The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1893-06-16
EZRA TONNES LAST sHILOH

Miss Meigs."
as that you, Levi Walkerp Coco
evening"" Maria Meigs replied, looking
up in surprise. 81 had an early supper
so as to work outdoor awhile she went
on, with broad smile at the misquoteC
passage; all the broader because it was
somewhat inappropriate.
Levi Walker was not thing of partic
ular beauty as he leaned over Maria's
garden fence. His overalls were rather
small and short, giving him dumpy ap-
pearance. His hair was faded color,
and his nose anything but Grecian. Yet
his eyes had fiue expression about the
mouth, redeemed him from positive ugli-
ness and declared to the world the pos
session of manly heart. Its the Juice
inside that gives the fruit its flavor, not
the rind," Maria often said to people
talking about him. "And he might be a
joy forever to me, p rhaps, if it were not
for Ezra" she thought as she rose from
the tlower-bed to give Levi friendly
greeting.
Yes she continued, in reply to
Lewis remark, "but folks say now, you
know, that we must sometimes allow a
leetle grain to figgerative language; we
may be fearful enough, but not always so
beautiful"
"Yes'm. Jestso. And that fgger' tive
language is uncommon handy to think
on, when we are told how deceitful and
despret wicked we aire, and all SIGH. It's
marster consolin' ter think we can drop
in pinch of somethin' to counteract it. %
at be So" Maria replied, giving Levi
nosegay. 1.-The trouble is there seems
to be no rule as to quantity, and kinder
guess some of us put in Il good meas
ure."
'But didn't come over ter talk doc
trine. Yes'm. It's Jest so, though.
Ben pesky hot. l jest got in the last
load o. hay" Levi ended abruptly, shift
ing his feet and coloring little.
'Bashful critter," Maria soliloquized,
foolish simpleton, he knows l have
great respect for him under any circum-
stances" Eyes, Levi" she said aloud,
"fine weather for hayin'."
'Wall, as l was savin', l thought I'd
drop around this evenin' to see if your
answer was ready. l thought twas get
tin cooler, but massy sakes! l believe
it's CROWN warmer'n ever" he blum
dered, tanning his flushed face with his
palm-leaf hat. ''I-I intended to gin We
leetle more time, but-wall, circum-
stances wouldn't permit"
''Well, Levi, I've been thinking it all
over You are good man, Levi. re-
spect you. But | can't marry nobody
while Ezra lives"
81 was afraid you'd say SOL
81 shall have to say it."
81 know I'm considerable older than
you, Maria"
1T is not that, Levi"
Hes out again to-day"
''Fightin'?''
Eyes"
"The regiment out?"
''Yes'm, IN full force. Uncommon
hard battle, l guess. Ezra seems all beat
out. He almost tottered. The. boys
said he put 'em through lively. He went
after the rebs amazin', and the strag-
glers, and the laggards Buell. and Wal
lace, in way that would have made
Gineral Grant open his eyes in admira-
tion,-and mouth in protest, too, l
guess"
ut seems as if he grew weak very fast
lately" Maria quivered, with moist
eyes. Poor Ezra!'
'Marster fast" and Levi winked back
some tears in his own eyes, you've
ben engaged to him long SPELL"
''Yes. Twas early in 1862. Let's see.
Most sixteen years"
but Tiff the engagement should be
broken. Somethin' may break it you
Knowles gettin' so very feeble-meb-
be-after little spell o. mournin' you
could come to think o. me some?'
'Mebbe. You're a good man, Levi.
Let me give you bunch of these great
roses"
'Harlan Field is is town." Levi ven
tured, accepting the flowers. II didn't
know it till an hour or so ago. That
was why hurried down here so. l will
be honest with you. l kinder wanted
ter talk it over before he come around"
IL heard of it last night" Maria
laughed, somewhat amused at Lewis
strategy. He come to town yesterday.
He's comm to see me this evening. |
thought I'd let him come. He's had an
eye on my premises some time. Is'pose
he's spittin' his venom yet."
II dunno. You remember it yit, 1
see."
Eyes, do. There'll always be a cop
per aromy about him. scent it now"
mo danger from that quarter" Levi
smiled to himself, as he said goodnight.
"Quite day for beaux." Maria unused,
lingering by the gate, land me along in
years, too. Levi Walker is good man;
but, Harlan Field! Wall, l once cared
Tor him because l didn't know him.
That's all. Poor Ezra!" she went on,
you were the only one could love with
my heart and soul. Poor boy! Sixteen
years land l love you yet, Ezra"
Maria Meigs was shrewd and thrifty;
but she was not bony or gritty. A liv-
ing sorrow may have stolen some of the
sweetness from her disposition Some
thought she was rather thorny, while
others believed better soul did not ex-
st. She had been good-lookiug in her
youth. And now she grew pretty again
rs the early, tender memories blossomed
NEW in her heart, smoothing out the
ines in her face.
A bit of smile wreathed about the |
mouth, restoring its youthful curves, as
/ hearty, manly voice rang in her ears,
elling her to be brave; that he should |
rave another furlough some time, and
hen they would be married. How hand
ome he looked in his new uniform! so
rank and honest and brave! Her eyes
rev soft and moist as the lips again
rembled with that long farwell kiss.
A neighbOr rafting by dispelled the
lream. With long sigh, she glanced at
he sun to see how far it was above the
Iorizon, then picked up her spade and
vent vigorously to work among her
lowers and vines. She carried on her
wn garden. The small town of Center
lille always obeyed one injunction, mas
much as it did thoroughly what its