Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1888-03-16
But | hardened nv heart an car.

But | hardened my heart au' car
ried my head higher, thankin' the
Lord that | warn't such an incapable,
whinin' creetur as Annie. Father
Harker said no more about Zekel, an
We spent a pleasant five years to.
gether and was 10th to give him up
when Herrit Harker, who he'd mar.
ried reel forehanded man, came at-
ter him to take him to her Nebrasky
home. Then / adopted a psuper
boy, who proved to he real blessin
helpin' an comfortin' me in every
way.
81 lived on in the old house. Few
people sought my company or paid
me attention 80 dear TO the heart of
most wimmen. In lookin' back,
can see that folks let me alone because
was so stern and unlovable. My
one desire was revenge an to humble
Zekel to the very dust. though often
my fathers words would run in my
head, causin' me to tremble lest
shut myself out of heaven. IF ye
forgive not, how can ye expect to be
forgiven?' Folks called me a Chris.
tian because l gave to every good
cause so literally an never missed
goin' to meetin', but knew my heart
wasn't right, an dared not pray the
Lords prayer any farther than the
words, 'forgi.e us our debts as we
forgive our Debtors lest bring upon
my own head q curse. instid of a
blessin'
John, my adopted son, grew up,
married an lef, Pilbury. Again
was alone an made up mind I'd alters
live 80, arguiu' with neighbor there
was 90 use tryin' to keep any one
with me, Gn' the psrtin' with than
alters saddeasd me. an the next i've
years had no company 'capt Bose
an the cat, toilin' early an late lay
ing UP stores Of fruit, grain an goods
that | didu't need, an takin' summer
boarders jest for company, when one
October mornin' found me not able to
leave my bed; completely worn out,
an no one to hand me o drink of
water. though the neighbors were
kind, after they found out my need.
"Durin' my seventh week o. suffer
ing was lynn helpless an cryin'; the
future seemed SO dark to me, when
somebody raped at my door.
Come in, says |, thinking twas
Mis- WhippIe with a cup of soup. an
'Zskel. gray an pale, an dressed like
a tramp. came Ia
Straight up to my bedside he
walked, holdin' out his thin tremblin'
hand, sayin' in timid way
"'Penelopy!'
came over me, oil the bitter, bad past
of me was changed into peace an
happiness Says he: 'Annie's bsen
gone years, my children are all goue,
'cept two, au' I've come a home
tramp to ask your pardon fer-fer-
but it's no use tryin' to tell jest how
it came about, in less'n half an hour
'Zekel IAN me were agin lovers
Mis- Whipple was 30 shocked to
find, as she thought. highway rob-
Der or an escaped lunatic set;in' by
me, holdin' my hand, that she let the
bowl of soup fall on the stone hearth
an screamed for Josiah. her husband,
who wss on his way to town an had
brought her to my gate. Josiah
came runnin' in an recognized 'Zekel,
an had good laugh at Mis- Whip.
ple's mistake.
''In week | was as strong as ever
an busy maxim ;Zekel new suit of
blue jean, an we meant to be married
before Thanksgivin' Folks said that
| was a silly thing to take him he'd
Tilted me, au' that he'd come back
after home, but we were too happy
to mind Pilbury gossip.
''Our bridal tour was walk over
to the Hsrker place. 'ZekePs tears
fell fast as we went over the old home.
They're all gone, an I've no chance
to tell 'em of my sorrow over a mis-
spent life, an now they'll never
know said he, an I, tryin' to CON-
fort him. whispered: "One day they'll
know-when the mists are cleared
away, an We shall know as we are
known
ii don't think the world holds any
happier couple thau 'Zekel an me.
I've taken him for better AN worse,
his weakness with his better qualities
jest because 1 have allus loved him.
AM 'Zekel's daughter, a
young girl with look of Annie
about her, is comm to brighten up
the old place. Please God she'll find
in me tender, lovin' mother.
II can't say nom. how 'twould
hev ended if 'Zekel had come back
rich, an wearin' purple an fine linen,
carrying his head high ss most sue
cessful men DO, an he'd found me
strong an we'll. Winners hearts
are strange vessels, beyond the un-
derstandiu' of the wisest of our sex.
| only know that my heart is filed
with a love an content it meyer knew
before
"'Zekel's CALM me, nom, him an
me hev beeu lottin' on takin' the early
apples to the Pilbury market, an
here I've spent the mornin' in talk
instid O. helpin' gather them spice ap-
Piles, an | can't hev him workin' in
the bri'lin, sun without lunch
Zekel's not strong an needs good
care. which he shall hey. if Penelopy
Upson Harker knows her own
mind"
A Novel Elopement.