cut into
cakes and boxed, and herself bathed,
clothed, and in her right mind, be-
fore the Honorable Truman Condit
rode up to the door.
II want to have a talk with you
first, though" he added. "And my
way is to go right to the point.
Why did you never marry|
"Come to that" retorted Infant, a
sparkle breaking through her face,
"why did you marry?"
"In the first place, because you
wouldn't have me, and in the second
place, because l found a very good
wife where I went. I've been a wild
over now several years, and the boys
are settled. I'm loose from business
for almost the first time in my life,
and back here to look at the old
neighborhood before spending some
years abroad. Your never marrying
has revived certain things. Maybe
you've forgotten"
Among the other thoughts, Infant
was conscious of recollecting how
often she had wished to go abroad if
only some happy friend could go
along as cushion betwixt Rilla and
her. She unfastened with furtive
hand the rose rope wound about her,
but unwilling to let so many prec-
ious roses go, gathered it up into
loops on her arm.
"Did you ever know" pursued the
Honorable Truman, "that Rilla told
me you were going to marry one of
the Pierson boys?"
"No!" Infant cried out so suddenly
that the horse started.
weren't you engaged to one of
them?'
81 never was engaged to anybody
except. you,' she retorted, burning
holly in the face; land did not adj
mire that experience when you
dropped me and went off. And |
don't yet, though you do lay the
blame on poor Rilla."
Plenty of time had Rilla for all the
domestic countermarching she wished
to perform before that conference by
the fence ended. Unusually stirring
were her tactics too, for all the Robbs
were hailed up from the tenant house
Mrs. Robb to cook supper, ard
the young Robbs not actually farm
ing to run on errands.
1t was six o'clock when Enos came
riding his plough-horses to the great
barn. He had turned off early on
purpose to intercept Miss Infant and
find out what changes were to be
made. Infant fastened up the or
chard, while the Honorable Truman
fastened to the same destination by
the read. She saw him leading his
horse up the avenue, and felt impa-
tient at Enos Robb's interruption.
Sudden doin's up to the house."
said Enos, wiping his forehead with
the back of his hand. "'Pears like
Miss Rill's made up her mind about