Bryan morning eagle. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1898-1909, 1905-09-29

brought his wife around 20 bis way OF
thinking In the early days lie had
refused 10 speak 20 her for days or
weeks NJ a time. and the strain was
more than she could stand. With
Ruth. however. the case was different.
She preferred his silence 10 his fault
finding. The hammock was taken
down and sne did not ride horseback
nor walk around on stills. She would
have had beaus but for the father. As
he was not speaking 10 her he did not
forbid her. but when a young man
called things were made 80 unpleasant
for him that he never repeated his
visit
As the summer passed and winter
came on there were candy pulls and
spelling schools. Both were the height
OF sacrilege In the deaeon's eyes. and
he groaned In spirit and gritted his
teeth when he knew that his daughter
attended them.
II was ln June that the deacon had
vowed not 10 speak 10 his daughter
again until she had become repentant
Now and then. as time passed. the wife
ventured 70 say something 10 her hus-
band. but only 10 ind him obdurate.
What be had said he had said. What
he had said must be right because be
had said II. and be would therefore
stick 10 Il until the day Of his death.
Let Ruth get down on her knees
90 me and confess that she has done
wrong and I will speak TO her. and
perhaps forgive her" was Invariably
his answer. but time continued 20 pass
and Ruth did not kneel.
One day the deacon's wife was called
20 the bedside OF a sick neighbor. The
deacon had a dozen swarrns OF bees.
and as he came up from the field about
2 O'Clock that afternoon be found one
Of the hives swarming He ran for a
tin pan and began 10 beat II. and In
his excitement he almost spoke 10 his
daughter. who was working In the gar
den. He caught himself in time.
though. and resumed bis beating and
gambollng around. A spare hive
should have been ready, but was not.
The bees therefore circled and buzz
ed around for ten minutes and finally
began 20 light. Unfortunately for the
deacon they lighted on him. In two
minutes they had covered his straw
hat and neck; In two more they were
clinging TO his shoulders IN great
masses.
As she planted her hollyhock and
sunfower seeds Ruth heard a still
small voice uttering her name She In
vestigated and found that her father
had become a king bee. Ills back
resenbled a pear tree. and he was ter
ribly frightened. Two thousand bees
clung 20 him. and II he disturbed them
he was a dead man.
"well. daddyY" asked the girl as she
stopped within ten feet OF him.
Ruth. you will find an empty hive IN
the barn. Get IL and smear some
lasses over the front Of H."
Are you really speaking 10 me,
daddyT
"Of course am. Can't you see the
fix I'm inT
But you were not 10 speak again
until ! beg your pardon"
Go after that hive Do you want %
see me stung 10 deathi"
The bees are quiet now About that
hammock. daddy may have Il up this
SUMMER
"NO-that Is. guess you can"
'And may I ride one of the horsesf"
"If-if they are not too tired"
"And may climb trees and jump
fencesT'
Are you going for that hlvef"
When you answer"
Then climb and jump all you want
TO-"
zone more question. daddy. May
have young men come here TO see met"
The deacon groaned.
May n The bees seem TO be getting
angry"
Yes. have 'em and be hanged 10
your shouted the deacon. using slang
for the first time In fifteen years.
The hive was brought and smeared
with sweet stun. and presently the bees
began 20 and their way into Il. AT the
end Of ten minutes the deacon shook
himself. drew a long breath and said
10 his daughter:
III YOU ever tell mother or any one
else about II I'll box your ears. big as
you are!'