The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1909-12-11
CHAPTER VI.

the partridge beIsies the wood had
been cut and hauled, Only scattered
chips remained to tell the winter 5
wQE1. 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 than Greek No one but he and
Seth knew that with every blow OF
the ak he had made a stroke at his
trouble-and cut it. and sawed il. and
split II, and piled It high. and sledded
It 10 town, and sold It at so much a
cord-till his heart vas 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 tina.
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 Eben's
when he met her-carryiug a message
from his mother He found the old
man in the side garden. pottering
about over the half-dried earth and
warming his sti- back in the sun
"Limy beans" said Uncle Eben
when he heard the request You'll
have to 60 into the house and ask her
She hain't give me mine yet Its
time for EN-, too She keeps EN-
locked up in the secritary-chice as
gold" He rose stify from his knees
and led the way to the house
Aunt Jerusha was buried In the
depths OF the Dutch oven. long
feather ins.a. in her hand. with which
che whisked its sides. She emerged.
shining and surprised
Well. l declare. Richard: is that
you" 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 its depths
Want some OF the Limas. do you,
for plantia? Well. I do know how
many wen have haint got EN-
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 contided to Richard but it amt
time yet
She crossed the room and took from
high nail by the shelf 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
thoughtfully.
Aunt Jerusha opened the parlor
door into the dim light. You can
come right in" she said proudly
"Never mind your feet. Women We're
made to sweep up dirt. I've got to
clean here next week anyway"
The room was speckless. Not
trace OF dust rested on any object.
thought Aunt Jerusha gave an osten-
tatious pun to the plush album as she
lifted it. She opened it 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.
~ keep 1t in here" she whispered.
He wouldn't ever think of looking in
there" She chuckled softly as she
drew it out. She snapped the heavy
clasps safely and returned the album
to the table.
4 thought l nights well show you"
She stood in the dim light, watching
him mysteriously out of her sunbon-
net. If anything should happen to me,
omebody'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 ley
In the lock The doors swung open.
Uncle Eben feasted his eyes. There
we're packages of seeds and velvet
bonnets and string of gold beads
and q high shell comb. She touched
= package of papers that lay at the