The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1908-06-10
A Question Of
Home Economics.
BY J. LUDLUM LEE.
Copyrighted. zoos. 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 aud 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, Roxanna, had
forsaken her to become the bride of
Abraham, the head gardener on the
adjoining estate, and 1t seemed as If a
landmark had been torn up by the very
roots. One must learn to part with
landmarks, 50 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 darkies had con-
gregated. Only one other white per
|
son was in sight. tall, 1.-THE youth
astride q 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 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 coored preach
er 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 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 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.
I'm Dick Ewing, your next door
neighbour" he explained as he made
her bit more comfortable by propping
her up. abraham is our gardener, you
know" he continued. land l 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
the Wright plantation. Then he had
| been sent to Germany at the behest Of
wealthy uncle.
! He seemed to divine her thoughts.
81 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. | don't
suppose there's sober darby this side
Of the Mason and Dixon line-all at
the wedding drinking Wright cider.
Your wagon is smashed. Oh, | 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 a full
hedged doctor, he had come home &c
practice In the south. Her tale was
more simple. an uneventful life al
home. with Roxanna always guarding
her.
81 just don't know how I'll ever ge
along without her. Do you know,
seldom even put hairpin in my hail? 2
/ said Eleanor. with "a helpless, appeal
ing expression that touched Dick
I heart as if some tragedy had oyertakel
her.
1 Don't you talk. expect the "a
J nous gardens of the Ewing estate cal
I now go to rack and ruin, for Abraham
\ will be home making love instead o
\ welding the hoe" said Dick in a mas
| cullne attempt at sympathy.
! Eleanor was safely deposited on tn
| front porch, with her mother almos
/ hysterical in gratitude to their neigh
III Dor. -.