The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-08-01
A ROMANCE OF ACADIA.


errand of grave import, but stopped
long enough at the foot of a steep de-
chvity leading to a babbling brook to
give her tired horse long cool drapght
of the clear, swirling water before he
forded the stream. He was livery
horse hired at the railway station, no
other means of rapid conveyance being
available.
The young woman was home again
after several years of absence during
which she had improved her time and
opportunities, and she was glad to re-
turn to her native heath, the land of
looked far up the woodland brook with
a fond appreciation of its enchanted
beauty. Evergreen trees, pendent will
lows, silver birches and graceful elns
fringed the banks, speckled trout leaped
and splashed unafraid in the sparkling
waters. To complete the symphony
single musical note at intervals pierced
the odorous silence. the call of the bell
bird to its mate.
Oh cried the girl, longing to hear
human voice. surely
This is the forest primeval,
In the Acadian land on the shores of the
basin of Minas.
Here too is Evangeline, but where is
her Gabriel?"
"At your service" said strong. mas
culine voice at her ear. startling her so
that she dropped her bride rein over her
horses head She turned and saw
man in clerical garb. one of the travel
ing preachers OF the province, and look
ed at him ungraciously. annoyed at his
quick application of her impromptu
question addressed solely to herself.
Giving him a cool nod she attempted to
secure her bride, which was entirely
beyond her reach. Her horse, feeling It's
freedom, sprang forward, fording the
brook with a rapid bound and gallopinS.
up the further side at pace that near
ly unseated his rider.
1t would have served her right If the
new Gabriel had left her to her fate, but
after a lapse of time enough for him to
observe her plight, and as she thought
angrily enjoy it. he rode up gently,
not to hasten the speed of Evangeline's
horse. caught the errant bride and re-
stored it to her hand.
Peter Grant, at your service" he
said, touching his. hat stiffly. II am
on my way to visiB very sick woman.
Pardon me-" and with leap his horse
shot ahead and was gone
He knows how to ride a horse if he
is a minister" thought Evangeline,
Peter Grant! Why. we were school
mates. but he has forgotten me. Gabriel?
Not that Scotch Presbyterian with his
books and preaching and his old-time
views borrowed from Knox and Cal
vim"
Then she urged her horse forward, for
she too was going to see sick woman,
her dearest friend, Aunt Maggie, who
had been ailing for some time, and she
had been delayed and had heard no It'd
ings for some days. But such is the
power of hopeful youth to look on the
bright side and throw off dark forebod
ing that she found herself wondering
how Peter Grant had succeeded i'll
changing his troublesome red hair of
their school days to a bronze brown,
and what had become of the freckles
that had marred his face as youth be-
fore he went away to the college at
Wolfville.
81 must ask Aunt Maggie about him."
she concluded. Hes a good looking
sort. although he did not promise much
in the old days. and he knews how to
ride and-he did not recognize me-that
pleases me-"
A few more miles of hard riding and
Miss West reached a farmhouse of the
old Acedian type,with fifty-year MOSES
on its implanted roof and a. well sweep
of antiquated pattern picturesquely
adjoining the yard. Another horse was
picketed there. and it saluted her with
a cheerful whinny-it was the animal
Peter Grant so vigorously bestrode.
"Oh!' she cried out in sudden alarm,
lean ii be possible that Aunt Maggie is
the very sick woman he was coming to
visit? I pray that I may not be too
latei'
AS she hurried into the kitchen she
found it filed with women of the type
of many of Aunt Maggie's neighbors.
and a murmur of strange unmusicai
had never in their lives had a chance
to peer into the cupboards of this house
before; Aunt Maggie was not of their
sort and to Evangeline their presence
savored of sacrilege. They all stared
at the stylish figure in the tailormade
costume. and they failed to recognize
| Vangie West.
How is she? My Aunt Maggie-is
she very ill2"
Jest alive-that's all. The preacher
he's up there now-be you her sisters
gal-what she brung up?'
Yes, yes. What room is she. in? Oh,
take me to her. 1t is so long since 1
was here feel like a stranger"
What Rendered We from comm soon
err, miss?" asked rasping voice. which
Evangeline remembered as belonging to
! a layer-out of the community. Thread
| ing her way through the crowd the girl
sought the room where her sick rela-
tive lay, strange sound of monotonous
singing leading her thither. There. toss
| ing and delirious. lay the sick woman,
burning with fever. The room was
crowded with neighbors-women who
gathered at death with the scent of
hawks, yet who felt-each one of them
that theirs was a religious duty
There too was Peter Grant. lining out a
hymn which was only sung to the
| dying. AS Evangeline entered they were