Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1901-04-10

Jake ABOUT uVe years, ana 1t meant
contact with vastly different element
from that of her own quiet college
town-but she would persevere.
There were lots OF poor boys who
lacked mothers, there were sewing cir
cles that needed encouragement, she
might even indulge moderately in cats
and parrots, and, best of all, she would
found missionary society to give
light to certain portions of the globe
that are said TO be languishing in
heather darkness.
But all this was idle speculation now.
She was called to another sphere. She
must marry and settle down here in
the wilderness, where there was suffi-
Client heather darkness at home. The
classics would be more than useless
culture would be superiuous. hard
work alone would tell. Her imagina-
tion faltered while she dropped a bum
die of old letters and mist came be.
fore her eyes.
Days after she pondered the same
question. She had the letter already
written to her people, telling of her al
tered Intentions, but she hesitated to
mail it. After all, Aaron was very
young and impulsive. Did he know
his own mind? Did she know hers?
Was 1t not her education he .courted?
Vacation was rapidly passing. Julia
still chung fondly to her former career.
Ct,o ,,,o. tl,{ul,{uo ooncfopt1r oe Ao.,,,
hut she never saw him and seldom
beard from him. People at her board
ing house said he had changed: they
also said she had changed. She longed
to know something, but to ask would
surely create gossip. About this time
odd stories began to be current.
do; you think r. said a neigh
Dor. aaron Wood has chopped out
a shanty big enough for meetin'
house. He raised the logs hisself dur
ing harvest. What do you suppose
ails the feller?"
Dunno" said another. II found him
studyin' some nonsense he called
Greek. guess he's trine added. 1
told him he'd better learn Choctaw--
l'twould be more use to him, and he
could make more out of 1t. He allowed
he'd make heap out of Greek eff.
things turned out right. I'll like to see
him do It,"
The country looked its best when
Julia set out for school on the first
day of the new term. The woods were
quite green, but here and there were
crimson splashes Of autumn. The crops
We're in, contentment reigned, and a
general desire was felt for more re-
finement throughout the district.
But the spell of peacefulness and
plenty did not suffice to quiet the trou-
bled soul of Julia Primm. For the first
time In life she was disposed to under
rate the classics. She could not en-
dure the thought of Aaron's making
himself ridiculous even in the search
for knowledge, of being the sport of
these poor wits. Julia's conscience
was one easily disturbed. She felt
that she had been doing him a great
wrong. She did not want him to study
nlInselI 10 uedtn, Uut stnere was only
one way to prevent 1t.
When she reached the school Aaron
was already in his seat. He was busy
at work with more books than would
go into his desk; strange books that
had never entered that school before.
She laid down her parasol and remov-
ed her veil. His face was very red
and expectant. 1t was no longer the
boy who came early and swept out the
roomtlle bright, eager, questioning
look had faded out of his countenance
he seemed almost middle-aged. In a
moment all doubt of his affection van
ished.
you mustn't study any more for.
iawhile," she said.
"well, you know what i am study.
ing for, don't your
Eyes; but you've studied enough for
that already"
And that evening she mailed the let
ter to her people. -Wayerly Magazine.