Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1895-06-27

have been had Gideon loved her as she
loved him. just as she thought this she
heard some one speaking. 1t was Gid
con, and she supposed he was talking
to some one. She sat still as he con-
tinued:
THAT was good speech that Judge
Wise made. It's noble thing to as
sert your rights and throw off the yoke
of bondage. A noble thing. And Ell
der White talked good, too, real good
It seemed as though he meant me all
the time, when he said that some re-
manned in bondage all their lives, and
served some habit that ruled over them
like despot. He said: Stand fast for
liberty and freedom in all things I'll
do it. I'll make a Declaration of In
dependence this very day. I'll ask
Philena Pray to marry me this very
day."
Just then there was slight rustic
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 mo-
tet do. That moment helped her to
make her decision, for she heard Gid
con say:
me, and just as soon as we are out Of
hearing, I'll say: I love you, Philena;
will you be my wife?' And then if she
refuses me she can't despise me for be-
ing afraid to ask her. I'd give money
if l could only have Elder Whites
tongue for fifteen minutes I'd say
more than I've been able to say in a
lifetime. I'd give good deal to know
what she'll say when ! tell her how
long I've loved her"
Philena heard all this, for he was
| very much in earnest, and spoke quite
loud. She saw it all at once, and real
| lied that she 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 and
said
You needn't get Elder Whites
tongue. 1t couldn't sound any better
than it did when you said it,
| Gideon stood spellbound while she
said this, and then began stammer-
ing apology for disturbing her.
| She did not give him chance to
continue, for she said:
You said just now that you would
| give a good deal to know what I'd
say Well, 1 say 1 am glad. you love
me, and ] am willing to marry you"
A bright blush mounted her cheek,
and when Gideon realized that Philena
| loved him, he had no use for Elder
| Whites tongue, for he found his own,
and for once said just what he
wanted to.
A small boy came up just then and
said: Dinners ready
| When they arrived at the place
where the dinner was served, every
one remarked Gideon's gay and joVial
manner and they guessed at the
cause, for the small boy had preceded
them and announced that he saw
Gid Bright a-kissin' Miss Pray"
That evening as he fingered on the
moonlit porch at Parson Pray's, he
urged Philena to name a day in the
near future when she would be his
bride.
When he walked home through the
| moonlight he really believed that he
had kept his resolution and had asked
Philena to marry him. He said softly,
| as he turned the key in the. door:
| Il am glad that 1 made that Dec
| laration of Independence
As Philena stood on the porch, with
Gideon's kiss still warm on her lips,
| she blushed and said:
Il think I must have made a Dec
laration of Independence to-day, but
Pm not sorry."-Wake Robin, in
| Arthur's Home Magazine.