The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1908-05-29
A Question Of
Home Economics.
By j. LUDLUM LEE.
Copyrighted. 1908. by Associated
Literary Press.

MY country, right or wrong, but
still 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
stick and stone on it. It was hers by
right of inheritance, and she would
leave it for no man.
True, her old nurse, Roxanna, had
forsaken her to become the bride OF
Abraham, the head gardener on the
adjoining estate, and it seemed as IL a
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
niliar lane to the cabin in the woods,
where hundreds of darkies had con-
gregated. Only one other white per-
son was in sight, tall, 1.-the youth
astride a roam horse.
Most of the colored men wore white
linen suits, Immediately clean, and
carried 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 under
the old apple tree at the side Of the
cabin the most famous colored preach
err in the south made them man and
wife Eleanor shook the groom by the
hand and told him to guard well bis
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 haIleluliahs rang upon
the air. Bright bandannas were flung
high, and hickory sticks wavered in
circles. After twenty years of persist
ent courtship Roxanna and Abraham
were married! Eleanor turned to look
back at the happy throng, and her
horse SHE'D.
She was a good little horsewoman
and took firm grip on the reins, but
too latei 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 pinl
orchards and green fields, swaying
swaying-and then black nothing.
She opened her eyes to gaze int
those of the youth who had attended
the wedding.
'Tm Dick Ewing, your next doc,
neighbor," he explained as he made
her a bit more comfortable by proppinl
her up. abraham is our gardener, yoI
know" he continued, land saw yoI
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 tim,
they had met he had called ''tomboy'
at her as she climbed over the fenc,
which divided the Ewing place from
the Wright plantation. Then he hat
been sent to Germany at the behest O
a wealthy uncle.
He seemed to divine her thoughts.
IT got back the other day-just 4
time for the wedding" and he laughe,
an infectious laugh. 'sBut this line o
conversation is not getting you home
/ don't know just how to do it. dom
suppose there's a sober darby this sid
of the Mason and Dixon line-all a
the wedding drinking Wright cider
Your wagon is smashed. Oh, 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 tn
way home the time was spent in e1
plantations. He had much to tell o
/ student lie ANOW q LIZ
1edged doctor, he had come home t
practice in the south. Her tale wa
more simple, an uneventful life q
home. with Roxanna always guardin
her
81 just don't know how I'll -er &c
along without her. Do you k
seldom even put hairpin in my hair:
said Eleanor, with a helpless, appea
ing expression that touched Dick
heart as if some tragedy had overtake
her
Don't you talk | expect the {:
! nous gardens Of the Ewing estate ca
I now go to rack and ruin, for Abraham
will be home making love instead
welding the hoe" said Dick in a ma
: culine attempt at sympathy.
/ Eleanor was safely deposited on til
: front porch, with her mother almo:
Aysterical in gratitude to their neigl
Dor.
II may come again, please?" he sal
\ L. = l. ~