The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1908-05-20
A Question Of
Home Economics.
nv u IIJnIIIM LEE.
BY }. LUDLUM LEE.
Copyrighted, 1908, by Associated
Literary Press.

My country, right OF wrong, put
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 aud every
stick and stone ON 1t. 1t was hers by
right of inheritance, and she would
leave 1t 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 1t seemed as IL q
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 Mt the door.
No groom attended her, for all the
darkies on the place had been given
u holiday that they, too, might attend
the wedding. She drove down the ia
miliar lane to the cabin In the woods,
where hundreds of darkies had con-
gregated. Only one other white per
son was in sight, a 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 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 aud de-
seconded with the aid of many black
hands The tall youth stayed on his
horse and took up u stand near the
front door. Arm la 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.
Ell 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 babyhood.
Then, blinded by tears, she jumped
into her little runabout and started
for home.
Cheers and halleluliahs rang upon
the air Bright bandannas were flung
high, and hickory sticks wavered in
circles. After twenty years of persist
ent courtshlp Roxanna 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
u 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 into
those of the youth who had attended
the wedding.
I'm Dick Ewing, your next dooi
neighbour" he explained as he made
her bit more comfortable by proppine
her up. abraham Is our gardener, you
| know" he continued, land | saw you
ut the wedding. You seem to have for.
| gotten me. How's your head, eh?"
Eleanor had known Dick Ewing
when she was 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
the Wright plantation. Then lie had
been sent to Germany at the behest of
wealthy uncle.
He seemed TO divine her thoughts.
Il got back the other day-just In
time for the wedding" and he laughed
an infectious laugh But this line of
conversation Is not getting you home.
don't know just how to do it. l don't
suppose there's a sober darky this side
of the Mason and Dixon line-all at
the wedding drinking Wright cider.
Your wagon Is smashed. Oh, l say,
couldn't you sit my horse, and I'll walk
alongside? We're most there, you
know"
He inspired confidence. Eleanor gath
cred up her torn skirt and with Dicks
assistance mounted the horse. On the
way home the time was spent In ex-
plantations. He had much to tell of
student life In Germany. Now full
f1edged doctor, he had come home to
practice in the south. Her tale was
more simple. an uneventful life at
home, with Roxanna always guarding
her.
II just don't know how III ever get
along without her Do you know,
seldom even put a hairpin in my halri'
said Eleanor, with helpless, appeal
ing expression that touched Dick s
heart as If some tragedy had overtaken
her.
Don't you talk. l expect the ia
now go to rack and ruin. for Abraham
Will be home making love instead OF
welding the hoe" said Dick In a mas
cullne attempt at sympathy.
Eleanor was safely deposited on the
front porch, with her mother almost
hysterical in gratitude to their neigh
Dor.
Il may come again, please" he said
as he extended his hand to Eleanor.
Provided. of course, that ! don't have
to take a hand at the garden" he add
ed, with some sarcasm.
"Oh, do come over" cordially assent
ed Eleanor. II shall probably be all
pinned up the back and wearing my
hair In pgtail, because without Rox.
anna-well, come over and see for your
SELF
Dick was very busy the next day ow-
ing to the promotion of the second man
as Oyerseer during Abraham's honey
moon. The underservants resented his
authority, and Dick was at his Wits
end to mollify them, assuring them that
Abraham would be back In a few
days and peace would once more reign.
Mrs. Ewing wept and said it served
Dick right. He ought not to have al
lowed the gardener to marry. The Sec
ond morning things were at stand
still all over the place. None Of the
darkies would work at all, and Dick
jumped on his horse and rode down to
the cabin where the bride and groom