The Mobridge news. [volume] (Mobridge, Walworth Co., S.D.) 190?-1917, 1910-02-11
CHAPTER VI.

lHe pdIlIluSt-DtIIItS lHe WOOu Udu
been cut and hauled. Only scattered
chips remained to tell the winters
work. And although all the village
knew that Richard was learning
Greek, it 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 it. and
split it, and piled it high, and sledded
it 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 reioced anew
that she was to be Mrs. Edwards
He was on his way to Uncle Eben's
when he met her-carrying a message
from his mother He found the old
man in the side garden pottering
about over the halfdried 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 EN-, too She keeps 'em
locked up in the secritary-ch'ic as
gold" He rose stiff1y from his knees
and led the way to the house
Aunt Jerusha was buried in the
depths of the Dutch oven. a 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 readjusted her spectacles
and looked at him kindly Her skirt
was pinned safely up out of harm
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 plantin'? Well, | do know how
many We'll have. | hain't got 'em
down for pa yet" She glanced at him
suspiciously.
d. He shifted from one foot to the
other 1t might have been hope or it
might have been impatience
Aunt Jerushas look changed to af-
fection. He wants some, dreadful"
she confided to Richard, but it 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
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 here next week anyway
The room was speckless. Not a
trace of dust rested on any object,
thought Aunt Jerusha gave an osten.
tatious puff 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
II keep it 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.
Il thought l nights we'll 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
child" She directed her nod towards
the kitchen.
UnSle Eben looked up hopefury 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
n 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 high she'll comb. She touched
package of papers that lay at the