The Washington herald., 1914-06-22
DAILY SHORT STORY.
A BucoIIc coURTsH1P.
nv EDMuND X. GoLDsBoRoUGH.
loouyrirht. IN

why don't you ask Hilda to marry
you. Eb?" asked Mrs Edwards. who was
! busying herself endeavoring 10 coax q
stubborn vine to grow over an unsightly
porch pillar.
Ebeneser Edwards Erinned sheepishly
and turned redder than the red chimney
adorning the new courthouse. "Hilda
wouldn't look at me-" he mumbled. Il
guess the winter she spent down In
washington must have turned her head
and"
Nothing of the sort" interrupted Mrs.
sSdwards, sharply. 'sHilda Hanson's head
amt so easily turned. And II the truth
was known, I'd wager my gold thinble
TO darnin' needle that she wouldn't give
you for all the spindle leg dudes that
parade the asphalt streets OF our Ma
- tional Capital"
Ebenazer scratched his auburn head.
You don't know girls" he Ventured TO
remark. ''Hilda has changed and hard
ly know what to make of her"
"Humph." calculated Mrs Edwards;
,vSguess the gal Is tired of waitin' for you
= to pop the question an Is bit discon-
solate. Here you are pressin' twenty-five,
will inherit the richest farm In Clay
County, and your family's been respect
ed in this community long before George
Washington crossed the Delaware an
took 100000 Hussars pris'ners-at least
that's what I got from your great-grand-
father Edwards before he died"
Not Hussars, mother, but Hessisns."
corrected Ebenezer, and the number Of
men captured by the immortal George
was not two hundred thousand but q
bare ten"
"shucks." said Mrs Edward6 'T don't
think 50 much Of that, but whether II
was ten or two hundred the fact remains
that the Edwards
Have been rubes from time imme-
morial." interposed the son, ''and II I
Etwant 10 win a girl like Hilda I've an
inkling that I'll have te get hump on
myself
what are you drfvin' at. EbT' In
quired the fond parent.
IN tell you In due time" replied |
Ebenezer as he stuffed wad Of tobacco |
into a corneob pipe and strolled into
the garden.
The golden leaves Of autumn had car
: peted the broad lawn surrounding the
Edwards mansion, and a brisk September |
fwind seemed to whisper the death Of sum-
mer when Ebenezer Edwards hied HIM
self across fields Of ripened corn to the
Hansons' attractive abode, nestled in
a nearby hill. TO say good-by. EDS
mind was made up. He must become
polished and refined before hoping to
capture Hilda- I'll win her. he had
grated, IF I'm forced TO wear q dress
suit huskih. time!"
Something that might have suggested
pain fingered for a moment on Hilda
Hanson's fair features when the big
( farmer took her hand in his and said
gently, I'm going away next week. little
girl, and thought I'd drop around and
tell you"
Away repeated Hilda- 'where?"
Cornell I've studied hard and want
TO take a year or so in the agricultural
school. Up there they make . modern
farmer of you. and gentleman q swell.
so they tell me"
The idea!" pouted Hilda, why you're
acknowledged TO be the best farmer in
Clay County, and"
Nonsense" grinned Ebenezer Ed
wards. Anyhow. the rubes up our way
are antiQuated in their methods"
The fact was. however, that Farmer
EdwardS sole idea in going North was
to acquire the suevity and refinement
Of his city brother. The rough edges
must be worn OF and then. perhaps.
|, the fountain Of love in Hilda's heart
would be loosed. EbeneEer lonEed to
convey the ambition of q lifetime to the
little girl Of the hills but something
deferred him-ths knowledge that he was,
as yet, a clodhopper
Something like a mist spread over the
farmers big. blue eyes when an hour
later he pressed his lips TO Hndas |
hand, and, looking quickly away. mum
bled an unintelligible good-by and strobe
GOWN lne paIC1. n EOlQen
harvest moon was riding over the tran
gull heavens, and somewhere a night
bird was singing q sonata to the breeze,
but Ebenezer's big heart was far too
full TO appreciate the glories OF the
autumn evening. To him the earth was
dead, the birds had flown. for he had
buried the joys of life in the little ham
let he was leaving behind. and Hnda
alone could resurrect them.
A heavy winter set in and Jack Frost's
relentless hand gripped Clay County for
six weary months. But early in April
the kindly sun shone forth, the frozen
ground softened as II by magic, and
spring plowing.
Ebenezer Edwards reached home, and III
when he appeared at the farm motherly III
instinct told Mrs. Edwards that this was
her boy, for he was srrayed IN so ex-
traordinary a garb that the fond parent. III
senses, forgot for the moment to en-
brace him. and exclaimed in amaze
ment, Land sskes, Ebenezer Edwards,
what is the world comm TO when
husky farmer arrays himself in sech
hideous duds?"
This is the very latest college style"
replied Ebenezer, proudly. as he fondled
his mother to his heart. "All the swell III
dressers are sporting them"
Well! calculated Mrs. Edwards III
"hhe you was about II why didn't III
you get the right size? The suit is
hree sizes too small
1T Is bit uncomfortable" admitted iii
Sh. with squirm. but you've got to ii
Ieep up with the fashions, especially III
you want to capture a girls heart III
Women are sticklers for smart clothes
And what brought you homer
Ebenezer grinned. DO you suppose |
hat I could have looked into another /
ook after that hot sun came out? I'm
through with college, and. to be candid,
mother dear. I'm dead anxious to get III
ut OF these clothes into my overalls /
nd behind a plow. but must see Hilda iii
rst!" And after another hearty en- iii
race the man dRrted away III
Hilda Hanson was planting a rose III
1sh beside the garden fence when some
hing caused her to look up and her :
cart gave a tremendous bound. But
ian a native pride caused her to re-
ain control Of those feelings that were
lreatening to run away with her. and
re said sternly. ''Ebenezer Edwards
on can never cross into these grounds
ntil you have changed those clothes"
For the first time in his life the big
lrmer was too amazed 10 speak and
1r moment he stood as II petrifed
Why" he finally blurted, all the city
naps are wearing them! They are all
1e range, Hilda, I've always thought
lat after that winter down in Washing
N"
Don't mention washinRton or sny