The Florida agriculturist., 1907-05-15
N~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~-f
s WITHOUT YOUR MAN s


laughter and merriment in the chatter
of the creek over the boulder, the
whist1ing Of the larks and robins, ane
the barking of the chipmunks. Great
est of all, she felt the warmth of Alb
ner's love, his big-hearted nanliness
his desire to sacrifice means and com
fort that she might enjoy a visit home
But she prided herself that she hao
been loyal wife, and had we'll earned
vacation from the solitude Of the
hills. 1t was this thought alone tha
prompted her on.
1t was fifteen-mi1e ride to the rail
way station, and they reached it by
eleven o'clock, an hour before the
arrival of the train. They blanketee
the roans, tying them in the fir grove
near the depot
Only one other person Walted or
the little platform. She was a woman
Of the mountains, and she leaned with
stolid, saddened face against the bag
gage truck on which reposed a Ions
pine box, ominously suggestive. Sht
recognized the greeting OF the two
new arrivals with the unexpressivt
stoicism of the people of the hills.
Mary was at once interested in the
woman, and while Abner purchased
her ticket and checked the trunk that
had been brought down by wagon two
days before, she opened a conversation
with her.
''Are you gonig On this train?" Mary
asked pleasantly.
YES" the woman replied.
THAT is good 1 am going too
Are you going to travel far?'
I'm going back to the States -bacl
to Illinois," said the woman, withou
taking her saddened eyes from thu
pointed frs of the surr ounding hills
Tom and me came from there twenty
years ago. Our two boys are growr
up and gone, and I have to go Tom:
here in this box. He was killed BY
falling tree. Oh, it's hard-hard tc
give up Tom, hard to leave the hills
where Tom and me have lived sc
long"
The woman spoke without emotion
but there were lines in her face tha'
told Of hidden sorrow She paused
and then, as if to change the subject
asked: Are you going far?'
''I'm going back to Ohio on visit
| have not seen my olks in foul
years"
''Is your man going?''
Mo, he can't leave home But
can't stay out here any longer, ever
though I have to leave him for ;
while.''
"Your man ought to go, too," sai(
the woman. There amt anything
when your mans away Tom and mt
was always together, that's why I'm
with him now It's much better on
here in the hills where it is all SC
quiet and peaceful, and where every
thing is so wide and high and deep
but Tom won't be here any more
No, there amt anything without you
man."
For the first time tear trickleo
across the wrinkled cheek Mar,
turned her face away. The great trut1
Of the woman's words weighed sud
denly heavy on the young wife's heart
1t was a relief to her when Abne
came Out and gave her the ticket ant
check.
There is no need of my waiting,
said ne. IL get back up to tn
ranch and do some planting in tn
garden" He put his arm around he
and pressed a kiss on her cheek
"Goodbye, little one said he; "hav'
the best time possible and don't worr,
about me. Give my love to all TIL
folks and write often.'
Mary clung to his neck, tears file
her eyes. She could not speak. Sh
raised her face and he kissed her again
full upon the lips. He turned from
the platform and walked hurried,