The Elbert County tribune., 1909-12-09
CHAPTER vi.


the partridge-beIsies the wood had
been cut and hauled. Only scattered
chips remained to tell the winters
work. And. although all the village
knew that Richard was learning
Greek, 1t did not know that in the
woods he had learned something hard
or than Greek. No one but he and
Seth knew that with every blow of
the ak he had made stroke at his
trouble-and cut 1t. and sawed it, and
split 1t, and piled 1t high, and sledded
1t to town, and sold it at so much a
cord-till his heart was as sound as a
drum.
And when one morning he passed
Emily in her new spring array, trip
ping along the country road. he could
lift his hat and smile at her proudly.
And Emily lingering the ribbons that
fell from her throat, called him in her
heart tickle thing and rejoiced anew
that she was to be Mrs. Edwards.
He was on his way to Uncle Ebens
when he met her-carrying message
from his mother He found the old
man in the side garden, pottering
about over the half-dried earth and
warming his stiff back in the sun.
'Limy beans?" said Uncle Eben
when he heard the request You'll
have to go into the house and ask her.
She hain't give me mine yet. It's
time for 'em, too. She keeps 'em
locked up in the secritary-ch'ice as
gold" He rose stiffiy from his knees
and led the way to the house.
Aunt Jerusha was buried in the
depths of the Dutch oven. a long
feather ans.er in her hand. with which
she whisked its sides. She emerged,
shining and surprised.
"Well. declare. Richard; is that
you'll" She readjusted her spectacles
and looked at him kindly. Her skirt
was pinned safely up out of harms
way and her sleeves were rolled above
the elbow. A sunbonnet protected her
head. She beamed out of It's depths.
want some of the Limas. do you,
for plantia'? Well, / do know how
many well have. hain't got 'em
down for pa yet" She glanced at him
suspiciously.
He shifted from one foot to the
other. 1t might have been hope or 1t
Aunt Jerusha's look changed to af-
lection. HE wants some, dreadful"
she confided to Richard, "but It amt
time yet"
She crossed the room and took from
a high nail by the shelf key 1t was
the key to the parlor door, "Yod come
with me. Richard" she said mildly, as
she waddled away.
Uncle Eben looked wistfully after
them. He seated himself in a straight
backed chair and, lifting his feet to
the front round, rubbed his fingers
thoughtfully.
Aunt Jerusha opened the parlor
door into the dim light. You can
come right in" she said proudly.
''Never mind your feet Women were
made to sweep up dirt. I've got to
clean hsre next week anyway"
The room was speckless. Not a
trace of dust rested on any object,
thought Aunt Jerushn gave an osten-
tatious puff to the plush album as she
lifted it. She opened 1t with little
gesture of pride. 1t was half filled
with pictures. and in the hole left va
cant in the other half reposed a key.
II keep 1t in here" she whispered.
He wouldn't ever think of looking in
there" She chuckled softly as she
drew 1t out She snapped the heavy
clasps safely and returned the album
to the table.
II thought nights well show you"
She stood in the dim light, watching
him mysteriously out of her sunbon-
net. IF anything should happen to me.
somebody'd hev to know. and he
wouldn't have no more care an a
child" She directed her nod towards
the kitchen.
Uncle Eben looked up hopefully as
they returned. the key to the secre-
tary borne In Aunt Jerusha's palm.
Mounting a chair In front Of the
high secretary she inserted the key
in the lock The doors swung open.
Uncle Eben feasted his eyes. There
were packages of seeds and velvet
bonnets and a string of gold beads
and a high shell comb. She touched
, package Of papers that lay at the