The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-01-20
A Pilgrimage for Love,

Mooreheld is just such a grass-growr
country village now as it was in grand.
| mothers days, barring the brick store
| built last year. few more white cot
! tageS than there were in those days and
/ the mansion on the hill Ny Aun'
! Margaret's cottage is larger and more
I pretentious than II was twenty years ago
! When her son. Eben, lay under the apple
! tree. where am idling now, and dreamed
| Eoen was delicate boy, much given tc
4 books and of little use on the farm, sc
( IT was deemed profitable TO allow him 10
follow his own bent and teach the district
school in winter as means Of Iveli-
hood
Lucy Dale was one of his pupils. and
the two fell in love with each other in a
simple. unquestioning way that leaves no
room for plot or analysis. When the at
tachment between Eben and Lucy was
discovered, Aunt Margaret and Uncle Jo-
seph took prompt measures for its sup
preston. In the first place Lucy was
Aunt Margaret's hound girl and in
the second, Eben was too delicate 10
marry. and perhaps soon 10 leave his wife
to the care of others.
walked this morning through the old
orchard-a pasture nowhere they met
ana planned their elopement. Lucy was
gathering currants as Eben passed that
way. When he spoke to her Lucy an
sWered with tears in her voice which
she strove vainly TO hide, and Eben. COM
ing round where she stood. gently put her
tin pail away. He imprisoned her hands
and lifted up the quivering chin so that
he could look under her sun-bonnet
straight into her eyes. They were Just
the brown Of a clear pool, where the au-
tumn leaves have fallen, and they were
swimming with tears
What is it, Lucy?" His tenderness
made her heart overflow, and when she
tried to speak her lips only trembied and
dropped at the corners.
Has my mother been harsh with you
again."
She did not mean to be- faltered Lu-
cy. She saw us sitting together under
the grape arbOr last night, and she was
displeased.''
Eben leaned against the pailing and
thought. He could not bear that she
should suffer his mothers petty persecu-
ton any longer Lucy" he said, will
you run away with me and be married ?"
Only her eyes made answer. Come down
here to the stile this afternoon, when she
sends you with Mrs. Heath's butter, and
we will go TO Vevay and be married. VIII
you, Lucy?"
Yes" she whispered.
When she came down to the stile that
afternoon in her blue-speckled calico
frock and Slated bonnet, Eben was wait
ing. Il started early and took Mrs
Heath's butter to her." she said full of
housewifely conscientiousness.
So, hand in hand like children. they
began their seven miles journey to town
sometimes over rocky roads, where the
sun rejecting from the white dust suf-
fused their faces with crimson glow
again through the woods, full of cool fra
GRANGE and bird songs.
Down at last over the hills about the
little old French town and through its
quiet streets they came, followed by the
curious eyes of the idlers and shop-keep-
ers enjiying the evening GOODNESS at their
doors. Eben had just time to obtain
the marriage license before the clerks
office was closed, and he and Lucy, very
quiet now, walked across the green court
house square and up the street to the
minister's house.
The Rev Mr. Shaw looked at them over
mis- glasses for a moment when Eben
stated their Grand Then a mist came
over his eyes, and he went into the hall
and called upstairs, Martha. will you
come down little while? There are two
young people here who want to be mar
ried." When she appeared he told her
how they had walked all the way from
Moorefield that afternoon, and she stood
beside her husband and looked into the
two faces as if they called back tender
Of her own sweet story Then
she carried Lucy upstairs to charm away
the travel stains and gave her a motherIy
kiss that warmed the girls grateful
heart
Then Lucy and Eben stood up in the
plain, stiff parlor, and were married. In
he twilight sEben's pale, spiritual face
vas beautiful with joy, and Lucys flush
I'd with shy, sweet happiness. Good Mrs
Shaw gave them her guest chamber until I
hey should be able to get home next /
morning, when they journeyed back with /
| neighbor whom Eben found in town.
md who, I dare say, eagerly spread the !
Jews Of the marriage about the country I
ide.
Aunt Margaret talked Of them yester !
lay as they stood by two long low
mounds in the neglected graveyard. Eb- /
ms maidstone bore date some two /
ears subsequent TO his marriage, and |
4ucy's two years later. Eben was his |
Mothers youngest, darling child, and 4
hink his death was the first of many
orrows that, as they come, softened /
Aunt Margaret and made her the sad
aced, gentle old lady that she is. Eben's
eath broke down the last barrier by
which she had kept Lucy out of her heart
nd she chung to her sons wife as Naomi /
o the Moabitish maid.-Mary Catherine
arr in the Genuewoman.