The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-03-08

The horses plodded on, dragging tn
heavy pillow slowly through the DIR
earth. So intense was the heat tina
as the keen ploughShare. turned tn
damp soil TO the sun II dried almOs
instantly, and as an occasional gus
OF wtnd swept the field, thin clout
of dust arose in tiny whiTa winds. Be
hind the pillow, with hands Tight.
clenching the handles and the rein
of the harness hanging loosely owe
his shoulders, walked a man. 4
broad. dilapadated straw hat shaded
his face from the sun, and as ht
stumbled on over the furrow his
stopped shoulders and bent head pre-
scented a pitiful appearance. Get up,
he nrarmured. urAconsciOusly. to the
team. When the horses reached the
end of the flTrow they swung abou'
instmctively and without guidance I'm
tA1 they reached a Wdde-spreadln g
tree. The man straightened up and
cried: Whoa, whoa there!"
He leaned against the pillow and
drawing a handkerchief from his
pocket wiped hts face and neck Gee
but IT'S hot today. Wish it'd rain" he
complained. He threw himself down
upon the plot of grass beneath the
tree and lay there looking up into the
Sky through the leafy boughs of the
elm. The song Of a wren perched
high above him reached his ear ana
he listened contentedly to the triHing
notes.
Amt you a little thing to be so
happy Wish you'd change places with
ms a while. No, don't either; you're
too happy, Poor. little thing, keep on
singing. Wish Jane could hear you.
She'd -Ike'it Wonder what she's doing
now-2''
He half closed his eyes, the gentle
music OF the summer day grooming
him to sleep. The clear notes Of the
sangster in the tree intermingled with
the faint sigh of the wind and the
happy buzz of the honey-ladened bee
filed his heart with drowsy peace
aud eententment- Suddenly from afar
came family the sGlnh of girls trill
He Saafted' and aTese to his feet, his
face lighting with pleasure. There
she Is, 1&eTB she Is, he cried, waving
his hafalserchiH. A few moments
later saS7$6uHg Woman appeared carry
ing iDehair hand a. pewter pitcher.
"AAs ainT7dt fhet ?" She began. =
brought you some milk that l just
drew ttam wpere tt'had been hanging
In abs weil. It's real good and cold.
Ny, that's snfce of you. Jane" he
u. 1
as / denA know What" He took the |
pitcher and. raising 1t to his lips.
drank :. EEeWly. Much obliged" he
gasped "Weast you have some?"
Ne, I had some down at the house. |
Ny, it's hot" She sank down apon |
the grass and began fanaing herself
with her sun-bonnet- There WAS ST. |
ence fer a few moments, and then he
asked, tiIn1dly: How'd you happen |
10 be able to bring it to me, Jane |
Pa and ma went to town and I was
all alone. l. drought may be yeuta
be Thirsty. / always bring pa cold |
milk ylenshgd blowing" ...-=--
Web, tat's your Pc; amt no
citation to you-yet," he added, under
lis breath.
The girl bowed her head and
,lDc&ed frrtvely at the tufts OF grass
vtthih reach without speaking.
Jane. 1 got that forty down 2ear e
Weldon ssGhat was talking about the
.ther day
I'm so glad, John"
Are you, hpnest?'' His eyes shone
IS he asked the question. Yes" he
vent ON, eagerly, and when fall
ounes I'll ThAve money enoughi0o build
n 1t. Wont be much. of house, but
tn be home"
Twilight had come; the early glow
4 ntghcf8ll lighted dimly the yard,
nd a huge elm tree doomed up black
gaanstl TIE sky. A cool breeze famed
he leaves upon the tree and cooled
he earth dry and parched from the
eat OF the day. Farther down the
ard q cotton wood rustied and sigh
d apd, groaned in response to the gen
le touch OF the wind The moon
ouId be seen, dull and yellow, rising
bore the horizon and there was a
estfu silence over all. deepened and
coenttated. 1t seemed. by the shriuI
all OF the katydid, the buzz OF the