The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1878-12-26
A FEW WORD&
By ESTHER sEARLE KENNETH.

There are two times in our lives whe
we're sure to be talked about-whCn VI
are married and when We are buried.
It's something of story about my
marrying forty years ago.
] lived on my father farm in West
,crd. by cousin Leah had always made
Ter home there, too-a handsome girl,
ell you, with eyes as black as a coal, anG
;hceks as red as roses. She was ali the
li"ce my father had, and he thought Z
.l.ht Of her. After my mother died
L-ih was our housckeepar, for | was only
/ child
But by-and-by I was sixteen and Laal
was twenty, and then we were nor.
equals, and used to talk over our lovers
-o4cthcr; though Leah was always called
Ni3s Washington and Little RizpahN--
ior / was always quite small.
dare say l was quite pretty, too, j,
uy way, tor my face was pink ;,nd Whit
Ike an otandcr blossom. and had gOidy-
Jrown, silky hair, and eyes as blue a.
2rkspur. l suppose we set as much store
y our good looks rs girls do noW-a-days,
my re used TO wet our handaerchiefs il
May-dew TO wash oyr faces instead OF
he Bloom Of Youth, now sold for the
,omplexion; but think brewing. baking
and churning had more to do with oru
fair skin and rosy cheeks than anything
else.
After | was sixteen Leah and | talked
Of our lovers and churned and made but
ter together, for had my share, though
she was Miss Washington and | WAS
Little Rzpah.' Some preferred a deli
late little thing like me TO & tail, brilliant
girl like my cousin.
There was always something on the
,GpiS-picnic or singing sleigh
ride or husking- -bec-and If wasn't Nhert
we went 50 much rs whom we went wish
1T whom we met there. We thought
.ood deal OF our beaux, like all other
young people Of that age. But it was
ing Preston who soon beat al the other
oung men out and out IN cur favor He
vas smart and manly and good-looilipg,
ne hardest worker, and more full of fun
.:Du life than any two OF tic o4Iers" put
ogether.
I admired him SO much that got Shy
# talking to Leah about him, ana soon !
noticed that Leah was Shy OF talking to
'ac Of King; and 50 he dropped out OF
ur chats by mutual consent, somehow.
iut when we knew he WAS to be at
party, We always dressed more carefully
han usual.
presume Leah noticed it Of mel an
sure did Of her. She would curl her
1air IL three rows, SO that Il was Just 4
hover OF black ringiets on her shoulders,
nd when it was tied back with cherry
oiorgd ribbon, she did iooH handsome,
.ou may believe.
King didn't pay her special attention
mat first winter. lie would come quite
often, and ask ne TO dance; but the
following spring he got to coming to our
house TO see her. You couldn't say either,
that he was courting her, for he seemed
TO come right into tie family as enc Of
js-only he always asked for Miss Wash
ngton.
Father was one who made people feel
II home at his house. He specially liked
King, too, for he liked to see young
nan smart and able to get beforehand
lie said King could do days work
With any man whom he ever saw. ''Set
your caps for him, girls; he's worth hay-
ing!' he used to say, and ! remember how
it used TO make my heart tinglc with
pleasure TO have him praised.
As said, he used to come to our house
ptten. Not regularly, though. Perhaps
we would be out whitening ci0th on the
hillside when he would come up, or would
~ gathering rose leaves or lavender IN
the garden when W. would see hm tying
Ms horse Il thc gatC-post. lie had always
me,nlng 70 show or Jesi about. j. WIS
al Gtu @uege King was.
YES. | enjoyed ms visits from the fist
The iitacS nad hiossomcd At our door for
sixteen years, but they never smalled 80
-weet OF looked 50 beautifully with their
great purple cones as they did that Nav.
used to love 30 walk alone in the garden
among the roses, or lean from my window
il the moonlight, and think how beauti-
ttul the World Was. And somehow the
scent OF the liacS and the roses and the
moonlight was al mixed UP with King
Preston'S laughing brown eyes
One day after the work was all done, I
was sitting alone in the kitchen. making
shirt for father. | recOllect that kitchen
rag carpet IN red and brown strips on
the floor, the shelves Of shining milk tins,
the little old fashioned rockers set either
side the stand where Leah and | kept our
work baskets-the morning -glorics over
the windows. the sunshine falling in q
square through the open door upon tie
floor, the bees buzziny among the pink
hollyhOcks that leaned at either side
The sleek old gr"5 cat used to sit in thar
doorway and watch the bees with her
sleepy green eyes.
Well, l sat there alone that day, listen
ING to the summer sounds, and smelling
the pinks and pomegranutes in the gar
den, when | heard King Preston speak TO
hls horse al the gate.
Ny heart ,uDAped in my throat to
thnk he should find M - -. iN 'ha house
Tor Leah had gone berrying, and father
was OF haying.
j had not gone with Leah, because the
week previously had sprained my ankle,
and had to sit with 1t bandaged up on
tootstool. l made the best OF the matter.
We'll, l said, bravely, when he en-
tered, have you come 10 keep the pris-
oner companyl"
He looked rather pleased 70 sec me so
free. for had Always been rather shy Of
him, and came ana took Il seat close by,
and asked me about ny ankle, and where
Leah was, etc.
"You were not at the hopping, last
week" | said.
"No, was too tired. have been up
at haif-past three ali through haying time
and icnr get through the chores on the