Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1903-03-06

sister In a tone of relief. -"If you had
1t would be serious state of affairs
but as you haven't, don't see any
difficulties"
"You must admit that she isn't hap
lpy." he said at length.
YES"
"But don't you see. IL must be me,
because she doesn't see anybody else
hardly"
She settled herself more comfortably
on the grain chest and began to speak
deliberately Don't you know that
when two people. don't care who they
are, live on lonely farm and don't
see anybody but each other for weeks
at a time-don't you know that they
are bound to get morbid and imagine
all sorts OF things about themselves
and each other? That is why so many
farmers wives go Insane"
But what can l do?" Lot asked. a
look of terror in his face. "I've tried
to get her to go to places uith me, but
can't"
"I'll tell you" said Maria decisively.
"The>first nice day take her out over
the farm and spend the day. III see
TO things while you are gone, and I'll
put up lunch for you. Show her all
you are doing and plan to do. Take
her to the pretty places and, most Of
ALL make love to her as though your
life depended on 1t"
IL don't believe she'd 60. ! couldn't
persuade her. You've no idea how set
she is."
Maria looked at her brother scorn-
fully. perhaps you never heard Of
such thing as strategy"
She turned away and walked out of
the barn.
For long time he stood looking at
his Grandfather Stetson's old covered
wagon. 1t had been considered an ele
CANT affair in its day, but now it was
seldom taken out except when some Of
the children came home at Thanksgiv-
Ing or for short visits.
He took out his jackknife and opened
IT. felt Of the edge, then got into the
wagon and knelt down on the seat.
Very carefully. and following the
thread in the cloth. he cut a slit two
inches long In the back OF the seat He
picked at the cotton batting stuffing
with the point of his knife. Then he
let the flap go back In place, the cot
ton batting showing a little all along
the cut. THAT looks very natural" he
muttered
The next morning Lot spoke TO his
sister when Eunice was in another
ROOM Just as soon as the dew gets
off some,' he said, and she nodded
after breakfast she carried TO the barn
n large covered basket, a demijohn Of
with a look of comprehension. Soon
cold tea, a shawl and her sister-in-law's
sunbonnet These Lot helped her stow
away under the back seat.
At Q o'clock Lot came into the house.
I'm going TO start off with the old COW
cred wagon in little while" he said,
"and find there's a tear or a cut IN
the back Of the seat. Do you suppose
you could mend it,"
Eunice went to get her workbasket.
She found a piece of green cloth and
pulled some ravellngs from it; then she
went out and got into the covered
wagon and set quietly and patiently to
work.
Lot watched her furtiyely from the
barn. When he thought she was nearly
half through he began harnessinG with
feverish haste What if she should get
through too soon? She looked around
as he backed the horse into the shafts.
I'm not quite through yet, Lot" she
said mildly.
Don't hurry" he answered. He
waited with the reins in his hand until
she had taken the last stitch; then he
jumped in. sat down beside her and
spoke 10 the horse Eunicc half started