The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1894-06-30

visit to the postofice, and volunteered
the information, James Francis an
the fenian air gettin' kinder soc'ble;
he's mowin' the long medder an she's
drivin' the machine. So sot on each
other at they couldn't see me goin'
! by
''She's a-drivin' James francis ez
Waal ez the mower" laughed Mrs.
Forbes. "YOu mark my words, ODE
dlah, afore the snow blows the select
men III hev the school on their hands.
Shucks; the crOssest grained old cor
morant at ever lived 'ud jes' hev to
smile seem them young things go by.
Lor', they don't know themselves how
far gone they are. It minds me of
when Jabez an me used ter come from
meetin' ez if we Wuz wall1in' on air.
| ~ on wlN faily match ed,' srarled the
r'alc''ntcnt, ''but this I'm thinks herself
a cut above farmer; talks of goin' ter
collldge; pity she Wuz ever hired ter
the erik. If they're still in the medder
I'm goin' ter hail 'em on my way back
an say suthin' ez ill rile 'em.'
"Irust you fer tibet, you old cross
Datch,' muttered Abe, who seemed to
be permanent part of the general
store; tits pizen fer some folks to see
others enjyin' themselves.
'"There you go, you blame old mees-
cheef. I jes' hope eff you go meddlin' in
the long medder you'll git yer legs twist
ed inter the mower an cut off at the
jints." And with this awful express
sion of his wrath Abe went to the door
to watch the veterans movements
True to his intentions, Obadiah cross
ed the intervening fields, and, leaning
on the fence inclosing the meadow, hol-
lowed his hands into a trumpet, and
bawled across:
''Hull-oo, James Francis! Help so
scursc at you hev ter hire fenians :"
Then without waiting for reply am
bled off, his shrill, cracking laugh add
ing to the annoyance of the haymak-
erS.
Don't you think you ought to apo
loSize?' asked the girl, quickly regain
ing COmposure.
For What?" He came round to the
horses heads, and from that vantage
point looked steadily into the drivers
eyes.
For calling me fenian; you were
very unlzind."
II didn't mean to be-" awkwardly;
then humbly, haven't made up for
it since?'
But I was a stranger then" insist
ing on her injury. That's why it hurt
me So"
Il wouldn't hurt you for the world;
you know that, Ceciliar''
The girl WINGED slightly; his pro-
nunciation of her name was one of the
little things that grated on her sensi-
tive taste: but a superfuous letter OF
two lose force when the aggressor is
is handsome 5$and spirited. That he
was both she acknowledged inwardly
and was moved to forgiveness. The
moment was fraught with peril for the
college scheme. 1t was receding stead
lily into the distance; James Francis
saw his advantage and mcanly pursued
it.
'"This is as good a time as any to
come to an understanding. When L
called you a fenian I hadn't even seen
you. I don't know that I even knew
what a fen1an meant. I don't know
yet, but Of this I am sure, whether you
are nilihist, fenian or an anarchist,
or all three together, love YOU"
The horses tossed their heads impa-
tiently, and the man passed his hand
soothingly over their glossy coats.
Lets cut another swath," suggested
the girl, irrevercntly.
Not another blade" he declared,
until [ have NY answer. Yes or ro?'
well, since you will have it, No."
"You don't mean it; say you don't
Ceciliar,' he pleaded, humbly yet hope
fully.
Il do mean it," she asserted, passion
ately. II never meant to settle down
on q farm. I want to go thru Ugh col
lege and write A. B. to my name
Write Journec instead" he said,
with telling insistence. Give up the
school and come home to the farm
Say yes, dear; you'll never regret it."
The fringe Of elms shading the brook
rirpled through the interval, caught
the rays Of the setting sun and cast
them back again like javelins Of light;
the girl was dimly aware that evening
was on the land. The air was heavy
with the fragrance of new-mown hay;
shimmering banks of clouds sank down
behind the treetops; the chirping of
crickets and the far-off croaking of
frogs down in the alder swamp min
gled with the lowing of COWS and the
soft trilling Of birds seeking their nests,
the holy calm of nature soothed even
the unrest of a Wavering heart, and
hushed into silence the promptings of
ambition.
"Everything living is going home"
said the girl very gently; "let us go,
too; see, the sun is nearly gone"
Il am only waiting for my answer"
he reminded her.
do you know Frank, that you have
asked me to renounce the hope of a
lifetime? I have struggled so for
higher education" There was a visit
full information in her voice that love in
terpreted correctly. She was pleading
to be saved from her less noble self.
we will seek it together" he an
swered; dear heart, life has only be-
gum
Before the snow blew over the mead
ows Mrs. Forbes prediction came to
pass. The young teacher returned to
her city home, but not for long
Il never thought I could settle down
on farm, mamma" she whispered,
during one of the long confidential
talks preceding the final going away;
''but Frank -so-so-different."
The mothers face was beautiful, as
stroking the sunny head buried in her
lap she answered very softly, "a wo-
mans heart is a vexatious thing, my