Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1894-06-28


to atone for her mental vagaries, she
locked herself in her sultry chamber,
and forcing her intellect to the contem-
plation Of some abstruse problem be-
guiled herself into the belief that she
was fairly reveling In an intellectual
elysium.
Notwithstanding this severe, self IN
fiicted discipline, youth at times ran
riot and urged Cecilia to the commission
of many acts not at all compatible with
the dignity Of her position nor her lofty
intellectual pretensions. The orchards,
berry patches and sweet smelling hay.
fields we're responsible for many Of her
deviations from the college course, but
that the handsome James Francis was
also an active agent was fairly we'll
known even before the veteran farmer
made his next visit to the postoffioe and
volunteered the 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 see, ne
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. 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 on air."
"You wuz fairly matched" snarled
the malcontent, "but this un thinks her.
self cut above farmer. Talks of goih
ter college. 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."
"Trust you fer thet, you old cross
patch" muttered Abe, who seemed to
be permanent part of the general
store "1t's pizen fer some folks to see
others enjyin themselves.
"There you go, you blame old mees-
cheef. 1 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 driver
eyes.
"For calling me Fenian. You were
very unkind.
II didn't mean to be-" awkwardly;
then humbly, "haven't made up for
it since?"
"But was stranger then," insist
ing on her injury. '"That's why it hurt
me so. P"
II wouldn't hurt you for the world.
| Vo,, E,,o1x, that CaCi1to1 -
The girl WINGED slightly. His pro-
nunciation of her name was one Of the
little things that grated on her sensitive
taste, but a superfuous letter OF. 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. It 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 seer
you. don't know that I even knew
what Fenian meant. don't know
yet, but of this / am sure-whethel
you're nihilist, Fenian or an anarch
ist, or all three together, I love you"
The horses tossed their heads impa
tiently. and the man passed his hant
soothingly over their glossy coats.
Lets cut another swath, suggested
the girl irrev arently.
"Not another blade" he declared
until have my answer. Yes or moi?
"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 OF
farm. I want to go through colleg'
and write A. B. to my name"
write Journee instead" he said
with telling insistence. "Give up tn,
school and come home to the farm. Sa.
yes dear. You'll never regret it."
The fringe of elms, shading the brool
rippling through the interval, caugh
the rays of the setting sun and cas-
them back again like javelins of light
The girl was dimly aware that evening
was on the land. The air was heav,
with the fragrance of new mown hay
Shimmering banks of clouds sank dow
behind the tree tops; the ohirping o
crickets and the faroff croaking of frog
down in the alder swamp mingled witt
the lowing of COWS and the soft trillin,
Of birds seeking their nests; the hol,
calm of nature soothed even the unres
of wavering heart and hushed int
silence the promptings of ambition.
Everything living is going home,
said the girl very gently. ''Let us g
too. See, the sun is nearly gone.'
II am only waiting for my answer,
: he reminded her.
HNo vn,, know Franz that Won hav