Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1907-12-31

| " Inc go, Abe, you know that,
even If wanted to-"
L "Yes," said Abe bitterly,
"even IL you wanted? That's the way
you put it, amt? And you don't want.
II you'd make your mind up, Eunlce,
that you wanted to go, don't you know
that NON she wouldn't have the dare
to stop you? Because you're got your
age, and If MON tries to boss you you
have the right to up and tell her, i
don't have to- It's time you kn0wed
that oncet!'
Eunice looked at her foster brother
and would be lover with sudden atten-
tion They were in the spring house,
he standing In the doorway and bar
ring her exit, and she, with her daily
burden of butter, cheese and milk for
the dinner table, waiting anyiously to
be allowed to pass.
"IIavc | the right, Abe, to follow my
own will?' she asked, with repressed
eagerness, which Abe instantly inter-
preted lis referring 10 his invitation to
/
circus in town. II didn't know that.
| Abew
"Yom're your own boss when you're
eighteen Already"
But your mother and father support
me-" she reasoned, repeating the les
son which had been ground into her
ever since she could remember any
thing, "and so have right to control
me, haven't they?"
There WAS an anxious wistfulness in
her eyes which thrilled her bafiled and
| discouraged suitor with hope.
"Don't you earn your keep and Il
good bit over where (which you don't
get? If they had a hired girl do half
what you do, still they'd have to give
her two week"
"But, then, am working for them
now to pay for the years they support.
ed me when was too little to work"
"Och, Eunice, you was always won
| derful DUNN. There amt 10 time
since you was five years old already
that you amt earnt all it cost to keep
you, anl them couple years before
that when you was too little-well,'
he said mysteriously, 81 could tell you
somepin if | wanted-Somepln where
would make you say to nom and pop
pretty quick, 4 don't have to They
had ought 10 he payin' you wages. II
amt right they don't"
Tell me what you mean about thosI
two years of my childhood"
Abe hesilate,l. Pop would jaw me
somepin turrible if | tole you. You
lust wait. Some time I'll tell you mcb-
be. But now," be urged, "if you're
got am spunk you up and tell EN-
you're goin' aIc": win re 10 the cir
Gus in. Aia't you viii. Euaire! Och
go on"
He attempted Il clumsy caresS, but
she drew back. Abe scowled angrily.
"Look ut here, Eunice. You might
he glad | wanted to keep comp'ny with
you"
"Why?' che asked, with childlike
wonder. as though the proposition were
curious one.
"Ain't goin to be well fixed till
pop's deceased a'ready?' he demanded
"And look at the good times you
could have off of me, buggy ridin
SUNDAYS and goin' to circuses ana all.
When does Il girl ever get any run
without a gen'man friend to run with
her? And it amt everybody fixed like
me would want to keep comp'ny with
YOU. neither-with pop and MON so
down on my runnin with Il girl where
won't have no aussteuer. You won
bring me nothin'," he said ruefully.
"Nothin' but my pops and MONS
spite! Yes. you might be glad. any
how, want you.'
Eunice regarded him thOughtfully,
but made no answer
Cant you see 1t that there way!'
he persisted.
But could not let any man sacrl-
flee so much for me, even If | did
want to marry him.
"There YOU go ag'in"' lie eXclaimed
Indignantly. Even If you did want,
you say! can't see why you don't
want. Say" he said. his discouraged
tone changing to hopeful, "is it mebDc
because you don't like to get pop and
nom down OH me? But" he reasoned.
"you see. all I'd be givin' up fur you
don't weigh ag'in what I'd be gettih.
And. you see. I'd reason with pop
and nom like this-Td say, 'Eunice,
she amt been raised to go much OF
spend any ut the cloes like some, and
she's used to hard work and In tn"
end she'd mebbe save me moren II
I married another one where had
money but where wasn't contented
not to he spendin' and goin''. I've
spoke them arguments to myself, still,
already, when l thought of your not
bringin' me any aussteuer-and them
same reasonings would weigh with
pop and MON, Eunice." he urged coax
ingly.
Il do not doubt 1t, Abe"
"Then you'll go with-to the circus|'
he pleaded. "Ain'tT
NO"
"Tll take your part ag'in pop and
nom. Amt you got any spunk? Or
don't you like circuses-or what!"
I'm not afraid of your mother and
father, though your mothers loud COM
plainings often weary me-when lis
ten 10 The: b... ~ yo"
spend money '.i:!:: HIr i''...''.r seek
Ing when don't intcId 10 marry you
According to the Pennsylvania Dutch
social stan ards, such Il course Oh the
part OF the girl would have been per-
fdiOus, inasmuch as acceptance OF an
invitation TO go with ones 'gentman
friena" to n circus was tantamount to
accepting proposal Of marriage.
"Td like 10 know" said Abe sullenly,
"how you expec' to do any better"
would you. Abe? I'll tell you." she
said gently I'D do better by lying
down across the railroad tracks ana
letting the cars run over me-"
eAua$uvIa