The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1908-05-20
A Question Of
Home Economics.
BY j. LUDAUM LEE.
copyrighted, 1908. by Associated
Literary Press.
BY j. LUDLUM LEE.
lted, 1908. by Associated

apple trees laden with gorgeous BIOS
SONS. She loved the place and every
stick and stone on it. 1t was hers by
right of Inheritance, and she would
leave it for no man.
True her old nurse, FoXanna, had
forsaken her to become the bride OF
Abraham, the head gardener on the
adjoining estate, and it seemed as if
landmark had been torn UP by the very
roots. One must learn to part with
landmarks, so Eleanor had promised
to go to Roxanna's wedding.
She jumped into the little runabout
which was waiting for her at the door
No groom attended her, for all the
darkies on the place had been given
holiday that they. too. might attend
the wedding She drove down the ia
miliar lane to the cabin, in the woods,
where hundreds OF darllies had con-
gregated Only one other white per
sou was in sight. tall, 1.-the youth
astride roam horse
Most of the colored men wore white
linen suits, Immediately clean, and
carried canes of crooked old birch and
hickory. The women We're arrayed to
shame Solomon in all his glory. They
drew aside as the two white persons
came into their midst. Eleanor drove
up at the side of the house and de-
scended with the aid of many black
hands The tall youth stayed on his
horse and took up stand near the
front door. Arm in arm the bride and
groom came from the house, and under
the old apple tree at the side OF the
cabin the most famous colored preach
| err in the south made them man and
| hand and told him to guard We'll his
! precious helpmate. She kissed the
| black face of RoXanna, who had been
| her constant attendant since babyhood.
| Then, blinded by tears, she jumped
into her little runabout and started
| for home.
| Cheers and halleuliahs rang upon
the air. Bright bandannas were flung
high, and hickory sticks wavered in
circles. After twenty years of persist
ent courtship RoNanna and Abraham
were married. Eleanor turned to look
back at the happy throng, and her
| horse SHE'D.
She was good little horsewoman
and took a firm grip on the reins, but
too late! The horse had the bit in his
teeth and was running at terrific speed
The light wagon rocked from one side
of the road to another, Eleanor sway
ing with it, Down the road, past pink
orchards and green fields, swaying
swaying-and then black nothing.
She opened her eyes to gaze into
those of the youth who had attended
the wedding.
"Fm Dick Ewing. your next door
neighbor," he explained as he made
her bit more comforta BILE by propping
her up abraham is our gardener, you
know he continued, land saw you
at the wedding You seem to have for
gotten me. How's your head, eh?''
Eleanor had known Dick Ewing
when she was a child. The last time
they had met he had called "tomboy'
at her as she climbed over the fence
which divided the Ewing place from
/ w
been sent to Germany at the behest O
a wealthy uncle.
He seemed to divine her thoughts.
81 got back the other day-just IL
time for the wedding" and he laughed
an infectious laugh. ''But this line o
conversation is not getting you home
don't know just how to do it,. dom
suppose there's sober darby this sid
of the Mason and Dixon line-all a
the wedding drinking Wright cider
Your wagon is smashed. Oh, l say
couldn't you sit my horse, and I'll wal
alongside? We're most there, 20
know"
He inspired confidence. Eleanor gait
cred up her torn skirt and with Dick
assistance mounted the horse. On th
way home the time was spent in eA
planatons He had much to tell @
student life in Germany. Now a flu
fledged doctor, he had come home
practice in the south. Her tale wa
more simple an uneventful life 9
home. with Roxanna always guardin
her.
81 just don't know how I'll ever sc
| |
along without her. DO you know,
seldom even put a hairpin in my hair:
said Eleanor. With a helpless, appea
ing expression that touched Dick
heart as if some tragedy had overtake
her.
"Dont you talk l expect the f;
nous gardens of the Ewing estate ca
now go to rack and ruin, for Abraham
will be home making love instead {
welding the hoe" said Dick in ma
culine attempt at sympathy.
= Eleanor was safely deposited on I'll
front porch, with her mother almo
hysterical in gratitude to their neig
Dor.
81 may come again, please?" he sa
as he extended his hand to EleaaO
provided, of course that ! don't Ia,
to take hand at the garden" he ad
ed, with some sarcasm
ooh do come oyeru' cordially asscn