The Opelousas courier., 1898-05-14
A Cape Cod Sketch.

Farnham, do you, Beulah?" her fathe
ssaSa; ~eg up her through TIL
why, father, >yhat a question:;
Beuah cried. "Mr. Farnham7 neye|
said a word to me oL>>Sre subject
what nae you think of such i
thing?
"Waal, L dunno; seems to me he's
kinder hangin' round. Learnin's i;
goodrthing, Beulah, but it won't make
the pot bile, an if he had money he
never'd spend time keepin' school in
Hoepatchie."
"Why, you know he came down for
the benefit of the salt breezes, because
he had been studying too hard. But
that has nothing to do with it, rich
or poor; he never said a word to me
of any such thing" said Beulah.
81 amt mean," and the tears COM
menced again to run down his nose;
II amt mean, an I don't want to
lose you, Beulah, but what can I do
about the place." asked Peter.
81 don't know, father said Beulah,
throwing her arms around his neck;
"don't fret about it, but come in and
eat your supper while it's hot. I've
been thinking [ might go to Lowell Or
Manchester and work in the factory;
you know Nancy Eames earns ever so
much there"
"Whatdo think about it father?"
asked Beulab, as they sat before the
fire after supper.
"About what?"
"Me going to the factory to work"
"Oh!" said the old man, shaking his
head slowly, ''that won't amount to
nothin'; times are hard and pretty
there won't be nothin' to do in
factories"
Dwight Farnham smiled behind his
semi-weekly paper the only one which
to Hoepatchie), but he did not
speak, and presently old Peter arose
with a long sigh and went to bed.
Beulah began to fold up her knit
ting.
Don't hurry away, please" said
the teacher, drawing his chair nearer;
II want to talk with you a little, Beu-
Beulah commenced to work again.
81 happened to hear what was said
the barn before supper" he went
on, with his eyes on her face; sand
don't you really think you ought to
marry your cousin for your fathers
ooh, dear" said Beulah, laying
ler head upon the table to hide her
81 shouldn't think you'd say
hat to me-" and then she stopped, bit
Ter tongue and began again: "No,
Farnham, I wouldn't sell my
'elf to old John Mellen for all Massa-
'husetts. [ will go to the factory and
work willingly, but not hat other"
Chow would you like to keep house
OF a gentleman instead?" the teacher
lsked next.
"Who?"
"Me."
She gave a little start at that. "You
re not married, are you?' she asked
With a tiny tremble in her voice.
"No, but [ intend to be soon, unless
disappointed"
I'll don't think I should like to-"
he answered, hesitatingly. Then to
how him that she did not care, she
sked: SIS it a Boston lady?"
"No, indeed; she lives here in Hoe
atchie. l love her very dearly, and
er name is Beulah Miles"
He lifted the crimson face from the
able and transferred it to his shout
Ell, where it laid very comfortably in
eed, as he went on: "My father is
merchant, firm Of Farnham & Snow,
nd, my school being nearly out, he
me a partnership in the bust
ess, but l want to form one here first.
Viii you come into the firm, Beulah?"
Il wish I could, said Beulah, sadly;
but I must help father about the
lortgage some way"
"The mortgage shall be paid, darl-
'g, and your mother shall have the
est medical advice that money will
Now what do you say?"
"God bless you," Beulah answered,
18th her eyes shining in happy tears.
And not a happier couple was to be
'und in the Old Bay State that night
sat the stone hearth in Peter
cottage.