Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1902-08-21

country village now rs II was III granu'
mothers, days, barring the brick store
built last year, few more white cot
tases than were there in those days
and "the mansion" on the hill. MY
Aunt Margarets cottage Is larger and
more pretentious than It was twenty
years ago, when her son, Eben, lay
under the apple tree, where I am
ldling now, and dreamed. Eben was .
delicate boy, much given to books and
Of little use on the farm. 20 1t was
deemed profitable to allow him to fol-
low his own bent and teach the district
school In winter as 4 means OF liveli-
hood.
Lucy Dale was one Of his pupils. ana
the two fell In love with each other
In a simple, unQuestiOning way that
leaves no room for plot or analysis.
When the attachment between Eben
and Lucy was discovered, Aunt Mar
garet and Uncle Joseph took prompt
measures for Its suppression. In the
first place Lucy was Aunt Margarets
"bound girl" and in the second, Eben
was too delicate to marry, and per.
haps soon to leave his wife to the care
of others.
walked this morning through the
old orchard-a pasture nowhere
they met and planned their elopement.
Lucy was gathering currants as Eben
passed that way. When he spoke to
her Lucy answered with tears In her
voice which she strove vainly to hide,
and Eben, coming round where she
stood, gently put her tin pail away.
He imprisoned her hands and lifted
up the quiverlng chin so that he could
look under her sunb0nnet, straight
into her eyes. They were Just the
brown of clear pool, where the
autumn leaves have fallen, and they
were swimming with tears,
what Is 1t, Lucy?" His tenderness
made her heart overflow, and when
she tried to speak her lips only
tremhled and dropped at the corners.
HAS my mother been harsh with
you again"
"She did not mean to be- faltered
Lucy. "She saw us sitting together
under the grape arbor last night, ana
she was displeased."
Ebcn leaned against the palng ami
thought. He could not bear that she
should suffer his mothers petty per
secutlon any longer "1.ucy," he said,
twill you run away with me and be
marriedl' Only her eyes made ans
wer Come down here to the stlle
this afternoon, when she sends you
with Mrs. Heath's butter, and we Will
20 to vevay and be married. VIII
you, Lucy"
eyes" she whispered,
When she came down to the stile
that afternoon In her blue-speckled
calico frock and Slated bonnet Eben
was waiting. ~ started early and
took Mrs. Heath's butter to her. she
said, full Of housewfcly conscientious
ness.
So hand in hand like children they
began their seven miles journey tt
town, sometimes over rocky roads
where the sun rejecting from thu
white dust suffused their faces witt
crimson glow-agaln through thu
woods, full of cool fragrance and birt
songs.
Down at last over the hills about tn
little old French town and through 1T
quiet streets they came, followed b!
the curious eyes of oilers and shop
keepers enjoying the evening GOODNESS
ut their doors. Eben had Just time tt
obtain the marriage license before thu
clerks office was closed, and he ant
Lucy, quiet now, walked across TIL
green courthouse square and up thu
street to the minister's home.
The Rev. Mr.. Shaw looked at then
over his glasses for moment whel
Eben stated their errand. Then
mist came over his eyes, and be wen
into the hall and called upstairs, MAR
tina, will you come down a little while
There are two young people here VIII
want to be married." When she ap
peared he told her how they ha,
walked all the way from MooreHel,
that afternoon, and she stood besld
her husband and looked into the tw
faces as II they called back tende
memories Of her own sweet story
Then she carried Lucy upstairs t
charm away the travel stains, an
J gave her motherly kiss that warme
the girls grateful heart.
/ Then Lucy and Eben stood up 4
the plain, stiff parlor and were maj
sled. In the twilight Ebens pail
/, spiritual face was beautiful with joy
and Lucy's flushed with shy, swee
happiness. Good Mrs. Shaw gave ther
. her guest chamber until they shout
: be able to get home next mornlni
Q when they journeyed back with
= neighbor whom Eben found In towl
4 and who, dare say, eagerly sprea
n the news Of the marriage about th
!. country side
Aunt Margaret talked OF them yel
terday as we stood by two long, lo'
i mounds In the neglected graveyard
Eben's headstone bore a date some tw
!. years subsequent 10 his marriage an
Lucy's two years later. Eben wa
his mothers youngest, darling chit
and | think his death was the fri