Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1885-09-25
UNDER THE HARVEST MOON,
By Robt. j. Bur,ette.

lie wrought with rake l1fteen feet lOng,
behind II reaper that could make twenty
knots an hour on an up grade. Lysanders
back was full of wheat boards, but his
heart was full of love. The real kind of
| lovey dove dovey love dove love that
makes an old married man sick It also
makes him sweat. Lysander did not
know this, so he just went ON in the usual
disgusting way common to young people
who have it for the first time.
IYsHnder Billings was gone on the
farmers daughter. The farmer had n
hOmely old wife and two sons. but only
the daughter could fill Lysander's heart.
although the Old man filed his plate.
Lysander did not let the old man into the
secret of his love for Edith Merrill and the
half Of the farm which was hers, to get
He limited at something of the kind, but
the tiller of the soil didn't appear to catch
on with much curdiahty He seemed to
Ly'auder To be cold and distant but not
quite so distant that lac couldn't fetch
INSlnder WhaCk over the broad of his
back with II rake handle, nor so cold that
he couldn't swear in tones that soured the
milk in the spring house, that if he ever
heard another word of that nonsense he
would salt down his winters pork with
the Drlny tears of his wltul child, mourn
ing for prcSumptuOUS lover who could
not be buried until they got all of him to-
gether. Lysandor Higgins was lookin
around for father-in-law that understood
his business. but somehow farmer Thistle.
pod suited him too well. II Will bide my
time he said simply. "You can have 1t
for sl.jO day." replied the farmer eager
ly, who knew where he could get another
nand for 81. LYsander held his peace.
Under his indenture, it was all he could
hold.
Farmer Blacllman watched the young
people with eyes Ut suspicion, and pad
blind old Mike Il dollar to watch them
with snglass. All their movements be
ing watched all the time, theirs was Il
hard case. and Lysander was half dueiled
by Edith two brothers, George and Hen
ry HHyseed. But though, he was ready to
ulal little Tor her, he dldn't propose to
make an ar spring for such nUOsCdnCcs
u those two young men, who were too
,Ouhg 10 iO u, not old enough to buy.
"Emth, said Lysander, I'VE will fly"
How lar p asked the angel.
go lur, lie stld and leu her to one in
inc corner. There they laid the old plan
mi played the Uid man, WHO Slept uucOn-
-luUS Ol coming events which cast their
hujuNs brhud. Fly to the desert with
ne, said Lysalder Il will, She said,
what have you for desert = Rock
andy, my oNnest own. Art ready to
ly ="
Edith ilaymaker was just too fly for
anything, and away they fled on the
Wings of the house, where Edith packed
rpa few things TO wear, Tor by dawn
hey would be where they would have to
beware OF everybody. The clock tuiled
Dne. but nobody heard IT It door closed
very softly, and very soft adOred closely;
TWO sets OF noiseess footballs sounded
har,hly on the unbroken silence of the
sleeping night, and they were gone. &
y w N,-gone, Not lost, but gone be
fore Il. IN.
a lapse of period has passed away,
borne on the tlecting wings Of time. There
is IL bank wherein wild thyme grows
where sleeps the fairy queen, and there is
Il faro bank wherein you grow wild time
and time again, betting ON the queen.
Lysander and Edith return to her bow
wOw-er who is out in the yard, unclaimed
and looking for tramps. They seek her
fathers presents, but he has none. He is
too old II fakir for such give away as
that He is not stern, although it is his
stern now. He only says
BLESS you my children. You are thrice
welcome home. Be assured OF Il fathers
forgiveness and affection, Lysander Null
lens, you will find your old familiar scythe
in its accustomed place in the bane. HE
thee to the moWin' lot.
Then turning to his good wife, old farm
er 1hrockmortOn said, smiling
hit ) lHe SlAIU uuuHnlCE we We llldT-
ried off to good hard working young men,
and the six weddings all told, clothes,
parsons fees, license, and all never cost
us one solitary cent. | wish the two boys
were each others sisters
The reader may notice that the names
of the characters in this history change
with startling abruptneSs and frequency.
This is because the author has very poor
memory Tor names.
A Sea side Idyl.
lCopI righted.l
She was pretty lasSic,
And he was "A iaunty lad;
They sat upon the sea shore.
And they watched the breakers glad.
He whispered to her softly,
AS he looked down in her eyes
And her checks were turned to Cri lsUn,
Like the tut OF sunset skies.
And they kept it up all summer,
And each gossip waggcd her head,
And bet that in the winter,
These Two would surely wed.
But they didn't, for the lady
Whom the lad wed IN rs before
Came down ard yunkcd her husband
by the ear from oil the shore
And he sat there nCN CrmOrC.
~. j. henderson.
THE STAR OFTiIE EAST