The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1917-07-20

MIN ana 0caTu Une lalnJ SiHnalHR vi
his bells. 1t was place, that rise by
the corner church on the edge Of the
village, where two others in such case
might have drawn rein to look at
everything stretching before, rhythmic
crest and shallow, and all silent and
waiting. But not these two, injurious
as the gods, naive as the first lovers.
Only, though of this they were I'M
conscious, they saw things little dlf-
ferently that night.
Look" said the girl, with sign
to the lowlands, expressive with lights:
$50 many folks houses-homes, all
started. | s'pose it was just as big a
thing for them. But theirs don't seem
like anything, side Of ours!"
That's so, too" assented Allen:
"And theirs amt anything side OF
ours!" he maintained stoutly.
"No, sir, she agreed, laughing.
Then she grew suddenly grave, and
fell silent for little, her eyes here
and there on the valley lights, while
Allen calculated aloud the time OF the
arrival at Jacobs house.
"Allenl" she said at last.
"Herel" he answered. "Pm here,
you bet"
"Just look at the lights" she said
seriously, land then think. There's
Bess and Opie-not speakin' to each
other. Over there's the Habbelthwalt
farm and they've left for the hotel l.
an Threat Habbelthwait drunk all the
time. An Howells' poor and can't
pay, and don't care if they can't, and
auarrels so folks can hear EN- from the
road. And the Moneys, that's SO
ugly to the children, and Their findin'
fault, and him can't speak without an
oath. That only leaves the Topladys'
over there that's real, regular people.
And she kind o. bosses him"
"Well, now, that's so, amt itY"
said Allen, looking at the lights with
a difference.
Chris right hand was warm in his
great coat pocket, and she suddenly
Struggled close to him, her chin on his
shoulder, 49,,
80, Allen" she said, "Pm afraid /"
"What? On the plank road" he
wanted to know, missing her meaning.
"Al them folks started out with
presents, and house, like us" she
said, "and with their minds all made
up to bein' happy. But Just look at
'em."
"Well," said Allen, reasonably, eve
amt them" -.
eve might get like 'em," she in
sisted. "How can you tell1 Folks
Just do get that way or they Just
don't. How can you tell" =,
~ s'pose that's So amt it?" said
Allen, thoughtfully.
Mothers got picture oil the HUB
belthwaits, when they was married,
Chris pursued. Her in white an
slippers and bracelets, and him slicR
as kittens foot. Think OF her now
Allen, with bracelets. And him drunk
all the time, most. How can you tel
how things'II turn out? o, Allen,
ami I'm afraid"
He bent to her face and laid hi
own against hers, glowing and colC
and with fresh, warm lips.
"Let's just try to be happy and keel
ourselves happy" he said.
The troubled wonder was still II
her face, but at his touch the fears wen
a little away, and the valley light
. being already left behind among tn
echoes of the bells, they forgot bot
, the lights and their shadows AM
, drifted back to talk about the neN
house and the presents and the dinner
and suppers and breakfasts together
, For these were the stuff of which tn
time was made AS it was made, toe
of that shadowy, lowering fear for tn
! future, and the tragic pity OF thel
orrapd and IF sad conjecture about tn