The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1901-07-05
The
Kennedys'
Fourth Of July

The postmaster--who was also the vii
lsge blacksmith-h just come In from
the forge. He was huge, clumsy crea-
ture, with q whisky reddened face and a
Kindly smile He was sorting bundle Of
letters between his big, blackened fingers
The little old man at the outer side Of the
partition was watching him with an ex-
precision of timorous entreaty.
Seems like I seen letter here for
you, Mr.. Kennedy. Sophy," he called to
his wife, who sat sewing in the rear Of
the room, "hain't there letter here for
SIR. KenncdyT
Eyes, there Is. It's Cecelia's writin
too. It's tolerable thick letter. Look
igain, Bill"
Here It is-I've got It." He passed
an envelope through the little wooden
gated aperture to the knotty brown hand
tremblingly outstretched to receive II.
"It Is from her, nin't It, Mr.. Kennedy?
Comm home, maybe"
"I-I don't know. That's what I'm
wonderin." He had laid the letter down
on the ledge and was eagerly fastening
pair Of spectacles behind his ears. Land,
land, II II should he, what would mother
say-whatever would she sayv'
He was q weather beaten old farmer,
with q clean cut, clean shaven face-a
face that, despite It's frmness Of feature,
was full of gentleness. The well shaped
old head was matched with gray hair,
and the eyes back Of the glasses were sim
cerc and sympathetic.
mo" he announced In a tone Of disap-
pointment. He had got the letter open at
last and was reading II rapidly. "She's
at the exposition, an she wanted we
should know she was well an happy, an
hopin we was the same, an-that's about
all. Oh, yes, an she's sent mother dress
pattern. 'Twould be at the deepo' same
time as this letter come. She's reel good
hearted, Cecilia In. She-she went away
soon after you folks settled here" The
old eyes were wistfully lifted. II don't
suppose you remember her right WELL"
he concluded.
"Oh, yes, 1 do" returned Bill Wheeler
heartily. "The prcttiest GIRL said 80 to
Sophy when I seen hc>-didn't !, Sophy?
The prettiest girl in these parts"
"She was a good girl, too," put in the
old man eagerly. "Thare wasn't no better
girl around than Cecilia. But after that
winter we sent her to school in Hastings
seemed like she couldn't bear the farm.
She was young, an she found it lonesome.
1t was lonesome, with only mother an me
there. There was them that said she
ought to have let us know she was goin,
but I say to mother she couldn't bear to
tell us goodby. She's wrote regular since,
but her letters come from lots Of diff'rent
towns. The lady she's companion for Is
one that's allus takin towers, they call
'em. 1t 10 pleasant life for my girl An
the wages Ii good, butt Though his lips
continued to move, the remainder Of the
sentence was inaudible. "I'll be goin
down to the deepo' now" he said.
"Thanks to you, Mr.. Wheeler"
THAT'S all right; good day to youp'
And, when the door had closed behind old
man Kennedy, Wheeler stood silent a
moment or two.
Somehow It makes me feel queer 70
hear him talk that way, Sophy. It's six
years since she run of. She weren't but
Is then. An all she's done Is send 'em
presents-ain't ever come a-nigh 'em."
Mrs. Wheeler, q scrawny, dyspeptic
looking creature. bit her thread of with
a vicious jerk.
"Bet there's good reason she don't. ]
allus said she was q no account girl, an
It's safe to guess she hain't improved
none."
"sho, now. sophy," he demonstrated.
II wouldn't be too sure Of that. Like as
not she's earnln her money honest"
/ "Liker'n not abe amt" rctorted Sophy
tartly and resumed her sewing.
Old man Kennedy plodded OF with his
basket and. after getting a package al
the depot, drove home. The sun had gone
down, but the mellow brilliancs Of the
afternoon still fingered AZ he turned into
the road that led to his farm. Waist high
and green az sea water the corn rippled
away to the horizon In limitless pillows.
The light wind diving over the oats set
It courtssying in fantastic undulations OF
bowed It In temporary depressions Of
bronze brown shadow. And In the hedges
Of Usage orange and honey locust were the
whir Of the wings and the twitter Of bird
vespers.
His wife was waiting for him when be
stopped In front Of the house before driv.
ing around to the barn.
"You got the groceries, father, an
what's this7 A present from Cecilia
Ny dear little daushterl A letter too
Oh, let the horses walt, father. You
| must read II to me. Why, your hand ID
burnin. Are you sickT
! "No-no." He numbered down over the
wheel. T'Il tell you In minute. Lis
ten." He read aloud for her the lines hel
eyes had grown too dim to decipher
When he had come to the end. he burst
out with the plan which was to electrify
her. He spoke 30 fast be stumbled ovel
his words and repeated himself. But at
last Il was clear to her. They were t.
, spend the Fourth OF July at the exposi
, tion. And It was possible Cecella would
still be In the city with her mistress. AND
--ecstatic possibility-thsy might see her.
!, There's no address on the letter." h'
] hurried on, "but we might meet her, o.
| we could put In the paper that Mr.. ant
Mrs. Kennedy was stoppin-wherever w
] might bean was hopin to receive cal
from q friend. We might say youni
lady friend. But we wouldn't put he
name, for belize the lady she lives will
is that grand she'd not be maxim SO mucl