The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-03

yet arrived at that stage OF culture when
of barbarism-Mary Ann told the reverend
gentleman that Deacon Popham had pro-
posed to her. SIS
day with his dyspepsia,s SO the elder felt
that he might venture TO indulge himself
little and he Se, 2ass h Te p his plate Tor
.WeH. Sister Davis, the deacon is an ex-
emplary man, but the question at issue is.
do you love him well enough to promise to
@I-rm afraid don't elder futile"
II tell you what, Sister Davis said the
elder, no doubt inspired by the pie, lets
you and l join ourselves in wedlock, and
''Oh, good gracious, Elder Tuttle' cried
Mary Ann, and feeling, as she afterWard
confided to Bartimus, as If she should sink
down hi her tracks.
The elder pressed his suit with ardor. and
so a third perplexity came into Mary AIMS
life But it was finally decided that she
should have week TO consider; it was now
Wednesday, and as the deacon was coming
for his answer on Wednesday week. she
appointed Thursday for the elder. Then
there would be no clashing of discordant
elements.
AS the days went on Mary AIMS pergle a;
sion than she was at first
''Oh, good land!' said she to Bartimus,
whatever shall do? If l take the deacon
the elder will be put out; and If take the
elder. the deacon will be put out, so there
l am"
Right in the midst OF IT tuesday came
round again, and Eben Meader dropped in
to make his usual call. Being shown into
the fore room and duly installed in the
rocking chair; he stroked the back of Barti3
then took out his pocketbcok and examined
the yellow envelope Then he sighed and
returned it to his pocket.
Mary Ann. as she sometime thereafter
confided to Bartimus, was nervous enough
to fly She fgeted around and upset a
pot of geraniums and Knocked down Eben's
meeting hat" which he had placed care
fully on the box of the sewing machine,
and when she should have said yes she
said mo- and when she should have said
mo- she said yes"
Eben was watching her curiously, and he
was not long in observing that something
had seriously distributed her wonted equa-
nimity.
MARY Ann" said he with an effort not to
appear over solcitous for he was not a
demonstrative man, aud none of the Har
denis Corners people ever ''gushed' over
anything-"Mary Ann?" y
well, Mr.. Meader." IT,
"Suthin' or ruther seems to trouble you,
hay?"
'SYes There is something" said Mary
Ann. feeling the sentences jerked out of
| her by some influence she could not resist.
II am awfully bothered. 1 was never so
upset and put about in my mortal life.
., Why Mary Ann n ). faint T, nothin about
Govt" said Mary Ann, Indignantly.
Forty cows would't agitate and unsettle
me like tnis!'
And 'taint anything about the south
medder. hay? If 1 was you I'd seed that are
| land down."
ut isn't any of that kind of things. said
sry am ad wo see Inc Of lae oil -
WHAT CALCULATED Eben, rising slowly in
his surprise, mot two from one man, hay?"
mo, two from two men,.
Great guns, Mary Ann, what men be
Deacon Popham and Elder Tuttle"
| Eben fell to smoothing the back of Barti-
mus till it cracked like burning hemlock
| wood, and the sparks flew in every direc-
| ton.
Then he put the cat carefully down and,
extracting his pocketbook from his pocket,
he produced the yellow envelope, felt of it.
replaced it in the pocketbook and sighed
What are you going to do about 1t, Mary
Amp
ly plating and unplaiting the hem of her
white apron, IF | have the elder the dea-
con will be. put out: and If have the dea-
con- the elder will be put OUT
Wall, yes, that stands to reason said
Eben, feeling of the pocketbook where the
yellow envelope, was lying and evidently re-
Sisting an impulse to draw it forth again.
Il am in a dreadful STRATA strait be-
twixt two" said Mary Ann, unconsciousy
sermon, for you see this is Tuesday, and
the deacon is to come for his answer
Wednesday, and the, elder is to come for
by king" said Eben, rising to the occa-
sion, there is only one way out of it. I'll
come for my answer Tuesday, which is to-
AIMS waist-a little shyly at first, but
growing holder as he got used to it.
why, EDen Meader.' cried Mary Ann
''Taint no use to put it off," said Eben,
drawing her nearer. as he became accus-
toned to the situation. I've been coming
felt as if it was best to hurry. Marry in
haste, and repent at leisure, you know;"
"Oh, my, this is SO sudden said Mary
Ann. II don't know as 1 shall ever get
Eyes YOU will" said Eben warmly, I'm
rot Cd To oil xinO Mary
Ann, the more / think of it the more I'm
convinced that I've been an old fool for
ee bit o so% so Hn H Wanted to have
winder cut in the back kitchen and the
water put into the sink before asked you.
But I'll see the carpenter and the pump
man as I go home. Great guns, Mary Ann,
] come pritty nigh losing you.
And suddenly, releasing Mary Ann, he pro
duced his pocketbook and took hasty
squint at the yellow envelope.
'Eben,' said Mary Ann, before this goes
any further, | want want to ask you what is
what is in it before decide between the
deacon, the elder and you"
Eben looked a little abashed, but he
opened the envelope, and there, tied with
a faded blue ribbon was lock of yellow
the worn piece of paper which enclosed the
hair were these lines:
IF you love me as love you.
No knife can cut our love in two.
Tears came to Mary AIMS eyes and she
drew close to the side of her old lover.
Why. Eben!' she exclaimed who'd ever
thought of keeping that?"
II did. Yes, Mary Ann, that's the little
lock of hair that you cut off from your
head and gave me when you was ten years
cid and was a-going up to Concord to spend
the winter with your Aunt Nancy. l always
carry it with me for fear the house might
catch afire and, it would get burned up. And
shall it be the deacon, or the elder Or
blush of her cheek was just becoming
to her as if she had been twenty-five years
younger-at least, that was EbenS opinion.
Clara Augusta Trask, in the Home Month
ly.
A Distant April.
All. worshiped one! all, faithful Spring!