The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1894-07-01

t14iO .t'NAA1Fiu Oulllto id3iCA' CA
wal ez TIE mower" laughed Mrs.
Forbes. "You mark my words, Obadiah,
afore the snow blows the selectmen ill
hev the school on their hans. Shucks!
The crossest grained old cormorant AT
ever lived nd 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 II we
wuz walkin on air. F"
"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 on my way back
an 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. 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 trumpet and
bawled across:
''Hull-oo, James Francis! Help SO
or hoy tow. Eoy,i orcp'5
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
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."
IT didn't mean to be, awkwardly;
then humbly, haven't I made up for
it SINGER"
"But I was a stranger then," insist
ing on 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 superfuous 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' 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, O 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.
Lets cut another swath, suggested
the girl irreverently.
''Not another blade" he declared,
s'until I have my answer. Yes or no?"
"Well, since you will have it, nol''
"You don't mean it. Say you don't,
Cecilia" he pleaded humbly, yet hope
fully.
81 do mean it," she asserted passion
ately. II never meant to settle down on
farm. I want to go 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 on 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 in 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.
81 am only waiting for my answer"
he reminded her.
edo you know, Frank, that you have
asked me to renounce the hope of life
time? 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.
"We will seek it together. he an
swered. Dear heart, life has only be-
gun.
Before the snow blew over the
meadows Mrs. Forbes prediction came
to pass. The young teacher returned to
her city home, but not for long,
Il never thought could settle down
on farm, mamma she whispered
during one Of the long confidential talks
preceding the final going away, 'but
Frank is-eo-so-differen
The mothers face was beautiful as,
stroking the sunny head buried in her
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