The farmers' union. (Memphis, Mo.) 1891-1895, 1894-10-23
He had nevp1. seen two persons who SO

He had never seen two persons who SO
closely reseInbled each other. The
size. weight. build. complexion, color
OF hair. wax, voice. manner. and. in
fact. all that was characteristic III men,
We're alike in botn. Both we're born in
New England. neither hnew anything
of a father. and only Louis knew any
thing Of a mother.
But they at once took a liking to each
other. and during the remainder OF the
time the Lucky star was il: port they
were insepara Capt. Bodfish con-
ance might sail with him on the home
ward voyage, and the captain gave
both light employment.
There was but little work TO do,
which gave the young men ample
time to read such books as are con-
tanned in the ships library. and learn
the history OF each others lives. To-
gethcr they read the same stories. and
discussed the writings of authors.
They talked OF the law which gave
them birth. and in fact. they We're lost
unless in each others company.
But Louis was the most communica
tive. He had a story Of love to tell,
and in Charles Manning ne found an
eager listener. His heart was free.
lie had been wandercr. and not a
lover. Blu: when the tales of love were
tod 10y Louis. Charles became a lover
TOO. Ever VOID OF love. that fell from
Louis lips was treasured up as /. price
less gem. Every Imaginable question
VIZ, asked Of L'attcr, that would give
Lo.,is an excise to talk of his home,
mother. Mar AMI the people of the
neigh boraood. All the incidents.
trivial OF Otherwise. CT which he had
been Il parry. especially those
that May WAS knowing 90. "cre dis
cas.ui o.e- aid over again. The
walk il he woods. t;le boat rides on
tho lake. the remarkable sunsets. the
school day, and boyiIood prs,ni1s. the
Iull story OF the scenes and events which
led up to their plightcd troth: the spot
was described where Cupid met them
and hurled the darts which pierced
their hearts. and all the tales OF love
were not olly told twice over. but as
Louis never tired of telling them again
and again. So Charles never tired of
being Il most attentive listener.
All the neighborhood gossip of years
was run overly Louis. and the charm
ing valley was 50 elo4uent!y and mi
nrtely portrayed. and the names
of the people of the settlement
50 often mentioned. and scenes of
participated. So frequently described
that Charles became as familiar with
everything that happened in the vii
lagc from the day Louis and his mother
allghtcd from the cars. to the time
when the lad disappeared, as was Louis
himself.
From time to time the gifts which
Mary had made to her lover were
brought out from their sacred and
secret hiding place ana the giver idol
lied.
Each little trinkct and each gem or
jewel had a history. AMI Louis never
tired OF telling every incident. no mat
ter how trivial, connected with the
gilt. There were many amusing stOr-
ics TO tell and many hair breadth IS
cupc- 10 describe.
That chain was made ofthe down of
the duck, that Mary raised. the little
circle IF faded haif. was found in Louis
hand after he had risked his life to
save Mary from drowning.
There were pretty little charms to
show and grow eloquent over in de-
Scribing and explaining the circum-
stances connected with their giving,
and there were rings and pins and pho
tog:'aphS OF Louis mother and several
o. the nclyhbOr.. and when the lntllna-
cy had ripened INTO an emotion akin to
love. ,I-ouis brought ont IL bundle of let
tcrs tied with what had once been IA
piece OF ribbon. biz" at that, or at
least had been bluc at one time. but
constant handling had faded it to u
dingy white. and only shrcts and raw
ellings were LEFT. and these required
stretch of the imag ination to detect Il
trace OF ribbon. The letters were
Mary's and the ribbon had been tied
around them by Mary on the evening OF
Louis disappearance. SO the RIBBON
had Il history.
And each letter had Il history and. one
by one. the history of each was given.
This letter was the first one she
wrote. 1t was an innocent schoolgirl
cpistlo to Il boy, and not Il boy-lover.
The rest were written two or three
years later, showing the child was not
a very faithful correspondent which
could hardly have been expected. be-
cause. during those years. the little
people had met about every day.
The other letters were taken, one
by one from the little bundle. and
the date each WAS written afforded
Charles an excellent opportunity to so
over the lives Of the lovers and give
more in detail the lovers lives.
TO BE CONTINUED