Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1895-10-24

'SN' W sAS SA"Ps "uu tuo lay OF INC
land.
The roadside was parched under an
August sun; tansy was dust-covered,
and ferns had grown ragged and gray.
The jogging horses let behind their
lazy feet a suffocating cloud,
My landl' cried Mrs. Pike, III that
sin't golden-rodl | do b'lieve it comes
earlier every year, or else the seasons
are changin', See them elderberrlesl
Amt they purplcl You jestrenember
that bush, an when We go back, we'll
iii some pals dunno when I've
made elderbcrry wiue,'
Like her husband, she was vaguely
excited; she began to feel rs il life
would be all holidays At noon they
stopped under the shadow of an elm
tree which, rom its foothold in field,
completely arched the road; and there
they ate lunch Of pie and doughnuts,
while the horses, freed from their
headstalls, placidly munched gen.
erous feed Of oats, near BY
At the lunch Eli ate sparingly, and
with preocup cd and solemn look.
Land ia hcrl" exclaimed his wife
lyon amt eat no moren bird"
II guess III go over to that wells
said he, "an' git drink o water. l
drink more'n | cat, II | amt worlsin'."
l'ut when he came back, carefully
bearing tin pail trimming with cool,
clear water, his face expressed disap-
probation and he smacked his lips
scornfully.
Terrible flat water!' he announced.
"lastes as II 1t had come out o the
cisiern." liut the others coul find 70
fault with 1t, and Serene drained thu
pail
When they were within three miles
Of the sea 1t seemed to them that they
could taste the saltness Of the incon-
ing breeze. The road was ankle deep
IA dust; the garden flowers were glar.
Ing in their brightness, 1t was n new
work.. And when ut last they emerged
from the marsh-bordered road upon
rllge Of sand and turned corner
Mrs Pike faced her husband In triumph
There, fatherN she cried "There
'ts,"
But ELS eyes were fixed on the dash
board in front Of him. lie looked pale.
why, father said she, inpatient.
ly, mint you goin to look? It's the
enoi"
YES, yes" said Wi, quietly; "byme-
by, I'm goln' to put the horses up
fust."
We'll, ncycrl" said Mira. Pike, and
as they drew up on the sandy tract
where Serene had previously arranged
u place for their tents she added ul-
most fretfully, turning to Hattie. II
dunno what's come over your father.
There's the water, and he won't even
cast his eyes at 1t.
But Hattie understood her father, by
some intuition Of love, though not Of
likeness,
Don't yon bother him. ma she
said. Hell make up his mind TO 1t
pretty soon. Here, les III out these
little things while they're unharness-
In, and then they can get ct tho
tents"
Mrs. Pixies mind was diverted by
the exigen,ies OF labor, md she said no
more; but after tho horses had been
put up at n neighboring house, and
Serene, rel-facel with excrtion, had
the tcnt.raising, Hattie
slipped her arm through her fathers
and led him away Come, pa she
said, in u whisper; les you and me
climb over on them rocks
Ell went; and when they had picked
their way over slnl anl pools to q
hca dland where the water Numbered
below, and salt spray dashed up In
mist to their feet, he turned ind looked
ut the sea lie faced 1t as soul might
face Almighty Greatness, only to be
stricken blind thereafter: for his eyes
filled Painfully with slow, hot tears.
Hattie dil not look at him, but after
awhile she shouted In his ear, above
The ontcry OF the surf;
Her, pr, take my handkerchief. !
lon't know how it Is about you, but
lais spray gets in my eyes"
Eli took it obcd entity, but he did not
speak; he only looiel at the sea- Tho
L@oslt there, ehillelandquitc content,
until Nix o'clock, when Mrs Pike came
EALING TO them from the beach, with
lrinatc shouts, emphasized by the
waving o, her ample apron.
''Supper's ready ssrenos built a
burn-tire, an Eve IL lde some tea"
Then they slowly made Their way
back to the tents, and sai down 10 the
,ycniug mca Screnotccmed content,
md Mrs. Pike was busting and ,ri.
lmpAant
Wei father, what thinls2e tito
lsicd, smiling cyubcrauilg, as She
passed HIN his mug Of tea el'ecs It
eema up to whit you expected
LII TUNED upon her Ala mid da4ed .
eyes.
Il guess it does, he said gently
That night, they fatpl On the sLor"
while the moon rose md laid in hi.
water her majestic pathway Of light 4
III WIS the last 10 leave the rock +
md he lay down on his hard couch i +
he tent without speaking.
u wouldn't say much 10 father
ghiapered Hattie to her mother
n Y parted for the night "lle feclA
more'n we dc"
well, spose be is aolao tired
ail ars. Pike, rcqniescipg, after .
,riof look Of surprise. ITS good
leal o y jaunt, lut | dunno but | feel
,aid already SHOULD You take cut
$40, In ,,,.t,.5 Ii,fftoph