The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1909-06-03
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!: AN ORIGINAL
!: LOVE AFFAIR.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS,
ev LUCY MAY sAWlN.

farm without the aid OF any woman.
"They'rc dreadful onsarten creatures,
he said. "Y' can't calc'late jist what
they're goin' to do. Most o my friends
as hes gone into matrimony hes had
trouble from the time they married
and wished they was out Of 1t. There's
I5e Blglow 1T with hisLHand Twin
eat ara dog life. Tom Tinker divorced
Blll Andrews drew to drink. The win
min don't show their real selves till
after the ceremony don't intend 70
pur myself where they kin get at me-
But as his farm lands and crops and
stock Increased he felt the need OF
women's help. He no longer had time
70 do the cooking or the washing or
milking. and he took In d housekeeper.
The ug.iest and Oldest he could find.
II was not long before he had others
Since he had made break he nigh,
II well rely on his resolution 70 protect
him and took In several maids. one Of
whom-Mary Baker-was quite pretty |
When Mary came he felt that she had
brought danger. but considered him,
SER equal 10 the task Of keeping out
Of her tolls.
One winter morning something hap
pened. Mary was going out to do her
milking: he. walking directly behind
Ter. 10 feed the stock. Mary slipped
ON bit OF ice and fell right Into his
arms. lie turned her face up toward
his and kissed her Then he pushed
her away. Mary blushed and went on
Il had all come about so quickly tlg,t
he couldn't understand how We had
done such a thing. He didn't look a.
Mary all that day. and when she asked
him what she should do with the
black and white COW. she kicked so.
he turned away without answering
her
A few days later Mary was brought
INFO the house badly injured by a kick
from the black and white COW. Eben
scoldod her FOR not having taken pre-.
cautions against such result. init
mating that II she had told him the
COW kicked be would have MIXED her
himself. Mary made no reply TO this.
Perhaps she knew with wonian's ~.
tuition that he was not scolding her.
tut himself. Perhaps she felt az
crleved al his unjust treatment. He
ddn't 20 near her while she was re,
covering.
Next 4 fractions hull gorcd Eben and
came pretty near killing him. MARI
asked him II she could do anything for
hin. lie said No. very shortly, bur
when she went away called her back
ala told her she might put pillow
under him. she did most Of the nurs-
M iii he was out Of danger. then
ceased her visits 10 him. lie called
fr her and asked n she was 40 III
human as 60 let him die all alons
when every one ON the farm wa
busy. She made no reply 20 the ques
tIon. bur asked him what he wanted
He mentioned several things. which
she got for him. then left him again
This irrliated him. and he called her
back.
Mary" ne said grufly. what did
you slip for the other day -a-purposeT
Mary walked out Of the room witt
her nose In the air.
flc recovered slowly and. all III
while having nothing at all 70 do bu
think. thought ~ what was on hi
mind Mary lie was sure she wa
trying 10 marry him. but be was lcsin.
the power 20 protect himself agains
her When be got well he went q
her when she was churnlng and said:
MARY. suppose you want a home
Most women DO. don't want 70 dis
artolnt you. VIII you marry mei"
"No. I won't" she said angriiy.
She sent ON pounding the chnrn. an'
he went away astonlshed
Noiaing occurred IN this peculla
courtship Tor several days. when b.
met her coming from the barn.
"TIcy you thought better 81 ~" b
asked.
"of what
Margin me"
"Yoa don't want to sit married" SD
said.
WAL" he replied musingiy. y don
know rs ! do"
This made Mary furious. I'm goin
when my months M" she said.
"GoIn'r"
"yes. You'd better git another girl.
This knocked the bottom out
Eben's theory that Mary had been try
ing 20 marry him. But he didn't civ
Il III entirely tIll he learned from
neishborIng farmer that she had aske
him II he wanted help. Nevertheless
lie was puzzled. lie thought that u b
could do something 60 convince Mar
thu, he loved her she would yield. ii
finally hIt on a plan.
The Weekly Eagle came out satul
day morning. one Saturday afternoo
when Mary. dressed for half holida!
started Co go out she saw oil the occ'
pants Of the farm gathered about be
employer shaking him cnthusiasticall
~ the hand. several we're rcadln
the Eagle over the holders shoulders
Ia sakcs." exclaimed Mary. what
the mnticrT'
A faint terror seized her that som
thing important had occurred 10 h'