Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1894-07-24

berry patches and sweet smenlng hay
fields were responsible for many of her
deviations from the college course, but
that the handsome James Francis was
also an active agent was fairly well
known even before the veteran farmer
made his next visit to the postoffice 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
wal ez the mower" laughed Mrs.
Forbes. "You mark my words, Obadiah,
afore the snow blows the selectmen ill
hev the school on their hams. Shucksl
The crossest grained old cormorant at
ever lived 'ud jes' hev to smile seein
them young things go by. Lor, they
don't know themselves how far gone
they are 1t minds me Of when Jabez an
me used ter come from meetin ez if we
wuz walkin OH air. ?"
"You wuz fairly Matched" snarled
the malcontent, "but this un thinks her.
self cut above farmer. Talks Of goin
ter college. Pity she wuz ever hired ter
the erik If they're still in the medder,
I'm goin ter hail 'em Oh my way back
all say suthin ez ill rifle 'em."
"Trust you fer tibet, you old cross
patch, muttered Abe, who seemed to
be permanent part Of the general
store cts 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
twisted 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
source at you hev ter hire Fenians?"
Then, without waiting for a reply, he
ambled off, his shrill, cackling laugh
adding to the annoyance of the hay
makers
Don't you think you ought to apollo
gize?" asked the girl, quickly regaining
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 unkind :"
II didn't mean to be-" awkwardly;
then humbly, "haven't I made up for
it since?"
But was stranger then," insist
ing OH her injury. "That's why it hurt
me so.
II 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 sensitive
taste, but superfluous letter or two
lose force when the aggressor is hand
some 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 steadily into
the distance. James Francis saw his
advantage and meanly pursued it.
"This is as good time as any to
come to an understanding. When !
called you Fenian, hadn' t even seen
you. don't know that I even knew
what Fenian meant don't know
yet, but Of this I am sure-whether
you're nihilist, Fenian or an anarch-
list, or all three together, I love you.
The horses tossed their heads impa-
tiently. and the man passed his hand
soothingly over their glossy coats.
"Let's cut another swath, suggested
the girl irreverently.
Not another blade" he declared,
until have my answer. Yes or no?"
"Well, since you will have it, mol"
"You don't mean it. Say you don't,
Cecilia" he pleaded humbly, yet hope
fully.
II do mean it,, she asserted passion
ately. II never meant to settle down on
a farm. I want to 60 through college
and write A. B. to my name"
"Write Journee 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
ripping 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 OH the land. The air was heavy
with the fragrance Of new mown hay.
Shimmering banks of clouds sank down
behind the tree tops; the chirping Of
crickets and the faroff croaking Of frogs
down ia the alder swamp mingled with
the lowing of cows and the soft thrilling
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"
II am only waiting for my answer"
he reminded her.
"Do you know, Frank, that you have
asked me to renounce the hope of life
time? I have struggled SO for higher
education" There was wistful into
nation in her voice that love interpreted
correctly. She was pleading to be saved
from her less noble self.
1--WE will seek it together. he al.
swered. Dear heart, life has only be.
gun"
Before the snow blew over the