Rocky Ford enterprise., 1909-12-10
CHAPTER VI.


the partridgeberries the wood had
been cut and hauled. Only scattered
chips remained to tell the winters
wC.A. And. although all the village
knew that Richard was learning
Greek. 1t did not know that in the
woods he had learned something hard
er chan Greek. No one but he and
Seth knew that with every blow of
the AK he had made n stroke at his
troublc-and cut it. and sawed it. and
split 1t, and piled 1t high. and sledded
1t to town. and sold it at so much
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 reioiced anew
that she was to be Mrs. Edwards.
He was on his way to Uncle Ebcn's
when he met her-corrying n message
from his mother. lie found the old
man "a the side garden. pottering
about over the half-dricd 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 hnint give me mine yet. It's
time for EN-. too. She keeps 'em
locked up in the secritary-ch'ice as
gold" He rose stifily from his knees
and led the way to the house
Aunt Jerusha was buried in the
depths of the Dutch oven. long
feather duster in her hand. with which
she whisked Its sides. She emerged.
shining and surprised.
We'll. | declare. Richard: is that
you" She rcadjusted her spcctaCles
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 bcamcd out of its depths.
Want some of the Limas. do you,
for plantin'? Well, | do know how
many we'll have. I 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 it
might have been impatience.
Aunt Jerusha's look changed to af-
fection. He wants some. dreadful"
she confided to Richard. but 1t amt
time yet"
She crossed the room and took from
high nail by the shelf a key. 1t was
the key to the parlor door You 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
thouEhtfully.
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 here next week anyway"
The room was specklcss. Not a
trace of dust rested on any object,
thought Aunt Jcrusha gave an osten-
tatious pun to the plush album as she
lifted 1t. She opened it with a little
gesture of pride. 1t was half filled
with pictures. and in the hole left va
cant in the other half reposed key.
"He wouldn't ever think OF looking in
there" She Chuckled softly as she
drew II out. She snapped the heavy
clasps safely and returned the album
to the table.
Il thought nights well show you"
She stood in the dim light, watching
him mysteriously out of her sunbon-
net. III 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 EbCn looked UP hopefully as
they returned. the key to the secre-
tary borne in Aunt Jerusha's palm.
Mounting 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 string OF gold beads
and a high shell comb. She touched
. package Of papers that lay at the