Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1908-02-25
knowledge of literature.

bitterly reproached his wife.
But Mrs. Morningstar turned on the
latter resentfully. "Just as If you
wasn't always agin it as much rs me!'
81 only thought they oughtn't to en-
gage to marry till they was sure
oncet," he declared.
"Well, If you ain't'- But she checked
herself judiciously. That's all meant,
too!' she also declared, turning ap-
pealingly to Eunice.
But the girl did not reply. Mrs.
Morningstar sighed heavily.
"But look a-here!" suddenly cried
Mr.. Morningstar. It'll spite that there
aunt somepin turrible to have to give
up the money after her havin' 1t all
this time and thinkin' It's hern"
81 guess. too!' agreed his wife.
Eunice glanced an inquiry at Kin
ross. "Wil 1t leave my aunt poor?"
Comparatively. Not what you have
been accustomed to call poor"
The girl looked thoughtful. but said
no more.
"Under these circumstances, Mr..
Morningstar." Kinross continued, "you
understand you will Of course have to
part with Eunice."
Mrs. Morningstar started as If dodg.
ing blow.
Would this man never have done
tormenting and robbing them?
"You think you're a-goin' to take her
away. do you?" she exclaimed fiercely.
"Why," he smiled, "even you could
scarcely expect her to remain here
now"
81 amt leavin' her go" she stoutly
maintained. evidently not yet realizing
at all the significance Of what she had
| heard.
Kinross drew purse from his pock-
ct and. taking out some bills. laid them
before Eunice. Your aunt gave me
this money to give to you for your
expenses until you join her in New
York"
The girls eyes opened wide 81 am
to go to my aunt?" she breathlessly
asked. "My aunt! 1t seems SO
strange" she said. her face flushing.
q quiver in her voice that revealed pitt
fully her lifelong loneliness. Ito fee.
that there is some one in the world
belonging to me"'
"Your aunt expects to send her sec
retary. Mrs. Kenyon, widor;. down
here for YOU next week to take yoC
back with her to New York. Thi"
money. she instructed me to tell you
you can use in getting yourself some
clothing for your journey with the
help of Mrs. Kenyon. When you are
with your aun: she will do everything
~ the world for your welfare. know"
"Eunice," cried Abe. starting up.
"you aln't a-goin' away to stay away
nin't not you ain't?" he pleaded. "Och.
Eunice. If you'd say yes to me I'd
leave you hire the washin' with the
money wot your pop Inherited to You.
and I'd leave you spend at the cloes ali
you wanted. and we'd go Il good bit.
too. to circnscs and county fairs and
even to the rooft garden in town. We
could afford to with your havin' such
a lot yet. Why. guess we could af-
ford most anything! Won't you say
yes to me?'
Eunlce slowly turned her eyes upon
him. SAY yes to you now with rree
dom-freedOm just at my hand? Mar
ry you AMI remain bond slave. will
my heart still crying out as 1t has don,
all my life, Who will deliver me from
the body OF this death?' Tie myself t.
you, when liberty and the wide world
lie before me? Oh. Abe" she exclaim
ed, "if the thought Of marrying yon
was horrible to Inc while was under
your mothers and fathers tyrann!
how must it look to me now that am
free-free to live. to be myself. to
feed the hunger Of my mind and SOU
with all the beauty of the world:
Marry you. Abe?" little ripping
laugh broke from her lips. Kinross fei
his brain beat with the shock OF the
Joy that suddenly surged up In his
heart Mt the revelation Of her words
while he mentally pronounced himself
an ass for his stupidity in not having
realized the impossibility Of her caring
for Abe.
"Ty-rantry" exclaimed Mr.. Morning
star. tul;ing up her words. while ABE
looked dazcd. "After all me and nom
done fur you-and our son even want
in to marry you and us urgin' it-and
givin' you back your $1,000
The draft for that money was IN her
hand. She suddenly broke In upon his
speech by holding it out to him.
"Take 1t back. I know how you
have suffered in having 1t forced from
YOU. And don't need 1t. Take 1t as
payment for my board during the re-
mainder OF my stay here"
Mr.. Morningstar almost pounced up
on It, while his small eyes cleaned
.'That amt no more'n right, seein' you
don't need Il. and Inc couldn't rightly
snare It," He glanced triumphantly at
Kinross. "You thought you was won
derful smart. amt, glttin' this here
money Off Of me? But got ahead or
you that t,Ire time"
Kinross gave q short laugh. I'm
satisfied with my work." he said.
"Eunice, you amt goin' to act so on
grateful as to leave right in the mid
die of cannin' season. exclaimed Mrs.
Morningstar, with momentary re-
turn to her habitual asperity toward
the girl. "You could put Off goin' to
your aunt till a couple weeks Already
anyhow. How is me and Ollie goin'
to get through all without you? And
mebbe If you stayed on couple OF
weeks you'd come to see 1t some diff
ferent about Abe too"
"Just as coon as the lady whom my
aunt is sending for me can take me
away shall CO."
"Well, II yol don't call that actin
mean-right in the middle Of cannin'
| the tomats. too. yeti!
"Och, mom. you talk dumm!' said
her husband. with disgustcd turning
| of his back on her and iiia..ing his
words behind him at her. With a
| fortune wai!in' fur her at New York
over, what would she do with stoppin
to help with our cannin' the toniats:
She kin afford to buy canned tomats
out of the grocery stores and won't
have to bother no more with putin
up. know what u big fortune means
to q person II you don't. knowed a
man out west was worth worse'n s50,-
900 yet"