The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-11-05
LEcTA's WAY.
BY HoRACE sEYMouR KE1LER.

Copyright. 1903. by Daily Story Pub. Col The lusty young farmer, prize miIker and corn cutter and crawied upon the fence. from which elevation he could survey the valley below. where the little station situated. There comes the train: getting nearer and nearer. Lecta. There. It's rounding the curve and shooting over the bridge and-poor little girl! I know it's toush mighty tough, for he was your first city beau. The other girls have had them before and knew how to take them. The engine Is steaming Into the depot yard and T can SC you. dear. can see you standing by him. Poor Lecta! Now you're shaking hands with him and--no. he don't kiss you goodbye. Has got feelings for you and don't want to make you abashed before all the folks The trains off, the last car is switched around the turn: he's gone. and your Summer dream Is over. poor little girlv'
 Then Eli resumed his work Every time he slashed stalk he gritted his teeth-why. he did not know. Every time he bundled an< stacked he muttered: There hang you! Stay where you belongr' Up and down between the rows he went. siashing right and left with his sharp cutter. bundlns and stacking. doing the work of two men. Eli knew how to make every motion count. He did not drag nor ioiter: he worked. worked. worked until the sun began |fo sink in the west. .yThen he unlimbered his back and shouldercd his cutter and turned from the field. He reached the path leading to the house. and said as he looked back over the result of his days toll: There. hang you!
 
 Supper over. and Eli is up in his room pre- pairing for the great ordeal of his life. His best clothes laid on the bed: the wonder full tic that Lecta said pretty. the fancy colored ehirt that was hIs special pride. the tan shoes and the neat Fedora, all his fnery lies there
 Not such pretty face the other fellow has got" uttered he. as he scraped the down from lis chin. He's pale and thin but he can sing and make most of his good looks. I have no good looks. can't sing more than a hen hawk. Don't know much poetry-he's got all the poets and their pretty songs at the end of his tongue. But the Summer dream Is done for and Lecta will be glad to see me now, hope. Poor little girl! You'll forget all about 1t soon. I've stayed away and given you both a clear road. I haven't bothered. nor snooped. nor watched you. You've had your fun Now I'll have mine" Thus the young rural swain muttered as he arrayed himself 'n his bcst To his older brother Jim. whom he met at the side door. he said Leave the door unlocked for me. old boy. when you come back You won't stay late as I. Tildy hasn't had a city beau. I may have to urge Lecta some Lecta and the young fellow parted today Maybe she'll need cheering up bit"
 Luck to you. Eli. Give my love to Lecta. said the other as he walked away. Jim turned and looked after the tall figure swinging with long strides through the moonlight, and nut tered: "Lecta, pretty little girl-almost too pretty for dear Eii--I wonder. wonder how 1t will be with your I wonder how 1t will be with EliT'
 Lecta was leaning upon the gate Under the beches She was leaning with one hand against her chin, the other hand vas pressed to her bosom. The moonlight. drifting through the branches fell upon her: she looked almost too dainty and pretty for Eli 10 approach. She was