Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1906-04-14
On tlleFenCe
By DONALD ALLEN
By DONALD ALLEN


All tn farming population for five
miles arou said that IL was n good
match. that between Burt Adams. son
of Deacon adams. and Eunlce Taylor.
daughter of the Widow Taylor The
youn" folk had known each other as
children. The parents approved the en-.
gagcncnt. aud the deacon went as far
as 10 take his son ~ the hand and say:
My son. She Is II fine girl. and YOU
Will make no mistake In marryin' her.
shall feel toward her as my own
daughter"
The engagement was announced and
the wedding day set Everything went
well until the dcacon's brother out In
Wisconsin died and left him legacy
of $ll.uO0 In cash. The deacon. who
had lived without any of the luxurles
of life was stunned for time by the
size al the legacy. He felt that II made
him one Of the millionaircs of earth.
The money would have made some lit
tie difference to any man. no matter
how level headed
we ARE on a different plane now"
he said To his oll wife. "and we must
conform To the new circumstances.
You went wear calico any more and
shall have II hired girl. and shall do
no more work except boss the hired
man"
And what about Burt?" was asked.
HE must 20 To college and become
n lawyer or doctor"
but he aud Eunice are to be mar
ried. you know. and | don't believe
he'll want To put II OF"
Look here. ma" said the deacon aft
er thinking for awhile I'VE can't let
Burt throw himself away on no such
girl. II might have done passably well
when we were poor. but now we can
buy ont the whole county and have
money left. He can't afford to tie him
self To any surh wife To begin with.
she don't look aristocratic.'
"But do wrt"
"Of course we do Any one would
know to look nj us that we had blood
and money. In the second place. she
has no styl" about her"
"And have we got:'i
Heaps of IT, In the third place. she
hain't got no cddicatiOn."
"But you and me never went 10 any
thlng bettcr'n district school," protest
ed the wife. while Eunice attended q
seminary for two whole years.
thought she knew morc'n all of us put
together
But She don't. At the seminary she
Jest chawed gum and played the pi-
amer. We hain't been braggln' around
amy, because that amt the way of the
Adamscs. but we've got eddication
nun 10 pass In any crowd. When |
talked with the governor al the county
fair two years ago felt perfectly TO
home must have talk with Burt"
~ don't believe he will give her up.
You know how obstinate he Is about
some things If Eunice would give him
up
by thunder" interrupted the deacon
as he brought his fist down on the
kitchen table with bang.
"What is itT'
eve got m idea. ma-one Of the
brightest ideas ever had. Keep mum.
Don't say word I'll tell you all
about II tomorrer or next day. Don't
say single word TO Burt. and don't go
around lookln' rs If you had somethin'
on your mind"
"You-you hain't gofn' TO do any
thing despcrateY stammered the wife.
"Of course not I'm simply goin' to
work out my idea, and when get
ready to tell you you'll say am about
as sharp as they make EN-. S.s-sh!
Keep NUM-.
The above conversation took place
one evening. and at O'Clock the next
morning the deacon was knocking at
the door of Widow Taylor's farm
house. Eunice had driven to the vii
lage to do some trading" and the fat
and motherly widow was just finish
ing up the last of her mornings work
"Why, deacon. Is this yOuT she
asked as she answered the knock and