The Washington times., 1903-06-14
lF1f- WINNING OF ELIZABETH E()lf1ER(1lII b

the lad of her fancy and getting more
kisses than nuts under the sheltering
boughs, In one place, where the ground
was clear and the ferns almost dry. a
stalwart grandame sat on a log to
watch q pot boil The blue smoke curled
upward, and the crackle of the fagot
sounded pleasantly in the silence. but
the pot, Unbalanced, hung all aslant
Jeremy stopped and moved the faggot
and settled the pot more straightly upon
it, saying that he knew a deal of the
triclIsy ways of fires. The old dame
blessed him for 1t and he and Elizabeth
went on.
Down narrow path now, where no
nuts grew and so no sound of voices
and laughter was to be heard The
ground was soft and black, with here
golden fern and there a crimson fun
gus filling the air with its smell The
whole wood was very fair and still, the
leaves thick on the trees, for as yet
there had been no high winds, though
all were of molten gold or paler tints
of yellow, save where come tree-like
brown, with only a touch of copper when
the sun struck the outermost edges.
The beauty of the place went home to
the hearts of the TWO who walked there.
But to each it spoke differently. To
Jeremy it came with feeling of glad
ness and pagan rejoicing that worshiped
the earth as well as its Creator. But to
Elizabeth it spoke of liberty and free
dem, rousipg passion of rage against
the bonds that held her. At last her
feelings broke forth into words. Would
God she said, that / had been born a
gypsy, ard might live always in such a
olace!''
Jeremy started at the words Would
you choose it?" he asked, looking
straightly at her. Would you like it
when the winter winds blew cold when
age came creeping on and crooked your
back and stiffened your gait? Would 1t
please you when women passed you go
ing to meeting in silken gowns, or era
died their babes warm by the snug fire.
side2 If you would dare choose that, If
you are not afraid
His voice had grown earnest and ca
ger, but she, being full Of her wrongs,
did not heed. but cut in bitterly, Yes;
l dare choose that. 1 would have liked
to have been born to it. for what is
house and silken gown to a woman? OF
what benefit is a dover, and stock, and
farm TO her? For it she Is bought and
sold-ay, even lost and won at some ale
house game
So she said in bitter anger. And Jer-
envy the tinker dropped his eyes sud-
denly, walking on with clouded looks,
the words that had come eagerly to his
tongue stayed altogether.
Soon afterward they came upon some
of the nut pickers, and for the remainder
of the day busted themselves with the
folk, having little to say to one another
Elizabeth went among the women, Civ
ing watchful eye to the girls. while
Jeremy gathered nuts. Elizabeth, look
ing to see which maid benefited by his
labors. did not fail to observe that his
gleanings always went to swell the
small boards of children.
On the way back from the woods-and
all the folk from Fivelanes came to-
gether-who should they fall in with but
Tobiah the Dissenter, That worthy man
was on his way 10 the farm, bent on
seeing. as he had promised his con-
science, how the affair of Elizabeth's
winning went He at once Joined him
self to the party, and was clearly
pleased to see the tinker among them.