Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1899-03-30
FASTER TO EASTER.

."Theodorev interrupted the young man
explosively.
YES, Theodore, I believe that is your
name" was the reply In q crushing tone;
but as l was about to say, shall never
marry a farmer. 1 was born for higher
sphere, one broader and more-more-
we'll more to my taste"
Exactly with mock humility and
would it be presumption for a poor, mis-
cradle clod of the valley ike myself to
ask what you propose to doT
II have my plans, sir, but you are not
likely to sympathize with me in them, and
words are only wasted"
Every true, but, oh, Bah
MY name is Barbara, please.
Hang it ail!'' cried the young man,
apringing to his feet and grabbing his
hat. 81 may as we'll go now as later. IL
NIL over, I know, but it's terribly hard TO
realize; terribly hard to forget all the 1os-
~ old times we've had together when you
yas Bah and I was Thede, but 1t mas
been coming on, this change, ever since
you came home from your visit. L thousat
it might wear off, but now since you Se
said it I-oh, Bah, little Bah, I've Always
loved you and never had a thought or plan
that you WASH t IN since L can HcAAACAAADS
how can l give it all up
And then the great, true-hearteo reno"
9ropped back into his chair and buried AIS
face in his hands. Barbara, VINO hao
risen too stood looking down at him, NOT
knowing whether to laugh or cry. she
remembered that in other days she Wouid
have done the latter to nave seen
..Chede" in distress; but now-Weu, tnlngs
we're SO very different now, and when she
>ried TO imagine one Of those weli-dfessed
Elen, to whom her cousin had INTRODUCED
her, CRYING because girl had refused him.
she did laugh outright
Tbede did not look up, but he heard,
and as soon as he could control himself
he rose again, saying:
Pardon nv weakness, Miss BARBARA;
I will not trouble you again. am sure
I wish you all success in whatever you
undertake, and many happy returns OF
this Easter Day. Goodnight"
Good nightw
Rarbara's voice sounded a little queer,
ayen to herself, but she stood where ne
left her until the door was shut ana the
sound of his familiar footsteps had dieo
away; then, with cheeks unusually RED,
she went to her room.
"Heu be around all right tomorrow,
but had no idea would get rid OF MIN
so easily tonight. What q silly ne Ii,
ANYWAY, to suppose that l could ever be
content with him and the dear old folks,
as he calls them, on farm.
Much to her surprise, Theodore Vane
did not return on the morrow, or any
other day, though she saw him ride by q
number of times. 1t was annoying, espe-
eislly after letter came from her city
friends telling her they had found her q
position as "saleslady" in store. She
did 40 want to tell Thede (she called hin,
TINT to herself, but though her little
brother told him the news, he came not.
Barbara's parents, like ell sensible
country people. did not want her to go to
the city. She had education enough to
teach district school-had taught the
summer beforehand her help was needed
in the family, but she was determined
She could not afford to thus let slip what
she called "the opportunity of a life
time" and go she did just when spring
was bursting into beauty.
She just cried the least bit when she
babe her mother good-by, but tears were
not betting a young woman going out TIC
make her fortune and she was not little
ashamed Of herself. During her five
weeks visit with her relatives Ia The city
she had imbibed some ideas, chief among
them that living in the country was dis
grace, and that any show Of tenderness
or feeling was vulgar.
Barbara's first letter home was full of
news concerning her journey, her new pe-
si,ion and the good time that each evening
brought. Her aunt was going to move,
however, and in order to be near her bust
ness she must rent q room and board her
self.
The next letter told Of a small apart
ment in the third story Of a lodging house,
Its meager furnishing and how dreadfully
tired she was at night.
She'll be comm home soon," laughed
her father, but the mother looked trou-
bled.
After that the letters were usually writ
ten in hurry, sometimes sad and some
times with a forced gaiety. Mere than
once her mother urged her to come home,
but only once did she refer to the matter,
then to say she would come at Christ
mas.
The weeks and months rolled roHnd, and
the old farm house was full OF feStnl prep
arations, for Barbara would arrive On the
twenty seventh. Three days before
Christmas a postal card. hastily scFawled
on the counter, had announced as nueh,
and that the holiday trade kept her IN her
place until nine and ten o'clock at night.
The morning Of the twenty
found the family early active, and by
train time father was at the station, and
everything in readiness at home.
They're comin'!'' shouted Ted, rs he
decried the white blaze In Majors face
far down the road.
They are comingp' was echoed an over
the house and BY the time Ted has dis
covered that his father was a3one, the
mother and two aistera uvarr ~ - anen