Crittenden press. [volume] (Marion, Ky.) 1879-1907, 1901-10-31
NJ since retired from active prao.

some young man OF about 30. whose
hair was prcmoturcly white. aud "A
! petite matron of near the same age.
whose charm Of manner and gracious
bearing brought glimpses of the "old
| regime"
They were Squire Som Riggin and
wife. Their fathers. Dick Ruthcr-
ford aud Tom Rggin, had long been
gathered TO their fathers, the two
farms were joined into one aud all
the interests consolidated.
We partook of glorious dinner
with the Higgins and laughed toCeth-
cr about the incident Of 20 years be-
Tore when We met sudie aud Sam at
the mouth of the Lane"
rs the doctor and rode home UNI
der the undressing trees. and upon
the carpet OF purple. gold aud Grim
son that was made by their cast-oR
clothing of autumn dyed leaves. the
old healer told me how it had all
happened
NO amount OF punishment inflicted
by their respective parents could keen
those youngsters apart. They were
'nseparablc when il was possible for
them Ia Ice together The little Girl
would weave wrcaths Of iessaminc
howcrs aud vines for sammy and
sammy caught her butterflies and
hlled her lap with blue-tintcd daisies
fresh from the moss-lincd brook that
hoWed through the meadow. Whip
pings. threats, confnements. cntrcat-
les 10y their parents that they
keep away from each other, did no
good. To the contrary IL seemed the
greater the opposition the more
binding their childish affection.
"Of course, their meetings were
clandestnc. They would seek out re-
mote corners in the pasture or hide
among the honeysuckle bushes over
ou the ridge and remain for hours
m each others company, perfectly
ohlivous 20 and absolutely uninfu-
cnced by the almost assured spank
ings' they knew they would receive
when they returned 20 their homes.
The days went by and as the
months grew into years. their love
for each other became stronger and
more beautiful When they said their
simple prayers I'm the evenings. they
invoked the blessings OF the Infinite
on both houses. and when they were
old enough 10 know and feel the
strength OF their friendship, undying
and indissolublc, they pledged them-
selves 90 each other. They we're
standing az the entrance OF the lane
when this was done and he was look
ing down into eyes that, for h.m,
ri,alcd IN splcndor aud brightness
the twinkling stars that danced in
riotous JOY above them. u was in
early spring. just as the johnquils
were putting forth their yellow heads
To be picked on 10y the golden gos-
lings. The lights were being put out
he the farmhouses near by and the
youthful lovers knew 10 was time
they were az home. But they prom
ised TO meet early the following
morning and spend the day with each
other. far out In the woods whore the
dogwood trees looked like woodland
brides and the red birds lowered
around the rhodoras seemingly 20
court the flower that cheapened their
array.
The next morning they met NJ the
mouth OF the lane. she wearing n
hood as red as the jacket OF Tommy
Atkins They had not gone very
great ways before huge bull at
tracted by the Eaudy color OF Sndieis
cape dashed for her, blinded bI AL
the fury Of challenged beast Es-
cape was impossible. Sammy saw the
danger and threw himself between
the girl and the bull. Just as the ami
nal was about 20 bear down upon
the helpless boy. two rifle shots rang
out almost simultaneously aud the
bull dropped IN his tracks and In an
other instant the fathers OF the
Young people were standing by the
side OF the dying brute.
with rifle in hand they had fol-
lowed their children without being
Observed. intent and determined upon
breaking of their companionship
Fortunately they were Just near
enough 90 send messengers OF death
10 the bull before its cruel horns
could do damage. The two men
looked kindly upon each other as tho
girl trcmblngly chung to the speech
less boy.
Here. shake my hand, Ruther-
ford said higgins, and let MS stop
all this foolishness,' and before he
could conclude his sentence Higgins
rifle had fallen TO the ground as he
reached forward TO embrace his long
cstrangcd friend. Suddenly recover
ing from their emotions, sammy s IA
ther turned To the youths ana IN a
tone Of attempted seriousness eN.
claimed: Run along home, sir, ana
get to your books-and-an, Sudie'
YOU better get to your room and take
on that cape. Your father and are
going TO the tavern :.
"'Yes. YOU hurry home sudle'
smoke up her father, and tell your
mother TO have dinner cooked for
company. Mr. Rutherford and ms
family will be over in little While
Dnnuer Of Ambition.
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