Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1904-01-06

BY HORAoE sEYM0UR KELLHR.
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Copyright, 1905, By Daily story PubscO)
THE lusty young farmer, prize
mixer and hay tosser OF thesTwin
Farms, laid aside his corn cutter and
crawled upon the fence, from which
elevation he could survey the valley
below, where the little station was
situated.
'There comes the train; getting
nearer and nearer, Leeta. There, it's
rounding the curve and shooting e
the bridge and-pOor little girl! ]
know it's tough, mighty tough, for ne
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-I
can see you, dear, l can see you stand
ing by him. Poor Lectal Now you're
shaking hands with him and-no, he
don't kiss you good-by.s Has got feel
ings for you and don't want to make
you abashed before all the folks. The
trains of, the last car is switched
around the turn; he's gone, and your
summer dream is over. poor little
grill"
Then Eli resumed his work. Every
time he slashed a stalk he gritted his
teeth-why, he did not know. Every
time he bundled and stacked he NUT
tered: There, hang you'll Stay where
you belongl" Up and down between
the rows he went, slashing right and
left with his sharp cutter, bundling
and stacking, doing the work Of Two
men. Eli knew how to make every
motion count He did not drag nor
loiter; he worked, worked, worked
until the sun began to sink IN the
west Then he ~unlimbered his back
and shouldered his cutter and turned
from the field. He reached the path
leading to the house, and said. as he
looked back owe the result Of his
DAYS toll: There. hang you'll Stay
where you belong!
Supper over. and Ell Is up IN his
room preparing for the great ordeal OF
bis life. His best clothes are laid on
the bed; the. wonderful tie that Lecta
said was so pretty, the fancy colored
shirt that was his special pride, the
tan shoes and the neat Fedora. ali his
anery lies there.
mot such a pretty face as the other
fellow has got" uttered he, as he
scraped the down from his chin. He's
pale and thin. but he AN sing and
make the most Of his good looks. /
have no good looks. can't sing no more
than 8 hen hawk. Don't know much
poetry-he's got all the poets and theip
pretty songs at the end Of his tongue.
But the summer dream Is done for,
and Leeta viii be glad to see me BOW.
hope. Poor little grill You'll forget
a1 about It Don I've stayed away
and given you both e clear road. I
haven't bothered, nor sno0ped, nor
watched you. You've had your fun.
Now I'll resume mine" Thus the
young rural swain mettereA ne he ar
rayed himself IN his best To his ell
der brother Jim, whom be met at the
ulde door. be said: Leave tie door
unlocked for ne, old boy, when you
come back. You won't stay 80 late as
I TIldy hasn't had 3 city beau. /
may have to urge Lecta some. Lsota
ana the young fellow parted to-day.
Maybe she'll need cheering up a bit"
Luck to you, Eli. Give my love %
Iecta." said the other, as he walked
away. Jim turned and looked after
the tail figure swinging with long
strides through the moonlight, and
muttered: "Lecta. pretty little girl
almost too pretty for dear Eli Won
der, I wonder how It viii be with your
I wonder how II will be with Eh?"
Leeta was leaning upon the gate un-
der the beeches. She res leaning