Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-07-18
DAILY NOVELETTE,
CONVINCING EBENEZER
BY Carne ID. Roberts
MISS BETT1NA sTETsoN. in her

AVA spotless kitchen. was preserving
pears and reveling at her success. The
sunshine filtered Chccrfully through the
vine covered window and the room was
filed with the sweet fragrance Of the
fruit Trim. competent, Miss Betty
was ''fnir and 40" but was as young
Mt heart as her niece of 1G, who
lived with her. The farm which she had
inherited from her parents she man
aged most successfully, helped by the
advice of Cyrus Harmon, who lived near
her in an old. tumbling down cottage.
AS grandfathcr's clock in the kitchen
corner solcmnly poaled II. a team drove
into the yard and the driver, a man Of
GO years, climbed spryly down from
his high seat and walked slowly up the
path.
Goodness gracious, There's Ebc =
claimed Miss Betty.
Ebcnczcr entered the kitchen without
knocking and sat down cautiously into
tho rocker by the window.
"Morcy me. Miss Betty" he COM
moncod in a weak voice and with the
usual way of clipping his words. put
tin up more pears? Sh'd think you d
have a sulcrful by this time. How's
things goin' and has Cyrus got your
corn patch rlowcd YETI"
"Wcll. no. Ehcnezcr. he hasn't. Cy-
rus has been sick for a week." Miss
BETTY told him.
"Thoro now. Miss Betty. cant YOU
500 how much YOU need n man? You
Just marry mo and I'll take the bossin
off your mind. It's no work for n
woman tryin to run a farm. How will
next Wednesday suit YOU? We could
stop at the parsons on our way home
from prayer meeting" Ebcnezpr said.
Miss Betty dropped the pear she
was pooling SO hastily into tho kettle
that tho syrup Spattcrod over the table.
'Look here. Ebcnczcr.' she shouted
haven't told You time and time
again that You needn't sct any moro
dates, for | haven't the least idea of
ever marrying Won? And as for women
running farms. there are plenty of
them with brains moro efficient than
some mon I know
"Thcrc. there. Miss Betty. be scnsi
bic and don't act like a Young girl
with her first beau. You're gottin' old
though YOU look 50 Young and spry.
and you may never have such n chance
again" said Ebcnczcr.
Miss Bctty's eyes were stern. "No,
Ebcnczcr. I mean every word say.
I'll never marry you ~ she told him
firmly.
EbonC2or rose with groan and said
Il suppose that Woodville fellow has
made YOU think that ycu can do better
by not marrying me. I'm much more
suited to YOU than he. He doesn't even
know horse rake from harrow
Think it over. Betty. and I'll be over
again Wednesday at s. and he drove
vadly away. Miss Betty looked after
him a minute with a countenancc
blended with desperation and amuso
ment. Presently she laughed softly
and murmured, That's just what
I'll do"
Wednesday evening at 8 o'clock
Ebcnezer drove again into Miss Betty s
ward. lie was Just about to tic his
faithful stced to the post when he
glanced toward the parlor window
Goodness What was that outlined sc
plainly on the shade "a tall man with
a hat on. As Ebcnozpr stared at the
unexpected sight. Miss Bettys shadow
appeared and kissed the man shadow
again and again; then the two shadows
huggNd each other. Ebpnczer stood as
if turned to stone.
Its that Woodville fellow" he
gasped. "Whod thought Miss Betty
would deceive me like that, leadin m,
on and engaged to him. \ girl never
kisses a fellow less she's engaged tc
him. Well. I'll show her that there's
other women" Turning resolutely
away from the loving shadows. ht
drove off as quietly as possible
When the last faint sound of wheel!
died away upon the country road. Mis-!
Betty threw herself into q rocker anr
laughed until the tears came to hel
eyes. Her tall niece throw n man!
hat and coat onto the floor and shouted
in ecstasy. Poor old Ebenezcr.
Il wish him better luck in his mex
adventure, Miss Betty said.
, In a few days the news of the tow
was Ebenezer Holden had married til,
l Widow Clark. Ebenezer often won
| dpred when Miss Betty and the Wood
vile fellow would be married But a.
vet Miss Betty is as CHEEKY and happ!
, as ever, preserves her pears and man
. ages her farm eficiently-alonc.