The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-04-23
THE EVENING STORY
A Question OF Homo Economies.


my country" murmured Eleanor
Wright with great satisfaction as she
gazed through the open window at the
apple trees laden with gorgeous bios
SONS She loved the place and every |
SUCK ana stone on 1t. It was hers by |
right OF inheritance, and she would
leave 1t for no man.
True, her old nurse Roxanna had for |
saken her to become the bride of Abra- |
nam, the head gardener on the ad5oin-
Ing estate, and it seemed as If land |
marx 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.
Sne 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 familiar lane to the cabin in the |
woods. where hundreds OF darkies had
congregated. Only one other white |
person was in sight, a tall 1.-THE youth |
aStr1de roam horse.
Most Of the colored men wore white |
ried canes of crooked old birch and |
| hickory. The women were 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 a stand near the
front door Arm in arm the bride and
groom came from the house, and UNI
| der the old apple tree at the side of
| the cabin the most famous colored
| preacher in the south made them man
and wife Eleanor shook the groom
by the hand and told him to guard
well his precious helpmate. She kissed
| the black face Of Roxanna, who had
been her constant attendant since ba-
jumped into hefA little runabout and
started for home.
Cheers and hallelujahs rang upon the
air. Bright bandannas were flung high
| and hickory sticks waved in circles.
After 20 years of persistent courtship
ROsanna 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 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 swaying with it. Down the
road. past pink orchards and green
fields. swaying. swaying-and then
black nothing.
i She opened her eyes to gaze into
those Of the youth who had attended
the wedding.
I'm Dick Ewing, your next door
neighbor, he explained, as he made
her bit more comfortable by propping
her up. abraham is our gardener,
you know" he continued, land I saw
you at the wedding. You seem to have
forgotten me. How's your head, eh?"
Il Eleanor had known Dick Ewing when
she was a child The last time they
her she climbed over the fence
which divided the Ewing place from
the Wright plantation. Then he had
been sent to Germany at the behest
~ yp0 INV vnSVlo
/ He seemed to divine her thoughts.
IT got back the other day-just in
time for the wedding" and he laugh
ed an infectious laugh. But this line
home. I don't know just how to do
it. I don't suppose there's a sober
darby this side Of the Mason and
Dixon nne-an at the wedding drink
smashed-oh. say, couldn't you sit
my horse and I'll walk alongside?
We're most there, you know
He INSPIRED confidence. Eleanor
gathered up her torn skirt and with
Dicks assistance mounted the horse.
On the way home the time was spent
in explanations. He had much to tell
i Of student life In Germany. Now a
, fullfedged doctor, he had come home
/ to practice in the south. Her tale was
, more simple; an uneventfu1 life at
home with Roxanna always guarding
her.
, II just don't know how I'll ever get
along without her. Do you know, I
seldom even put put hairpin in my
hair?" said Eleanor, with helpless.
appealing expression that touched
!, Dicks heart as If some tragedy had
overtaken her.
Don't you talk. expect the fam
Gus gardens Of the Ewing estate can
now go to rack and ruin. for Abraham
will be home making love instead of
welding the hoe," said Dick in a mas
. OF nj OF INV
! Eleanor was safely deposited on the
front porch, with her mother almost
: hysterical in gratitude to their neigh
> Dor.
r IT may come again, please?" he said
as he extended his hand to Eleanor.
providing, of course, that I don't
t have to take hand at the garden
! he added with some sarcasm.
: "Oh, do come over" cordially as
Y scented Eleanor. ct shall probably be
: all pinned up the back and wearing
my hair in a pigtail. because without
Roxana-well. come over and see for
yourself"
Dick was very busy the next day
f owing to the promotion OF the second
g man as overseer during Abraham
a honeymoon. The under servants re-
}. scented his authority and Dick was at
: his wits end to mollify them, assur-
h ing them that Abraham would be
8 back in a few days, and peace would
: once more reign. Mrs. Ewing wept
t and said it served Dick right. He
= ought not to have allowed the garden
}, err to marry. The second morning
It things were at standstill all over
I the place. None of the darkies would
e work at all, and Dick jumped on HIS
q horse and rode down to the cabin
. where the bride and groom were 'just
2 restin'" as a bridal trip.
when did you think Of coming
!. back, Abraham" asked Dick as the
q tall figure of the negro appeared at
4 the door.
\ "Mistah Dick, I just been arguin'
a with Roxanna. She say I should go