The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1898-08-03

this, but Mary looked like she wanted
to, so did. They tried TO make me
dance, but don't know how. 1t was the
ppenin' of new summer hotel, you
know. A young fellow that set next to
me at the table, and was mighty polite
in handin me everything, said he was
gonter be there at the hotel for some
time, and that we mus come round
often. Of course, asked him to come
see us, too, He was pretty glib talker.
When we was leavin and tellin' every
body good-by and promisin' to come
again soon, heard lady from New
York say to another one: Wouldn't
she be queen with the right trainin'%
We got in the spring wagon and drove
home. and she was jes' all excitement
tellin' me what time they had that
day and how l ought to learn to dance.
1t was beautiful night, and it made me
so happy to know she was enjoyin' her
self So
1.-TWO days after some ladies drove
round in their carriages and asked her
to go to the springs with IN again. She
said No. but when she seen was anX-
ious to have her 90, she went with them.
They 2rove back after supper, her and
the two ladies and young man, and
they all told me | ought to lave been
there. That night she seemed kinder
unres'ess. She talked a heap bout the
nice things they'd all said bout her at
the springs, but mostly talked bout
how nice it would be if we could go an
travel an go to New York an every
where, an she said we ought to read
books an the like, an that lady there
said what she needed was cultivatin'. l
didn't like this, talkin' bout her like
she was a field to be plowed up, stead
of flower jes' to grow an bloom nat
ural, an when l told her this she jes'
laughed and slapped her hands over my
mouth. She went to the springs right
regular for time, then she wouldn't
90 no more. Somebody sent her some
books, iour or five of m. She COM
menced to read one of IN out loud to me
one night. Twas nice story about
some rich folks, some artists, and how
they was lovin' each other, and the
things they wen: to, but while I got to
likin' the pesky books after awhile,
told her all the time that it was jes'
stories, and that there wasn't no such
folks in Paris or New York or any
where else. Since she was teachin' me
a-readin' out loud, took to teachin'
her, tellin' her what thought bout the
books. told her that life was reality,
and that even if there was such people,
they wasn't no better off than us, cause
there's advantages an disadvantages
everywhere, an it all mounts to bout
the same. an everything in its place is
the best. That's the way I'd write If I
wrote books.
"Maybe II was readin' In them durn
books bout the fashion an the wealthy,
or maybe It was them people at the
springs put foolish notions in her head,
or maybe IT was jes' cause she come to
know she was too good an pretty for
mar like me, but anyhow she COM
menst to pine an droop like flower
that's witherin'. I'd beg her to go to
the springs an enjoy herself like she
was invited to do, but it warnt no use.
She wouldn't do it, Arter bout a week
of this thing that same lady from New
York drove up to our gate and asked
Mary to come in and pay visit to her at
the springs. She wanted her to stay as
long as she would, and then Mary did
agree to go and stay week, maxim the
condition that I was to come to see her
every day. It's lonesome time l had
then. didn't go to see her but three
days, and every day it seem to me l was
unwelcomer than before, so thought
I better not go no more and let the chile
enjoy her visit. 1t look to me like the
harder I try to please her the more
things would go wrong. Wmmin folks
Is curious little things, stranger, and a
awkward fellow like me don't know jes'
how to handle 'em. I had done mort
gagged my farm again an went in town
and brought her silks and dresses and
gloves jes' the right size, and when she
see m she jes' cried an said was too
good to her. Then | got her piano,
but nothin' would suit. This was befo'
she went for the last time to the springs.
The things Is all at home now, but I
never wants to see them again, an If
God spares me I never will. There's
nothin' else to say now, but that lef'
cause couldn't stan the sympathy and
the talllin' of the neighbors after got
this letter"
Here he paused and took from the
inside pocket of his corduroy coat a
square envelope addressed in round,
girlish hand. The faint odor Of violet
sachet which had once permeated the
pages could still be detected, though
mingled somewhat with the aroma Of
tobacco. 1t read:
1T hope that you will understand and for
give me, Jack, although know that God
never will. / was never happy with you,
and never was able to make you happy.
A noble, unselfsh man like you deserves
a better wife. When you get this l will be
far away Don't try to find me, for you
never can. MARY"
After the correspondent hal read and
returned the letter, both men were
silent. They watched the little knots OF
officers and privates talking together
under the shade trees, the squads Of un-
uniformed recruits crossing the
grounds to their various commands, the
| amateur cooks preparing the midday