Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1904-01-02
LECTA'S WAY
BY HORACE SEYMOUR KELLER
Copyright 1905, by Daily Story pub. Co,

VSolpushh wy, by DAILY Story Pub. COD
ND1E lusty young farmer. Prize
- milker and hay tosser of the Twin
&-NSrms, laid aside his corn cutter and
rxaSled upon the fence. from which
S1s>sSTAiion he could survey the valley
Sesow. where the little station was
sNS5tuated
There comes the train; getting
1T7ssarc- and nearer, Lecta There. It's
'zroandinG the curve and shooting over
tho bridge and-poor little girl. j
know it's tough, mighty tough, for he
vas your first city beau The other
girls have had them before and knew
how 10 take them. The engine is
Stearning into the depot yard aud-I
=2R see you, dear, can see you stand
ing by him. Poor Lectai Nov you're
shaking hands with him and-nc, he
don't kiss you good-by. Has got feel
Angs Tor you and don't want TO make
-Rou abashed before all the folks The
trains off, the last car is switched
2Eround the turn; he's gone, and your
summer dream is over, poor little
EirI!"
Then Eli resumed his work Every
ITne he slaShed stalk he gritted his
Seaeth-why, he did not know. Every
yma he bundled and stacked he NUT
HS.Eeo: There, hang you! Stay where
you belonS!" Up and down between
he rows he went. slashing right and
seft with his sharp cutter, bundIing
1En6 stacking. doing the work of TWO
men Eli knew how to make every
motion count He did not drag nor
Joiter; he worked, worked, worked
Entil the sun began to sink in the
vest Then he numbered his back
and shOuldered his cutter and turned
from the field. He reached the path
|.se-adang to the house. and said, as he
.aSoked back over the result of his
ztay,s s10il: There. hang you! Stay
S-Eanere you belongi"
SSppper over, and Eli is up in his
rtoesn preparing for the great ordeal of
his life. His best clothes are laid on
. the bed; the wonderful tie that Lecta
zsaid was so pretty, the fancy colored
Il lhirt that was his special pride, the
t'&ap shoes and the neat Fedora, all his
SAnery lies there.
Not such pretty face as the other
5c9eHow has got" uttered ne, as he
X Sey2ped the down from his chin. He's
male and thin. but he can sing and
make the most of his good looks. I
have no good looks. can't sing no more
s., IhaIn hen hawk Don't know much
= poetyy-he's got all the poets and their
l7Ssse2ty songs at the end of his tongue
tJsat this summer dream is done for
tGRG Lecta will be glad to see me now,
= hope. Poor little girl! You'll forget
Sn about 1t soon. I've stayed away
Scno given you both clear road
haven't bothered, nor snooped, nor
watched you. You've had your fun.
y s]0w III resume mine" Thus the
gonn8 rural swain muttered as he ar
mayed himself in his best. To his ell
der brother Jim. whom he met at the
zt3oe door. he said: Leave the door
unlocked for me. old boy, when you
r9oEne back. You went stay so late as
! Tidy hasn't had city beau.
E!x2ay have to urge Lecta some LecIa
- ASRd the young fellow parted TODAY.
e'okA2SsSe she'll need cheering up a bit :"
NsHsak to YOU. Eli. Give nv love 10
sAecta.' said the other. as he walked
1szay- Jim turned and looked after
SisS tall figure swinging with long
1zzz1des through the moonlight. and
a-s2FsStered: "Lecta. pretty little gir,-
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