The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1879-10-23
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REEFS MEMORY,

to the Reeses, was situated about fy,
miles from our tewn of Trefavon. Ant
Mr.. Matthew Rees himself was a fine
portly man Of some 40.or 50 years of az,
and q bachelor.
The only defect he had-if Farmer Rec,
could be said to have a defect-was wha,
the neighbors termed the "loss of hi,
head" He was indeed such an absent
minded man that be would seriously re
feet whether he could have been presen,
when he came into the world. Still this
absence of mind rarely interfered with
his daily or weekly duties. He transacted
his business as methodically as if he had
been machine wound up; but if any.
thing new or unforeseen occurred, ifhe
were expected to remember a date or q
name, or to act out of the usual routine,
the machine got out of the order at once.
He possessed, however, two memories
one within doors, one without. These
were his housekeeper, Mally, and his car.
ter, Jehoram, Familiarity called Jeho. Blu.
they also failed him in the course OF
time.
"Mally, you never reminded mel" was
the farmers reproof one day when he had
invited friend to dinner and he was
himself engaged elsewhere.
Deed to goodness, master, I'm forget
ting myself" was the answer. Time
you should be looking for wife. There's
Miss kezia, Francis Tygwyn's daughter,
now"
Francis Iygwyn? Well, now, let me
think. His daughterp forgot. He has an
unmarried donDbfor Nall, 9ss
"Lor, master, you know that he has,
and she is single, they are saying. for your
sake. Why, you used to make love to her
when you were boy"
did ]? | never remember making love
IN my life, Mally. shouldn' tknow how!
Did you ever make lovep"
''On my deed, master, YOU are funny.
I've been courted many time, but
was never of the forward sort, as Jeho
will say for me, if you'll be asking him.
We've been going together long enough
now"
Rees opened his eyes, and they we're not
destitute of the sparks of amusement. In
spite of his oblivious. temperament, he
took in joke at the moment, even if he
forget it the next.
MalIy was justified in her assertion con-
corning Miss Francis. This lady had
quietly allowed forty. five years of her life
slip by without taking to herself help
meet, and, strange az it may seem, for the
sake of Rees Manorgwyn. When she was
IL and he two and twenty, there had
passed between them words that he had
forgotten, but she had stored up in her
memory. He had never even told her he
loved her; but, after all that, Kezia at As
was as sincerely attached to Mr.. Rees as
she had been at seventeen.
Nothing further was said about Rees
and Miss Fannie, but in a short time NAL
ly and Jeho were married. They retired
to tidy cottage on the Manorgwyu estate
and the farmer found while he had two
memories out of doors he had none within.
Beth he and his household suffered from
the loss.
What were you saying to me about
somebody's daughter. some young wo n
an Mally3" he inquired, month or SO af-
ter that worthy spinster became matron
81 was telling you of Francis Tygwyn's
eldest daughter, Kezia, master. Make
you haste or she'll be too old for any
body.
ITO be sure I remember Francis Tyg-
wyns kezia. Thank you for reminding
me, Mally; I'll tie knot in my hand
kerchief-I shan't forget.
He went about his business, repeating
Francis Tygwyn's Kezia," until the
words rang in his head like the bells of
Llanfach church.
The following Saturday he met Tyewyn
in the market.
"Ah Jones-Francis, mean-you were
the man l was thinking of. They are
telling me you We q fine mare-no; al
young heifer. Pom my soul l can't re-
Which is it? Francis Tygwyn's
Kezia: Name o goodness, which is it,
maa?"
II have daughter Kezia, Rees," re-
piled Francis, half amused, half offended.
Daughter! OF course, that's what l |
meant; and a very good daughter. they
tell me. How is she?''
You had better come and see. It'sI
years since you've been to Tygwyn. Sup
pose you ride back with me-"
Surely | was there last week about
that mare We were talking of; but don't |
care If do take turn there again"
The two farmers trotted briskly along |
The turnpike. and walked their well-fed |
horses quickly up the hill, reaching their |
destination in an hour.
Whe Rees shook hands with Kezia he
little thought what flutter she was in.
But he remembered Mally's advice and
he necessities of his household, and tried
o gather up his wits for the emergency of l
his case When he looked at Kezia in an
absent sort of way he found himself won.
ierihg what sort of thing wife was,
md whether she would be more or less
troublesome than housekeeper. By de-
yrees he took to admiring her round, fair
ace knd comedy figure, and all of sud-
len vision of mis- youth fitted before his
Loudly mind. He suddenly burst out
aughing.
do You remember spelling 'opportu-A