The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1909-12-21
TRANSPLANTED
HEARTS=EASE


had she been told the story Of his
heartache, she might not have sus
pected that it was her own golden
hair which framed the face so dear
to big, patient Eben Buker.
When Faith came to the city four
years before, poor little stranger
Eben helped her to find situation
It was hard to be poor and old and
yet love 80 young and fair girl Had
he possessed great wealth she might
have forgotten the barrier which Time
had placed between them. AS it was
-Eben sighed deeply and began to
dig more vigorously about the small
plants which were his share of the
garden plot belonging to the Home.
stead boarders.
"Still trying to make your hearts
ease grow?" 1t was Faiths merry
greeting.
"Yes, you shall have blossom be-
fore long" Eben cried as be arose to
welcome her.
But / shant be needing any"
Faith made answer lightly, and Eben
saw that her face was radiant with
some new-found joy.
Such wonderful thing has hap
| pened, Eben! You never could guess.
so I must tell you what it is. Aunt
Martha has promised me her beautiful
home in the country If l will go and
live there with her. Such lovely
flowers as grow in her garden Isn't
it truly wonderful that it will all be
mine some day? Do say you are
glad"
For a moment Eben was silent,
stunned by the thought Of losing
Faith. When he: spoke. his cheerful.
ness was forced.i
"Of course am glad he said. then
added with tender solicitude: But you
will be lonely in the country. You will
miss the cit' sights and sounds. Per.
haps you may miss the Homestead?"
Eben's voice was very wistful, but
Faith only laughed.
What part of the Homestead, pray?
The pea soup, which is eternal; the
stuffy rooms, the crooked stairs-Oh.
no! l shall not miss the Homestead.
It would be very ungrateful when
shall have so beautiful place of my
own"
81 suppose So" Eben spoke very
sadly Had not Faith said she should
not miss the Homestead. Of which he
was part?
"You do not seem at all glad." 1t
was Faiths reproach which aroused
Eben to set aside his bitter reflections
and to discuss with enthusiasm the
bright prospects before his little
friend.
There would be time enough to
enough! Were days ever SO long as
those which followed Faiths depar-
ture?
1t seemed to Eben as il he never
could plod on alone in the same old
path. To make his desolatton even
more complete. the very day that
Faith went away some rude street
urchin so Eben supposed, scaled the
wall which separated the Homestead
garden from the street. and stole the
precious heart's-ease plants over
which he'had worked so long. He'had
hoped some time to have few flow.
ers to ozer Faith, but now that Faith
was not there, he had 'not the heart
to buy fresh plants. so even the pleas.
ure of working in the garden after
day Of confining toll was no longer his
He realized every day that youth
was flying farther from him, and now
there was no sweet voice to bid 1t
stay.
He was in this disconsolate frame
of mind when letter from Faith
reached him one morning asking him
to visit her in her new home. Eager
for a sight OF her, he needed no sec.
ond bidding. but started at once for
the quiet country town where she now
lived.
1t was long journey, and the west
ern sky was already aflame with the
sunset GS W uCu houhu A'iASNA
walking with Faith through the beau
tiful garden.
So soft were the breezes that blew
about him, so sweet the fower-scented
air, so fair the girl at his side, that
he felt that he must be in a land OF
enchantment.
When Faith had won sufficient
praise for the stately gladtolas. the
old-fashioned hollyhocks and the sweet
meas that seemed to have borrowed
every tint of the rainbow, then she
led Eben to the old elm which grew
by the gateway.
"See!" she cried, pointing to small
purple flower that nestled beneath the
shade of the tree.
Hearts easel" Eben exclaimed.
"Yes. your heart's-ease. Eben. stole
IL It seemed so like q part of you.
You had cared for 1t so long. See!
1t has blossomed!" and she glanced
up shyly into his face.
The look meant much. but Eben's
ewes wer. ON the small blossoms at
his feet
"You do not mean that you cared
for the heart's-ease because IT was
mine" he said. slowly, while hope
dawned in his eyes. that had been sad
SO long.
Yes, said should not miss the
Homestead. but | never said should
not miss -you." and Faiths pretty
bead drooDed very low