The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1893-07-01

Dea stones stout little horse and
rocmy carriage stood before the farm
house gate. and as he addressed Inc Mrs.
Stone appearedin the low doorway and.
her round face 6eaming good-naturcdly.
declared that a ride. as the morning was
% fine. would do you Jest a power
o good" | needed very little urging.
and was soon comfortably seated by
my genial host, driving swiftly along
the woody road.
How delightful to a weary, broken
down man is the fresh. fair country.
Already | felt at home with these folk,
though the week had not yet passed
since ! came among them in obedience
to the doctors pereinptory command.
Careful nursing, good food. md, best of
all. the warm. personal interest that
the deacon and his wife took in my
well-being. had set me up wonderful
ly." as the saying goes. Sweet with
the breath of warm winds
swept past us over waving meadows
and sunny hillsides, thrush's fluted
from the Ecart of distant trees. and
f~armhouses here and there CLEANED
whitley in the sunshine as we flew past
them and followed the old rad, wind
ing
As old roads will,
Here 10 a farmhouse
And there tn n mill,
till suddenly, at the turning Of a way
side lane. the deacon drew rain, and
waited for the woman and little child
coming along it. a look of pleasure
lighting up his honest, gray eyes.
"~IIullo. Hubby" he shouted, cheer
fly. how air We? Amos, too is gittin'
putty spry. amt he?~
Her laughing reply came ~ * to us.
and picking up the child, a boy of some
two or three she came for
ward Ia shake hands with the deacon.
and | was accordingly prescated to
mis- Cones"
Such n pretty picture of woIhnnhood.
A supple. young figure. in close-fitting.
blue cotton dress, with a snowy kcr-
chief clasping the firm. white throat.
and the soft light falling family
through those close, green leaves upon
the masses of gold-brown hair that
CROWNED her well poised head, and the
little curls straying idly across her
broad. low brow. One arm was thrown
about the little chap. who nestled close
to her rounded chin, his yellow curls
stirred slightly by the breezes and a
rosy thumb in his wee mouth. How
her dark eyes lighted up and the SEN
sitive lips smiled on him. as with the
look of a shy bird, safe on his mothers
tender breast, he watched us.
"Ef JEFF wants to see the fines thing
out yit, he had better jist pack you an
mar. an Amos, enter that new kerridge
of his'n an drive over to my place. /
got the fines mowin' machine fer miles
Hubby, en- mind We don't furgit
to tell him." the deacon said to her.
Smilingly she promised. when the dca-
con interrupted her. You amt one to
furgit the road to stones farm. air We.
Huldy?' lie questioned, in evidently
such n teasing manne that the rich red
flooded royalty her round, smooth
checks.
No" and she looked up frankly at
him. You were always our best friend
in those days, deacon" she answered
with such sweet simplicity that the old
mans face grew bright with pleasure
he watched her.
Wal. wal, We know I allus did have
awful soft sort of q spot in my old
heart for the gals" and he laughed in
a satisfied manner. Then after a few
inquiries regarding the folks" on
both sides. and the hope expressed that
she would be ''over to Mendham for the
exercises tomorrow" with a good-na-
tured pinch of the shy baby's cheek.
and a hearty shake of his mothers
slim, young hand. the deacon chirruped
10 his horse. and once more we
on our journey.
Looking back as we climbed the
steep hill. we saw a group of three.
two had been. A stalwart young
man, with the baby on his shoulder.
and the pretty, young wife laughing
rim, as they went along the
roadside.
Yes, Jef's n good fellow. That air
was a terrible rough courtship, though, |
I kin tell ye." and the deacon shook his
head thoughtfully. That's where
Todd Cross, her pa, lives" pointing
with his whip TO an outlying farm
mouse. Twas his way of actin that
made things so hard for the girl," &c
,dded by way of explanation.
And seeing that | vas interested, as
went up hill and down dale to the
title village, he told me the story.
Wal, ye see twas jest this way.
from the time this here Pineville was
n'till some five years gone, the
and the Crosses was jest thicker
n peas in a pod! Eff Their vas a duna-
ion patty tfer the dominic, yer know,
His Cross an Mis- Cones was side by
ide on the committee, az ther husbands