News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1894-08-09


alike. | had seen Zeke go through
the ceremony so often | knew just
how. So while one of the other boys
kept Zeke at the school house, took
Nellie under my wing and escorted
her home. Zeke was a little anxious
to be gone, they said, but Bob said
the girls were waiting in the entry,
land so they were most of them,
and he was anxious to lay plans for
a grand sing and exhibition in the
near future, so kept Zeke all right.
But to return to Nell and myself.
1t was wicked, to be sure, but | took
her little hand in mine and pressed
it as knew Zeke did and walked on
silently.
"There's Dave and Jen behind us,
l whispered at length, 80 we'll talk
low"
eyes" she replied. l hardly knew |
what to say next, yet half the dis
lance was Travelled and l was listen
ing for Zeke's stride behind us.
"What makes you go so fast,
Zeke ?" she whispered. 1T will be
over too soon."
ITO keep them behind u.s." l re-
piled.
"Let them pass" and she stopped
still and Dave and Jen laughed gaily
as they went on.
81 want to ask you, Zeke, if we had
not better have breakfast at eight
instead of seven, for the hour is rath-
er early, and | am afraid cousin Helen
won't get over in time" she whis-
pered still. My heart went clap-a-te-
clap. for here was the nugget of gold
coming unasked.
perhaps" | whispered back. "Oh,
Nell, how can | wait for the day ?"
"Pshaw You silly boy !" And
then she prattled on about the linen
her grandma was making for her,
and her dress that was quite done,
but no exact time had she yet men
toned.
"And to think, | don't believe any
one outside of my own family mis-
trusts one word" She looked up in
my face.
mo; nor in mine," I smiled back.
"But they will before long," ven
tured, as [ unattached her gate, hop
ing against hope that she would give
me what ! was after, and she sweetly
put up her lips and said "Just one
more day, my Zekiel." How could l
kiss that sweet mouth? would have
, given my gray colt just then to have
been Zeke and he me. had not bar
gained for kiss-but then, was she
not as good as a sister? So | kissed
her and held her in my arms mo-
ment, and whispered Good night, p"
as she went III.
Ny cheeks burned, my fingers tin
gled, my heart futtered, so | broke
into rapid run and fled homewarG.
Meantime Bob left Zeke and the
other boys came back around them,
and asked questions and laid plans.
A ringing laugh now and then from
the entry allayed Zeke's fears con.
corning Nell for a while. AS the plan
was laid, one of the girls said as he
, came out:
"Zeke, Nell couldn't wait so long
, But she don't want you to feel badly
, about it,"
"Why no." Zeke replied pleasantly
II couldn't get away sooner But
, his face showed his disappointment.
We had found out the secret al
[ last. And now our luck hung upor
, the chance of Zeke and Nell not speak
ing of that nights work. Slim threaC
! it was, but anyway, we could sere
, made them just the same.
We were busy. Masks to make
: drums to find, and horns and bells
$ and old tin pans and-well, you young
o boys know how it is told by YOU
E fathers, and you old boys have al
e been there.
| | knew Zeke had rented rooms il
o an ell of farmer Judson's house, anC
by peering into the windows we say
!. everything was in readiness, even tt
v fuel in the wood box.
= They were married a few minute
8 before 8 (since learned it, and hat
o breakfast at 8, and repaired to thei
o new home to look it over. Fathe
o and mother said they were going tt
n town, and did, but stopped there o.
T their way hither. No one of my broth
o ers or sisters mistrusted one word
! and some of Nellie's cousins were a
Il ignorant as we. She was the onl
# child, so she had no one to keep
70 from at home.
Il Zeke since has told me the boy
# had made their brags about no on
D, ever escaping "belling" where the
IT were, and for this reason, and thi
d alone, had he kept it secret.
1t AS soon as night had spread he
wings over the earth, we gathere
ID our trappings together for our gran
N serenade. We were not quite SUI
b. whether the bride and groom woul
l Immediately settle down in their ne
ze home or tarry day or so at til
ID old home. We knew well that til
id minister from Glendale had returne
s. home, for | myself, had met him wit
/ his wife in a closed carriage that a
ot ternoon. But as twilight approach
VS. ed cheerful light from Zeke's ne
to home told very plainly to us whel
~ they were. We marshaled our force
~ and took our places in line. Not
be drum was heard nor a bugle not
1 | A L l.. e l, Inn