Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1910-04-01
CHAPTER VI.

When the snow began melting from
the partridge-berries 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
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 1t, and sawed it, and
split it. and piled it high, and sledded
1t to town, and sold it at so much 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 EN-, too. She keeps EN-
locked up in the secritary-chice as
gold He rose stif1y 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
Well. 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 it's depths.
Want some of the Limas, do you
for plantin'? Well, do know how
many We'll 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 II
might have been impatience
Aunt Jerusha's look changed to af
lection. "He wants some, dreadful,
she confided to Richard, but it aim
time yet"
She crossed the room and took from
high nail by the shelf a key. 1t wal
the key to the parlor door. you come
with me. Richard" she said mildly, al
she waddled away
Uncle Eben looked wistfully afte
them. He seated himself in straight
backed chair and, lifting his feet t
the front round, rubbed his finger
thoughtfully.
Aunt Jerusha opened the parlo
door into the dim light You ca
come right in" she said proudly
"Never mind your feet. Women wer
made to sweep up dirt. I've got t
clean here next week anyway"
The room was speckless. Not
trace of dust rested on any object
thought Aunt Jerusha gave an osteI
bdlHOuS pun " piuoh do 81
lifted it. She opened it with littl
gesture of pride. 1t was half file
with pictures, and in the hole left va
cant in the other half reposed key
81 keep it in here" she whispered
"He wouldn't ever think of looking i
there" She chuckled softly as sh
drew it out She snapped the heav
clasps safely and returned the albur
to the table.
81 thought / nights we'll show you.
She stood in the dim light, watchin
him mysteriously out of her sunboI
net. IF anything should happen to me
somebodyd hev to know, and b
wouldn't have no more care an
child" She directed her nod toward
the kitchen.
Uncle Eben looked up hopefully a
they returned, the key to the secrt
tary borne in Aunt Jerusha's palm.
Mounting a chair in front Of tn
high secretary she inserted the Ike
In the lock. The doors swung opeI
Uncle Eben Toasted his. eyes. Their
were packages of seeds and velve
bonnets and string of gold bead
and high shell comb. She touche
q package of papers that lay at tn