The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1902-10-15

pendent on the great harvests. on the
bountiful farm; We're they not happy,
eontented, unquestioning? Was she not
happy too? Had she anything to COM
plain of, to regret, to wish for?
Suddenly out OF the hush came the
cry of the whippoorwill. that piercing.
mournful voice OF the vacant, wind
blown fields. OF meadows lowering I'M
seen and far away. 1t thrilled her like
a pain. 1t stabbed her through and
through and cut her to the heart with
its questioning. solitary call, hidden In
the twilight OF the woods.
She had heard 1t 80 often. year after
year. like the robin and the lark. New
er had 1t sounded so lonely, 80 friend
less and apart. A strange longing
swelled up In her breast; tears filed
her eyes. The years of her life, with
their simple tasks, their ambitions,
hopes and dreams, came TO her like
some vast tidal wave upon sunny
shore, withdrawing In long resound-
Ing Sigh at the absence OF some un-
known JOY. She stared through the
warm darkness toward the edge of the
woods outlined against the evening as
though one should try to read the soul
of silhouette. Then she dropped her
face in her hands for single minute.
At q o'clock In the morning Mary
was In the garden picking the vegeta-
bles for dinner. The sunshiny, dew
fresh day. tho beans and cabbages In
ftsatE ,..,e,.t hN al Lot
hollyhocks noddlng against the fence.
made the experience of the night be-
fore very remote and visionary.
As Mary reached the end of the row
of peas she pushed back her sunbonnet
and looked up; then her song stopped
and she knelt silently
A young man was standing on the
other side of the garden wall looking
at her He blushed as he met her
steady, smiling gaze. Picking peas"
he asked. you've got lot, haven't
your
Eyes. indeed; plenty this year. Have
your"
"All we can eat and more too. Get
ting old, though. How are theseT. He
ttOootd tht wan anu rNood btriht b'A
yours are pretty tender yet" He tore
of another pod "Shan't l help your
Two can work better than one"
ooh, thank you; you needn't bother"
Yet she smiled at him.
"Oh, like to do this I'll take the
inside OF the row."
ITS very kind of you.'' she an
nj him ~
How brown and strong and slnewy
lie had grown since he had begun To
work in the harvest fields. She had not
seen him for long while, not since
they were In school together. She was
looking at him again when he glanced
up and caught her eyes. This time
they both blushed. They said nothing
for some time. Mary picked buslly,
and the boy whistled half to himself.
They were beside each other with
nothing between them but the slender
trellls OF pea vines. enough to give the
boy courage to say. Did you hear the
whippoorwill last nightf"
Mary felt fash that made her
nerves Jingle.
Vii hlh tOus tOoF hht
then stopped, abashed ut her own
eagernoss. How could Alvy under
stand the confession she had made to
a whippoorwlll just because II was UNI
seen? Where was itR' she asked,
with all the carelessness she could
summon.
Down In the wood lot about half
past 3. | was coming home cross lots
back OF your barn; been up at the 9th
or farm all day"
They were picking slowly now. How
pretty Mary was with her braided yel-
low hair, her rose pink ears. her
smooth lidded. down dropping eyes!
The rufile OF her apron, with Its crisp
curves, seemed meant to hedge her
checks from kisses.
Alvy felt his heart throb diZzily. So
many words and thoughts went round
and round In his head that he could
not say one. And there was the screen
Of brush and vines between them.
The delicate film OF green was strong
as n prison grille through which the
serene face OF the girl glowed upon
the sa me pods. Marys trembled, then
lay still In his.
Il saw you up Oh the roof" whls
pered the boy. you were listening,
weren't you"
Mary nodded.
do you-do you like to hear 1t,
Mary? Do you like the whippoorwill?"
Mary's lip trembled 81 don't know.
guess So"
Because he-he loves you, Mary"
MARY, Mary. where are your
The two In the garden sprang up as
the shrill voice called from the kitchen.
As the boy leaped over the fence into
his own orchard Mary looked after
him. From the trees among which he
disappeared came clear, low and sweet
the call of the whippoorwill.