The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1894-06-23
berry patches and sweet smelling hay

s'A'O e~AA oOeA'O uSChO was Ia1rly VIGIL
known even before the veteran farmer
made his next visit to tho postofilce and
volunteered tho information: "James
Francis an the Fenian air gettin kinder
SOC BILE He's mowin the long medder,
an she's drivin the machine. So sot on
each other at they couldn't SEQ me
goin by
She's a-drivin James Francis ez
waal ez the mower" laughed Mrs
Forbes. "You mark my words, Obadiah,
afore the snow blows the selectmen ill
hev the school on their hans ShucksI
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 on air.
"You wuz fairly matched" snarled
the malcontent, "but this un thinks her.
self cut above farmer. Talks of gon
ter college. Pity she wuz ever hired ter
the erik If they're still i'll the medder
I'm goin ter hail 'em on my way back
an say suthin cz ill rilc 'em."
Trust you fer thot, you old cross
-
be permanent part OF the general
store Its pizen fer some folks to see
others enjyin themselves.
There you go. you blame old mces-
cheef 1 jes' hope eff you go meddln i'll
the long mcdder 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
cd the intervening fields, and leaning
on the fence inclosing the meadow hol-
lowed his hands into trumpet and
bawlcd across:
"Hull-oo. james Francisl Help SO
source at you hcv ter hire Fenians?'
Then. without waiting for 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
composurc.
For WHAT" He came round to the
horses heads, and from that vantage
point looked steadily into the driver;
eyes
For calling me Fcnian You were
very unkind. "
Il didn't mean to be, awkwardly;
then humbly. haven't made up for
it since:'
But was stranger them, insist
ing on her injury. ''That's why it hurt
me SO. -
81 wouldn't hurt you for the world.
You know that, Ccciliar"
The girl WINGED slightly His pro
nunciation Of her name was one of the
little things that grated Oh her sensitive
taste, but IA supcrfiuous letter or two
lose force when the aggrrssor is hand
some and spirited. That he was both
she acknowledged inwardly and was
moved 10 forgiveness. The moment
was fraught with peril for the college
scheme 1t was rcccding steadily into
the distance James Francis saw his
advantage and mcanly pursued it
This is as good a time rs any to
come to an understanding When
called you IL Fcnian. hadn' even seen
you don't know that l even knew
what IL Fcnian meant. l don't know
yet. but Of this l am srrc-whether
you re n nihilist, Fcninn or All anarch-
list, or all three together, love YOU"
The horses tossed their heads iInpa-
uently. and the man passed his hand
soothingly over their glossy coats
Let's cut another swath, " suggested
the girl irrcvcrcntly.
Not another blade" he declared,
until have my answer. Yes or no?"
We'll, since You will have it, nor
You don't mean it. Say you don't,
Cecilia, he pleaded hunbly, vet hope
fully
II do mean it" she asserted passion
ately. Il never meant to settle down Oh
Il farm. / want to go through college
and write A B. to my name"
Write Journcc instead" ne said,
with telling insistcnc,- 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 javclins of light
The girl was dimly aware that evening
was OH the land The mir was heavy
with the fragrance of new mown hay.
Shimmcring banks of clouds sank down
bchlhd the tree tops; the chrping of
crickcts and the farotf croaking of frogs
down i'll 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 wavcring heart and husht-d into
silence the promptings OF ambition
Everything living is going home"
said the girl very gently Let us 20
too. See, tho sun is nearly gone"
Il am only waiting for my answer, "
he reminded her.