Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1910-01-28
TRANSPLANTED
HEART'S-EASE


s.e-d fnew why Eben Buker's face
was always sad. Even Faith Emery,
the pretty stenogrspher. who sat next
to him at dinner each day, had never
been taken into his confidence, and
had she been told the story Of his
hoartache. 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. a poor little stranger.
Ebou helped her 70 find a situation
It vas hard to be poor and old and
yet love so young and fair a girl. Hal
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.
"stll trying to make your hearts
ease grow?" It was Faiths mo-ry
greeting.
yes, you shall have a blossom be
fore long" Eben cried as he arose tc
welcome her
But / shan't be needing any
Faith made answer lightly, and Ebeu
saw that her face was radiant Wit
some new-found Joy.
Such a wonderful thing has har
pened, Ebeni You never could guess
so l must tell you what it Is. Auni
Martha has promised me her beautifu
home in the country if I will so and
live there with her Such lovcly
flowers as grow in her gsrdeni Isu',
It truly wonderful that it will all b.
mine some day? Do say you arc
glad"
For a moment Eben was silent
stunned by the thought of losing
Faith. When he spoke, his cheerful
aess was forced.
"of course l am glad" he said, ther
added with tender solicitude: "But yor
will be lonely In the country. You viii
miss the city sights and sounds. Per
haps you may miss the Homestead2'
Eben's voice was very wistful, but
Faith only laughed
What part Of the Homestead, pray?
The pea soup. which is eternal: N,
stuffy rooms, the crooked stairs oh
nol I shall not miss the Homestead.
It would be very ungratefui when !
shall have so beautiful q place CT my
own"
q suppose So" Eben spoke vor5
sadly. Had rot Faith said she sho1ld
not miss the Homestead. Of waich he
was a part?
You do not seem at all gladl" Il
was Faiths reproach which aroused
Eben to set aside his bitter reflections
md to discuss with enthusiasm the
bright prospects before his little
friend.
There would be time enough to
mourn when she was gone. Time
enough Were days ever so long aa
those which followed Faiths depar
ture?
1t seemed to Eben as II he neve
could plod on alone in the same old
path. To make his desolation ever,
more complete, the very day thai
Faith went away some rude stree
urchin, so Eben supposed. scaled the 1
wall which separated the Homestead
garden from the street. and stole the I
precious heart's-ease plants over /
which he had worked so long. He hat |
hoped some time to have a few flow /
ers to ozer Faith, but now that Faitl |
was not there, he had not the hear /
to buy fresh plants, so even the pleas /
ure of working in the garden after 2
day Of conining toll was no longer his
He realized every day that youth
was flying farther from him. and nov
there was no sweet voice to bid g
stay.
lie was in this disconsolate frame
Of mind when q letter from Faitf
reached him one morning asking hin I
to visit her in her new home. Foge
for q sight of her, he needed no sec
ond bidding, but started at once fot
the quiet country town where she nov
lived.
It was long journey, and the west
ern sky was already afame with tn,
sunset fires when Eben found himseI
with Faith through the beau
Iiful garden.
So soft were the breezes that blea
about him, so sweet the fower-scentef (
air, so fair the girl at his side. tha' Il
he felt that he must be In 2 land 0
When Faith had won .sumcien
praise for the stately gladiolos. ths
hollyhocks and the swee
peas that seemed to have borrowes
every tint OF the rainbow, then sbt
led Eben to the old elm which grew
by the gateway
"See," she cried, pointing to a small
purple flower that nestled beneath tht
shade Of the tree.
"Heart's-easei" Ebcn exclaimed.
Eyes. your heart's-ease. Eben. I sto't
It. It seemed so like a part Of you
You had cared for It so long. See
L has blossomedi" and she glanced
Up shyly into his face.
The look meant much. but Ebens
eyes we're on the small blossoms q.
lis feet
you do not mean that you cared
lor the he2rt's-ease because IL We.
nine." he said, slowly while ho-
iavned in his eyes. that had been c5
30 long
Yes. l said I should not miss De-
HON Sstead, but / never said / shomt |
not miss you," and Faiths PIE
head droored very low.
Tenderly Eben raised It until he
,ould look into the deep blue eyes
My darling, he whispered. Then:
AT last ! have found my Hearts
Easel" And. his lips pressed Faiths