Rocky Ford enterprise., 1899-05-25

Until the past two years. when Nathan
had insisted upon her coming to live
with him.
Enoch walked up the grassy path
beside her, and they sat down upon
the front steps where the sun shone
warm between the tall pines. "Aint
you had no chance to rent IT." he
asked.
Eyes. I have" replied Eunice. "silas
Dodge was over after 1t last week. but
I told him mol might want 1t again
myself"
What! You amt plannin' to move
back here. be you?" asked Enoch In
surprise. II thought Nate an his wife
made you awful comfortable"
'-They do. they do" said Eunice
quickly. There amt nothin' too good
for mother at Natie's house. an Ia
ought to be contented. but I amt. !
get to longin' sometimes for the old
house an my garden an the chickens
I used to raise, an the pine trees.
do. an that's a fact I'd like to move
back, but Matte won't hear to 1t. Non
sense. mother!' he says. you sha'nt
go back. You're a great sight better
of with us. Suppose you was taken
sick in the night No, he won't listen
to 1t a minute. They can't see 1t the
way I do. They can't realize how l
can he homesIck for an empty old
house. I wish they'd stop remindin
me how old be; amt SO very old
| only 6S-but they're always watchin
me to see I don't overdo myself. an
always warnin' me not to do this an
that. Remember you're getting along
in years, mother Matte says: you
| can't stand what you used to stand;
you must be CAREFUL Mercy! feel as
well as ever did, exceptin' the rheu-
matiz, an that don't trouble me all
the time"
"Well, Eunice." said the old man.
'let me talk a spell now. I'm glad
you expressed yourself the way you
done. It's Jest exactly the way l feel
myself. only amt got no home to go
to. an nobody to set by the fire with
me II had one. I ain't happy at
Milo's-not a bit. Milo, he gives me
home an clothes an provides for me
first rate, an Mertilly does as well as
most anybody would. But it amt like
hoLAc l uoh lSdlIy lcel ~ ho"S.
suppose I'm kind O cranky an no.
tional sometimes-I'm past 72, you
know-but I amt in my second child
hood yet, I can tell you. I'm as smart
as lots of younger men. an can dig
an spade around the garden as good
as the next one. But Milo he says.
you let that alone. father; you're too
old for such work. You've got to take
care Of yourself: remember. you're
past three score an ten An Mertilly.
she hain't no patience with my ways.
She don't like to have me use sugar
In my tea. She an Milo take theirs
wantin' sugar. IT'S Jest notion.
father she says; teas great sigh.
better without sweetenin.' So don't
put 1t in any more. an the tea always
tastes bitter: but I don't complain.
Mertilly amt really stingy. but she
thinks it's Jest foolish notion, an
can't help speakin' Of It. An II I use
my red bandanner at the table instead
of the napkin, she scowls at me. an
can see it plaques her. can see plain
enough I don't suit Mertilly. but how
be goin' to change the habits of
lifetime! I amt really happy. Eunice.
an that's the truth. but don't want
you to speak of this to any one"
Eunice sat in silence for time.
Then she broke out: Cant have sugar
in your tea! Well, I declared"
'Pshaw, noww exclaimed the old
man, 4 wish I hadn't told ye! I'm
ashamed to think I spoke Of such a
little triflin' thing! I aint no call to
speak Of anything, an I'm grateful to
'em both for givln' me home: but 1
don't know as it's wrong to say amt
happy. I take considerable comfort
with the children-they think grand
pas all right-an' suppose I'd ought
to be real contented, seeln' how much
better off be than some old folks. II
had 5000 of my own, I believe I'd
go into the Home for Aged People.
visited there once, an tell you it's
fine place: but even that amt like
your own home"
Eunice looked at him in a startled
way. "Oh, I wouldn't never think Of
that" she said. It's nice in some
ways, but It's a good deal like a hotel
after all. There's no place on this
earth I could call home but just this
little old house, with the pine trees all
around 1t and my fower-beds in front.
I'm Just crazy to be livin' here again,
but NatieIl never let me. I've got
considerable besides this piece Of
prop'ty-money in the bank-enough
to last me the rest of my life an more.
Richard was always forehanded an
left me well provided for. I declare.
II 1t wouldn't make folks talk so, an
IL the right one was to come along, I
do believe I'd be jest foolish enough
to get married. Now. amt that ridic-
ulous? Not so much on account Of