The Hazel Green herald. [volume] (Hazel Green, Wolfe County, Ky.) 1885-19??, 1895-07-11

ilbTbs 0lueOn, uiike yOuESell
useful and assist the ladies'"
One by one he assisted them
from the high wagon. As he was
about to help Philena, Mrs. Stout.
stepped on her dress, and she was
thrown forward right into Gid
cons arms. For cne brief blissful
second he clasped herform and her
warm breath swept his cheek.
Philena was annoyed, but she
nlade some laughing remark,
while Gideon blushed and stam-
Imorod an awkward apology. .
After the people had oil arrived
there was d grand lot of speech
making, and the music of fife
and drum made the woods merry
beween the speeches Judge Wise
read the Declaration of Independ-
ence, and commented thereon. His
remarks were furiously applauded,
and then oil joined in singing
America"
After this they wandered about
the grove, or along the shore, or
gathered in groups beneath the
incorporating trees. Philena, al
ways helpful, was amusing some
of the little ones, while Gideon sat
in the shade of a large oak, up
parently listening to Judge Wise
and Lawyer Pinch, but, in reality,
watching Philena. After little
while some one asked Gideon to
help put up the swing. When he re-
turned Philena was nowhere in
sight. He busted himself with the
preparations for dinner, and after
the rough tables were made he
went down to feed the horses. He
took the measure of oats from the
wagon and placed it on the seat.
He was talking to himself and did
not notice that Philena sat back |
of a large oak that grew inst by
the shore. She had brought little
Mary Price down to the shore, and |
she had fallen asleep as she lay on
a shawl that Philena had spread |
on the ground. Philena sat by her
side and dreamed of what her life |
might have been had Gideon loved |
her as she loved him. Just as she
thought this she heard some one
speaking. 1t was Gideon, and she
supposed he was talking to some
one. She sat still as he continued:
THAT was a good speech that
Judge Wise made. It's a noble +
thing to assert your rights and |
throw off the yoke of bondage. A
noble thing. And Elder White
talked good, too, real good. 1t
seemed as though he meant me all
the time, when he said that some
remninedin bondage all their lives,
and served some habit that ruled
over them like despot. He said:
Stand fast for liberty and free
dom in all things I'll do it. I'll
make Declaration of Independ-
ence' this very day. I'll ask Phi
lena Pray to marry me this very
day"
Just then there was a slight rus
tie at the foot of the oak and
Philena looked around. She saw
that Gideon was alone, and was
speaking his thoughts aloud. She
hesitated a moment, considering
what she would better do. That
moment helped her to make her
decision, for she heard Gideon
say: .".%.A 3, ., II
iii just ask her to take walk
with me, and just as soon as we
are out Of hearing i il say: i love
you, Philena; will you be my
.wife?' And if she refuses me she
can't despise me for being afraid +
to ask her. I'd give money il /
could only have Elder Whites I
tongue for fifteen minutes. I'dE
say more than I've been able to
say III a lifetime. I'd give q good /
deal to know what she'll say when
i tell her how long I've loved her. /
Philena heard all this, for ne
was very much in earnest, and
spoke quite loud. She saw il ali i
at once, and realized that he had /,
been beloved all these years. She
knew that if SHE waited for Gideon
to tell her that he loved her she
would never hear it, and SO she
stepped out from behind the tree