The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1898-12-27
BEN'S DIPLOMACY.

-
She stood on the back veranda max
ing up the butter. The sleeves of her
blue print gown were rolled up past
her elbows, and her hands were yet
swollen and red from the scalding and
chilling process.
Suddenly there came sharp knock
ing at the hall door, and a tall, stern
featured woman thrust her head through
the bathroom window, which looked
out on the back veranda.
"There's some one at the door, Bes-
sie," she said, and her whisper could
have reached to the house front.
The girl hurried along the narrow
passage, unrolling her right sleeve as
she went, which was the one to be pre-
sented when the door should be opened.
"Good morning." she said as serene
ly as could be expected from one whose
hopes had been raised by shadow on a
frosted pane and shattered by the open
ing Of the door.
"Good morning." said the man at
the doorstep, and his eyes smiled
the exact spot where her face was, ac-
cording to his focus. GOOD morning.
IL thought maybe you'd like some
peas. They're quite young and fresh.
and I've just pulled them."
"We've just got some" said the girl.
"John always comes on Saturday"
81 thought maybe you'd have them, I"
said the young man to the knocker,
"but p'raps you'd rather have flowers. 1"
The door was jerked back, and anoth-
er face appeared above the girls shoul-
der. The young man moved his eyes to
| a hole that had been made for latch
key.
"Good morning. Mrs. Stuart" he
said eagerly. "I-I just looked round
to see if Miss Bessie wouldn't like some
fresh young peas. I had a good crop OF
'em this time"
"Why, of course Bessie will" said
obliged to you for 'em. Aren't you Bes.
sie?'
eyes, mother" she said, but the
words seemed to come from behind shut
teeth.
"What are you going to do with your
self on Sunday, Benz" asked Mrs. Stu.
art.
81 reckon I'm just going to stay al
home by myself" said the young man.
but an anxious shading stole into hi
smile.
"You might as we'll drop in and taxi
cup of tea with us. Bessie and viii
be alone" said Mrs. Stuart, her natura
grimness climb bing over her blandness.
"Thanks, he said, with alaority; ".
don't mind if do"
When the hall door was closed, tn,
two women took their way to the bacl
veranda.
81 don't want his peas" Bessie said
81 hate them."
"No, you DON'T" said her stepmoth
er in her clear cut voice. "You wan
'em, and you're going to take 'em, ant
you're going to behave civil to hin
when he comes on Sunday"
"I'm not, said the girl, but weak
ness streaked her voice.
er. you'll have him when you're ask
ed. And young Macalister's gone t
Western Australia
Sunday was ushered in with the sing
ing of locusts. A cloudless blue SIX
dropped down from the heights to tn
horizon, and a hillside of grim gum
stood stark, as if benumbed by the mul
titude of voices filling the air.
Bessie put on white muslin cow
/ b IL
Her hat was broad brimmed and dee
down over her face, the lace touches 0
her gown and headgear seeming to be
long to her as the petals do to rose.
Ben Stevens watched her through tn
! service, his ewes hiding the secret Q
his truancy that his half turned hea
would have revealed.
He walked down the road with ther
afterward-that little cold girl separat
! ed from him by Mrs. Stuart and
whole wide world of Indifference.
He sat through tea meal by her sid
and talked to her mother about wee
which spoiled the milk, and he had ca,
en- of soda bread and currant buns.
And now he was watching the moo
come up through the trees, while sol
!, of uncouth bliss was surging in hi
, heart.
Wouldn't you rather go to church,?
asked Bessie.
"No," he answered and let his eye
begin his story.
81 believe / left the canary on tn
, dairy wall, she said and stood up.
"Never mind" said Ben, rising {
tower above her.
"But the mosquitoes, she faltered.
Never mind" he said again, an
dropped his head to her level, blurtin
out passionate love word into her cal
"No-ne-noP' she said.
! "You re shy !" he said. Now, aren
! you? Oh, Bessie, l do love you sop
4 A tall form emerged from the dool
way.
, "Shyness soon wears off," said Mri
f, Stuart. 81 suppose, Ben Stevens, 20
! mean stealing my girl, hanging owe
her like this?"
! 81 love her., said the young man.
8 "When did you think of getting maj
= ried?" asked Mrs Stuart.
! "Soon's ever Bessie likes" said Ber
"The end of the month 'ud be goo