The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1908-04-24
Uncle Eben'S Mistake
Copyright, by Daily Story Pub. Co..
By Clara II. Holmes


way?" Presently she added:
"'Twouldn't be no use; couldn't eat
whole chicken, an'-'twouldn't taste
good, no howl"
She was out cutting kindling for the
night, and a stick: asMs:a as she struck
it, and gave her blow in the face.
"Oh, fly, If it suits We better" she
grumbled. Il ulster think didn't need
any mans help, but now"
Here, here! Give me that ak afore
We kill yerself; never did see a woman
that could chop wood" said old Jo-
siah White
Wall, I don't want to l'arn." said
'Cinda, handing him the az.
There" he remarked. "thatn last
We nigh on to a week. I'll cut some
more for We by the time that's gone:
it's shame there's no one to look
arter ye"
Il don't need no one," resenting the
implied cepsure.
Uncle Eben. watching behind his
window blind, muttered: wrathfully:
BLAST his ornery hide"
The following week 'Cinda was up
in the garnet sorting rags for a new
carpet. might as we'll come to it;
it's all I'll ever git now" she NUT
tered disconsolately, as she picked up
an old coat. Land sakes! If faint
Eben's weddin' coat! Morn so year."
she unused. "He did look nice, an how
lovin' he was! All the rest of our
lives he whispered to me. Oh, men
forget" she sighed.
Sunday came, and Eben saw Josiah
White walk up the little path to where
'Cinda sat Smelling peas. After a few
words he sat down beside her and
commenced helping her.
Uncle Eben, half buried in hay
stack across the road, watched
him angrily. He had taken to strange
habits of late, hiding around to see
what Aunt 'Cinda was doing, and lis
tening eagerly to every remark con-
corning her. Nov, what's that old
wretch doin' there ag'in? He's mighty
spruced up. He kin just keep hisself
away from Lucinda or I'll lick the hide
offn him. did it when we was boys,
an I kin ag'in," he muttered.
That night the children were unusu.
ally annoying, and when Uncle Eben
made faint protest Melinda flew into
passion.
Il don't suppose you ever was boy!
You are so cantankerous that it's no
wonder 'Cinda couldn't live with YOU"
she threw at him as parting taunt.
II guess you're about right as to
'C1nda," answered the old man totter.
ing from the room.
Her husband laughed: well, you
put your foot in it that time," said he.
Il don't care; I'm sick of him, and
stingy old wretch"
Unciu Eben had turned back for his
handke rchief and overheard this
''She's right about that, too; she won't
get any more out O. me-"
Tho very next day about noon as
Aunt 'Cinds was feeding her chick
ems q van drove up to the house.
"WhereIl you have these things un-
loaded, ma'am"
Them don't belong here" cycling
the shining brass bedsteads and the
plump-looking mattresses longingly,
and a glimpse of roll of bright-hued
carpeting filled her eyes with tears.
She shook her head. mo, no! There
is some mistake!"
mo, ma'am; was told to leave
them with Uncle Eben's wife. That's
you, I reckon?"
Uncle Eben laid his hand on 'Cindas
shoulder.
"Land-o'-massy, where'd you como
from, Eben?"
'Up the barn lot way. guess 1 amt
fit to come in the front door," He
tried bravely to make a joke of it.
but his voice was tremulous with emo
ton.
'Cinda laid her withered hand on
his arm. 1T was awful lonesome
without you, Eben. We jest mustn't
be so techy. We know each others
ways an we don't need no third per,
son to tell us, do WEI"
mo, no! mustn't be so techy. |
give Mlindy the house an ten-acre lot
to find out some things, but the know!.
edge is dirt cheap at that Now let
US take this stuff into the house an
see how it looks" said he.
Goodness! never thought I'd have
things so nice," answered Aunt 'Cinda
gratefully.
Uncle Eben Tut his arm around her
'Together we armed the money, an
together We'll hev' the good of it. We
. won't leave it for others to sQuander
'Cinda."