Gulf Coast breeze. [volume] (Crawfordville, Fla.) 1897-19??, 1898-04-29

over, and when Leah shut her eyes
and made believe, transformed it into
a lovely little place.
In the antipodes OF Leah Coles
hungry, wistful life il is possible she
might have been an artist. The artists
soul was in her.
4 "Id put the clump o. hyirangeas
over here in this cornery place--kind
o set EN- round careless in scatterin'
bunch. They look real pretty so.
There's clump in yard over TO
Buxville. And the white laylac I'd
like to go about here. II would grow
big and need plenty o. room"
A white lilac was one of Leah's
hearts desires, too. She wanted a
white one 40!
They were blowing down in the
home Held, and the sound OF the mems
voices drifted up to her through the
clear air. Reuben's voice was hearty
and full OF enthusiasm. He WAS going
to lay down that field to clear clover.
81 wish they'd pillow the front yard
up" mused on Leah, watching the
long, straight burrows grow. ord
sow the gras, seed myself It's the
only way TO do. This old sod is 80
dead n alive"
There were no children on the Cole
farm, and all the love and devotion
Leah Cole might have spent over lit
tie, uneasy bodies and all the time she
might have spent over little patch
hungry pinafores and frocks were
ceutred on this little, unkempt front
yard that was so dreary and might be
land! so beautiful
1t wouldn't have been so bad with
little child truck scattered round it
and prints of little feet on its gracelcss
sod.
"Im agoin' to run mp to Johns be-
fore the plantin' begins, Leah. There's
some business I've got to do with
him, an l need little change" Rem
ben said Mt supper time. He said
nothing about Leaks going too.
Did he think she did not need
change?
"Why, 1 would, Reuben. It's
pretty drive, an they'll be tickled to
death TO see you! tn do you good.
An Reuben" her voice faltercd the
least bit--"An' Reuben, il you don't
mind askin' Johns wife for some
slips"
"Slips! Is'pose You mean slips o.
plants an thing :, but calc'late Johns
wife has all she can do maxim slips
out o. dimity cloth!"-- for at Johns
there were little children.
Reuben laughed and pushed away
his plate. But Leah rallied for the
secoad attack.
"Mebbe she's dreadful busy, but
Johns wife will always find time to
keep CROWN things round"
"Of course. There's six there now,
If | remember. guess they all grow
fast enough"
The immediate prospect of
change made Reuben unwontedly
jovial. He chuckled in pleased APP
probation Of his little joke. But
Leah was intent on her own thoughts
aud remained grave enough. II she
could only have some OF Johu's wife's
slips and maybe--land! think of it!
Johns wife had roses all around the
house.
San Johns real poor beside Reu-
ben," sighed Leah sthoughts.
The last thing. IA Reuben drove out
Of the yard, she called out after him,
wistfuly:
IF you're mind to speak of the
| slips, Reuben"
And then she went back to her
work, aud Reuben rode along the
pleasant country ways with the beau
tiful resurrection OF spring all about
him. The air was full of the smell of
newly-turned sods, as he passed by
fields fresh from the piow.
The first birds back from their win
ter resorts tilted on timber twigs and
sang to him. 1t was spring-spring-
spiing.
Reuben Coles blood quickened and
flowed more freely through his veins.
as the sap was flowing under the little
song birds feet.
He passed jogging couple in
quaint, old-iashioned wagon aud caught
glimpse of their placid enjoyment of
each others company.
II declare, The thought, "why didn't
bring Leah along? / might've as
we'll "a not. I'd go back now IL I
warn't a third Of the way to Johns. I"
At Johns a good many things inter-
ested Reuben Cole, and good many
things astonished him. The tiny farm
WAS just out of its winter dress. and
the spring cutting and fitting had not
begun.
"Ain'tyou late about your plowin.'
John?" questioned Reuben a little