The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1894-06-19

it was not safe for Miss Allen to drive
In such a storm.
Dick almost bit his lip to keep back
a curse upon Benning and a prophecy
that Marjory would some day go North.
The Allen farm was soon reached.
The farmer was anxiousIy waiting the
arrival of his wife and daughter. They
had just time to enter the house when
the food gates seemed to open and let
pour a perfect deluge.
Tea was soon served and the family,
with MI. Benning and Prof. Atchison,
were gathered in the parlor. Mr.. Allen
loved to entertain, and would have
been perfectly delighted on this occa-
sion had he not, despite his boast to the
contrary, rather feared an encounter
with the Allianceman. MI. Benning,
however, made himself very agreeable,
and carefully avoided any allusion to
the days address. He even impressed
the boys as being a very clever gentle
man. Marjory was not a little sur
prlsed to find him quite ~conversant
upon commonplace topics, such as in
terest girls. It must be remembered
that her rural life had given her little
opportunity to see men of public life,
and she naturally judged that the COM
monplace held little for them. She
soon found that Mr.. Benning had a
warm, genial nature. Such a nature
as reveals itself only when touched by
a kindred spirit. He was one the world
might call a mere man of sense, one
who drew largely from within, but was
slightly touched by anything from
without. Marjory quickly perceived
that he lived a hidden life, and that he
had a heart whose fountain if ever
touched would yield an overflow of
sweetest waters.
Just as these significant, though half
recognized thoughts were filling her
mind, Prof. Atchison asked her to fur
nish them some of those simple yet
beautiful songs with which he knew
her to be familiar. Mrs. Allen was
soon called to the piano too, and before
they were aware, she had them all
singing ''Swanee River" "Old Black
Joe," and such plantation melodies,
and the cheer within dispelled all
thought of the storm without. Mr.
Benning even forgot for the moment
that he vas thus kept from filling an
engagement at Holly Mount the next
day at 10 a. m.
X
A year has interviewed since that
memorable day. Marjory has continued
her work, and quietly carried for
ward the plans then made. Her sue
cess would be sufficient excuse for 6
boast of triumph were she disposed tc
make it.
MI. Allen no longer excludes from
his home papers of the reform press,
no longer connives at class legislation,
but stands for the rights of the people.
He entered hesitatingly at first, but
now with all the zeal characteristic oil
his nature, has thrown himself on the
side of right. And it is all through
Marjory's influence. Marjory is happy
too, and the more so because on the
anniversary of the picnic at Brick
Church, Esmond Benning, the lecturer.
is coming to claim her for his wife
They will make a delightful trip VI
the Hudson, in New York, and visit
many places of interest of which Mar
jory had dreamed but hardly hoped tt
see.
Marjory Allen has always done right
for the sake of right, and has beer
true to her convictions. Now hel
father is a jealous Allianceman, anG
she has won a noble husband.