Rocky Ford enterprise., 1899-05-25
The Tie That Binds.

hymn and the congregation rose to
slng. The old familiar strains OF
Dennis" rose and fell and quavered on
ths sweet summer air. Everybody
iang-the >gray-haired grandfather and
the wee child Of four:
''Blest be the tie that binds
Our hearts In mutual love
The fellowship OF kindred minds
Is like to that above"
Old Enoch Pennyman looked up
from his well-worn hymnbook and
glanced, as he had glanced hundred
times before. across the Westinghouse
to the family pew OF Nathan Ark
wright. Next to the wall stood the
object Of his attention, firmly holding
her hymnbook before her and singing
in sweet, quavering voice. a faint
touch of. pink in her soft wrinkled
cheeks. little bunch OF lavender
tinted flowers upon her black bonnet
and a dainty white Grape shawl upon
her shoulders. Her stalwart, sun
Drowned, middle-aged son. his buxom
wife and two grown children occupied
the pew with her.
Enoch Pennyman sang on mechan-
lcally. with his eyes fastened upon the
old face. II do declared" he thought,
"Eunice does get better lookin' all the
time. She's fulfllin' the promise OF
her girlhood, an no mistake. II / can
manage 1t I'm a-goin' to walk down
the road with her after meetin'."
Fortune favored the old man. "You
go on ahead. Mertilly." he said to his
daughter-in-law; Its SO pleasant out
In the sun I'll take my time gittin'
home. Mebby I'll get down a spell an
rest when I come to the bridge" SO
Mertilly and her flock Of children went
On and left him.
At that same moment Eunice Ark
wright was saying to Nathan at the
church steps: you go right on home.
Matte, and I'll come along slow. l
believe this sunshine is good for my
rheumatic. II get tired Ill stop In
at nelia's and rest" So Nathan and
his family started OF and left the old
lady standing smiling in the pleasant
June sunshine.
Jane Peabody, who was always sur
missing something about somebody, had
managed TO overhear the conversation
and noticed the old man sauntering
slowly down the grassy slope. I'll
bet ye it's put-up job" she said to
herself. 1--WE heard them two old folks
used to be most awful good friends
when they was young. There's no fool
like the old fool they say. an guess
It's true. I'll go along home slow an
watch 'em."
But at that moment Jabez Strong
called out heartily: ''Better get in an
ride with us, Mis- Peabody-ridin' is
cheaper'n walkin'."
Mis- Peabody couldn't resist the
chance of ride. and so she climbed in
and the buggy ratified away down the
long road.
Enoch Pennyman waited till Eunice
came along. This Is pretty weather,
Eunice," he said. MAY have the
pleasure of your comp'ny home"
How like old singing-school times 1t
lid sound!
Eunice laughed. "My land! yes" she
said. You're gettin' considerable po-
lite. amt you. Mr.. Pennyman? That
was a good sermon the elder preached
to-day, want It? don't know when
I've listened to a better one. And
then-old 'Dennis-my! how I like
that piece! I believe enjoy singin'
Dennis better'n anything in the
hymnbook-which shows how old
fashioned be-"
Enoch looked at her admiringly.
You're Jest old-fashioned enough to
suit me-" he said gallantly. 81 told
Mertilly to go long home an let me
take my time, an see you've done the
same thing"
"Yes." said Eunice, II told Matte tc
let me come along slow; I enjoy bein'
outdoors sech weather as this. The
sun seems to do me good"
1t does me, too said Enoch. "My
lumbago's been troublin' me some
lately. an nothin' seems to help 1t like
settin' out in the sun. I set out on
the wheelbarrow two hours at stretch
an let the sun Jest bake me. It's good
.or rheumatic. too-how's your'n?"
Some better'n 1t has been,' re-
sponded Eunice, but goodness! what
be we talkin' bout rheumatic an lum-
bago such a day as this, for! I de-
clare. feel like praisin' the Lord jest
to be alive? See them wild roses over
there? Could anything be prettier than
them?"
Yes" responded Enoch. with an ad-
miring look, some things be. Don't
you want I should get you some? I
amt no boy, but l can climb that
fence" And he proceeded to do SO
while Eunice waited demurely by the
road. They're beauties, an no mis-
take" the old man said. when he eau
tiously climbed back with his hands
full Put one in your dress. Eunice.
l think 'twould look real nice against
your black silk; kinder match the pink
IN your cheeks, too"