The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1892-01-14
A SADDUCEE,.
BY EVA WILDER MCGLAssoN.

red cottage to the right OF the Shak-
ers' toll-gate had moved out leaving
things as usual, much the worse OF
their brief occupancy.
81 shall take it on myself to cut the
grass and mend the front shutter"
said Brother Boone Hinson as he
drove past, and saw golden
rod shamelessly Haunting itself among
the knee-high weeds in the scrap OF q
yard.
1t was Shaker land clear to the Ken
lucky River, two miles away, and an
inch unkempt sward was grievous
offense not to be tolerated.
"It is always this way with tenants"
sighed Brother Boone. II wish we
didn't have to rent our unused houses
to worlds people," He sighed again,
casting an austere eye on the toll-gate
house, a low-browed dwelling which
sat scowling by the green way-side.
The girl who Mad come few months
ago to live with her aunt, Mrs. Meeks,
the toll-gate keeper, looked apathet-
ically at Brother Boone as she swung
the pole over his mules head.
"A wording" considered the young
man, returning her glance with disap-
prevail, and getting q new idea OF
wickedness from the curling fluff OF
red hair over her big eyes. The mule
went little bit sideways as his driv-
er turned emphatically from the Jeze-
bel in the doorway, her black gown
edged at the neck with awisp of crape.
Railways Shakers." she thought,
following him with weary eyes. II
wish someone else would pass by just
now and then.'
She kept on looking at Brother
Boone. He was a part OF it all, a por-
ton OF the deadly tranquility which
pervaded the whole secluded settle
ment, even to this outskirt nook
where Mrs. Meeks lived
The stone walls OF the severe Sha-
ker houses Just to the southwark
seemed to Mrs Meeks' niece like
tombs. Center House, gray and pom
derous, weighed her heart down every
time her glance struck through the in
tervening stretch of meadow. There
was nothing to hear, nothing to see
except now and then OF fine evenings,
when some of the Harrodsburg young
people dashed by in light buggies-
, mere tleeting glimpses Of gayety, which
only stung Nora to a remembrance OF
the city. She was new to country
ways, and in the midst of the wild
freshness OF the unbuilded earth she
pinned for the fret OF the town, the
Of +lo
clamor of humanity.
''lt wasn't clean, Of course, in Gin
cinnati, but loved it," said Nora:
''Shows how little sense you got,"
commented her aunt, feeling ill-repaid
for giving her brothers child home.
You'd OF been in a fine fix if l hadn t
taken you in when your paw died
not a cent in the world except what
the furniture out of the three rooms
brought. l don't know what you'd
Of dcne, so l don't
II could have stood it in store"
said Nora.
eyes you could!' satirically agreed
Mrs. Meeks. 81 know how you'd have
stood it in a store. You wouldn't
have lasted q month"; You ain t none
too robust, nOway. l hope you're
grateful to me for bringing you to- a
good home, where you don't have to
do a living thing except to tend the toll.
gate, and look after the children a
little and do the washing and such"
Yes, Aunt Molly"
They amt many a widow woman
would "a done it." complacently
added Mrs. Meeks. "And me with
four children OF my own to raise u
She sighed heavily. She was large
limp woman lavishly endowed save in
the single item OF teeth. Her thin
blonde hair was always slipping down
cit would be pretty if you pinned it
close" advised Nora.
'DOn't matter none, re: )neG Mrs
Meells, "Sharp pillow is mighty little
use when you got no land to turn.
don't look to marry again, noway. A
man d think twice with all these young
ones. And there's nothing around
here anyhow but Shakers, and they
amt the marrying kind
"Why?" asked Nora.
against their laws. Don't waste
. no words on UNI, Nora, when you TURF
the pole for UNI. The women are right
soft-spoken, but the men Wouldn't
take off their hats for lady to save
their lives. That there Brother Boone
is, the worst of all of um., He's toe
straight-laced to live" r.-<
81 like his looks the best of all," re
Elected Nora.
He was so unlike the young nrem ii
town, who wore narrow shoes an {
had watch chains draped across tbei1
vests, and were collared and cravateC
within an inch of their lives. Brother
Boone had broad shoulders squarely
outlined under his blue cotton coat
and his dust -colored hair curled uI
under the wide brimmed hat he wore
He looked strong and wholesome
and happy, and yet he was q Shake,
and had lived always III these quie
uplands where nothingever happened
"Shakersn' wondered Nora; ''peo
pie who don't loye or marry or have
anything in their lives but work and
prayer. Oh, Icouldn't!"
She vaguely coniectured what thes*
strange beings thought OF when spring
came about, and fields were fringeC
with wild Howarc hid tho fuoonliohf