Democratic messenger., 1888-04-07
'ZEKEL AN ME-.

"Take the big rockin' cheer, nom, an set
by the east win,lcr, wherc you can see the
water In the brook srarklin', and the red
birds fashin' In an out the big ccdars an
white laylocks. I'm proper glad that you
like our place though tits 80 old fashioned.
'Zekel warn't overly anxious for mo to take
boarders this summer, as last year did hev
a tryin' time between the whims an notions
Of q finicky witl,lcr an timorsomc maiden
lady. They were nllus warrin' and spattin'
with each other In way that warn't good TO
sec. Nothin' pleased 'em; the house was too
small, my cookin' old fashioned, an they
scornel my pnsics, continooally askin' me
why didn't hev benonias, geraniums an
carnations, enstend o. Glove pinks, marigools,
laylocks an fowery almon's. You sec, nom,
frcttci al worked until my system was all
run down, an In October wns taken with a
slow, lingerin fever, costin' me more'n thrib-
bio the money I'd made, payin' out fer mcsli-
cine nm doctor bills.
"But it's an III wind that blows nobody
gool. an jest when my skies were darkest the
Lord sent 'Zekcl 20 mo, an all bitterness an
hardness between US was healed. Now, mo'm,
] know jest what you're thinkin', but 'Zckcl
an me aren't the husband an wife Of long
standin', though In our early youth We were
promised to each other. We're skurcely over
our honeymoon, or I should say the time
'lottcl fer II To last. Zckol an me, after long
years livin' apart, hev determined that no
vinegar moons shall rise. full an wane, in
our future.
"Tm all o. 20, an 'Zckel's 81.
AT 80 found myself alone In the world;
father, mother, brothers an sister all lay in
tlie churchyard You can see acrost the way.
But had this farm an my one ambition was
| to make It the envy Of my ncighbors an To
show 'cm that 'Z.kel hadn't quite crushed me
when he deserted me for Annie Bonn. Father
was the last one TO 20. For over u year b.
sat helpless jest where / placed his cheer,
allus lookin happy, though l could SEE tina,
he longci 10 bc free from his bondage. One
consolation was left him, he could talk, AMI
his faculties seemed To Ia clear an sharper
than when he was strong aud active man.
''llc never mentioned Zckcls name to me
but once after the wc,i,lin, an that was tho
week before lie went to tho better country.
| \ ncighbor came over 70 buy brishel of my
choice seed potatoes for plantin', an told ,s
of the trouble 'Zekcls folks were hcvin' with
sickness an poverty. When We were alone
softly:
"'lf we-forgivc-not- -how-shall--wc-
hope to-be--forgivcnf
II knew that was cherishin' wicked feel.
! in's In my heart, but il seemed TO mo 'Zckcl
an Annie didn't deserve sympathy or rpardon
from me. You see, nom, Annie Bonn was
my dearest friend. III alus shared my sc-
crcts with her, girl fashion, never drcainin'
she was then plannin' treachcry an was 10
I've the means o my losin' faith in every hu.
man hcin', even feclin' bitter toward my Gre
ator. I can't tell in words how dearly ]
loved Annie an trusted in her. She was the
daughter Of paupcr furriner, who lived in
n dcapi,lated cabin upon the c,lgc Of our
farm. Father piticd old Bonn an tried 20
/ help him. Annie was handy at bunnct trim
min and dressmakin', and everybody liked
| TO have her around.
Ezekiel Iiarkrr, my lover, was the pride Of
| his family. an i.cin' tho only son was humored
by his iotin folks inorc'n was sool for him.
| Xckcl's oldest sister, 'rildy Ann, made no
secret oi her rejoicin' that We were promised.
callin' mo sister at the sings. quil;n's nm
apple parin's. an all the girls court.l hiIa.
'cept Annie Donn, who al,ls acted as il she
hadn't second thought for him. Everybody
s'pnsed we'd he married by the time was my
! own mistress. hut some way Zckel Didn't get
ON In business. At 20 hs was still unsettled
rs TO his future occupation. After studying
/ for n few months law, medicine an for the
ministry, he changed his mind, an imagined
he could invent some wonderful machine
which would bring him fortune, an 'Tilly
! Ann said shc shouldn't wonder IL he did, that
'Zckel was smart enough TO do anything he
was mind to. Father once quoted to me:
! Unstable as water, thou shalt not excel
knew what hc meant, an spoke out for 'Zckel,
Sayin his intellect was of u higher grade than
the clols around us. Only give him time an'
he would excel
"About this time Tidy Ann an Mandy
Iinrkrr died with thu pneunIony fever.
brought on by bein' caught in "a drenchin'
rain, on their way to tho woolen mills, where
they'd been to sell their wool Mamlys last
words were, 'You'll-iind- the MONEY
! 'Zckel-wnntel- -in--my chest lie cx-
planned to me that hc WAS on the eve Of slic-
ccc'lin' with his invention, an needed little
money 10 finish IL, an Mandy had undertaken
to get IL for him.
~ had my feelings hurt more'n once durin'
the next few weeks, havin' Xckel called sell
| fish an neycr-do-w we'll. 'Zckel hecrd their
talk, too, an one old farmer alvis,-l him to
quit drramn' and put his hand Ia the plow,
or his other sisters would follcr Tidy Ann
an Mandy. Zekcl said nobody 'ccptin' me
understood his hopes an aims, an then
/ SIokc out, tellin him Ill alus sianL by him,
no matter what happened. Ill never forget
/ We were Promised, an this seemed to che,'r
him up ", m-rfully.
ellis folks iG.nn To- H. anxious for Us 81
settle in a honp of our oNn.
"Our farms joined, an Mr. iiarker said We
could count on forty acres apiece 1T coOl
/ mellow land, an 'twoul,lnt take long Ia put
US up a hcwe'l log hollsr. ,:,aal enough for
anyho'ly's home. was wiilin' Ia this ar
I rnngemcnt, hut 'Zekel wanted to start IN
better style, an pictured a city life ~ nice
that came Ia think as he did: yet ] never
stoplsi spinnin' AN wcavin' articlcs for my
| weldn' outfit.
"In those days was happy. Annie hcipgl
me with my wssl,lin preparations, an every
day Zckcl came Ia l,Ok on One juno after.
noon Annie an me were in our orchard
Sprinklin' linen that was blaachin' on tho
grass. felt 10 light hcarted, the world
SEEMED ~ full Of JOY and the birds sang so
sweetiy.
"Ol, Annie, why don't a lover come
wooin' youi Il Is NJ sweet to Ia loved, an
you are 40 much pretticr than me. it's 40
strange that lover DOESN'T find you out, said
!, not hearin' Zekels step, an entirely una-
ware Of hLl presence until Annies blnshcs
caused mo % turn about 90 find my lover
listenin' 10 my silly words.
ITO hide my blushes ran down the hill
into the garden, an gathered a handful of
damaSk an cinnamon roses. then hurried
hack, In my vanity, thinkin' Zekel would
count tho time long until was with him.
As walked slowly mp tho hill | saw In
Annie's blue eyes n new light Twas like
the expression OF one who has gained her
hearts desire. Though all Of 20 she looked
20 girlish In her white dress, the yellow
braisis of hair shone like gold, an every
movement she made was graceful. l felt
keenly the contrast between uA ! took little
pains with my own attire, thinkin' more Of