Hopkinsville Kentuckian., 1917-11-27
ROMESICK
BY HiLoA MORRIS.

Christine had come TO Suliville from
the city TO be a substitute teacher In
the township high school. She had
been there only a month, but already
the country air had begun TO work
wonders with her pale cheeks and hol-
low eyes.
"If only II weren't so lonesome !"
she thought, as she walked a country
road one bright, windy Saturday af-
ternOOn. But Just then she heard
some one calling.
eli therei" a mans voice shouted.
"HI there, Miss Grayr
II was Richard Harding. greetingI
her in the local fashion. Christlne
stood and waited as he came stridingl
toward her, a fine, strapping young
man, clad in farmers overalls and a
flannel shirt.
"Are you taking a walk7" he asked
as he caught up with her. His voice
had the easy modulations Of an edu-
Gated man. He was a graduate Of an
eastern college.
"Yes, I'm going through your ceme-
terry. It's so quaint I'm only used
to crowded city cemeteries that reach
for blocks and blocks. Tell me, are all
the people in this town related?" /
Richard laughed. "very nearly. The
Bullits are related to the EInmets and
the Emmetts to the HardlngS and the
Hardings to the Bullits again. We're
all kin somehow"
"All but me-" said the girl laugh
Ing a little wistfully. ut must seem
queer to have so many relations"
Richard did not appear to have
heard her remark. He was looking
ahead at the big square REQ brick
farmhouse where he lived with his
mother and sister His mother, a sun
bonnet on her head, was cutting tul-
lips from the rows, that bordered the
garden walk. She Strengthened up as
| they approached, and came to the gate.
"HOwdy!" she said cordially. "It's
right cool for an April day, isn't lit
Have you been walking, Miss Grayi
Well, do come In and have a cup Of
tea. made some cinnamon cakes this
morning that must be eaten"
Christine hesitated.
'Tt isn't five o'clock yet" said Mrs.
Harding, royalty sweeping aside the
girls unspOken objections. Richard
was holding the gate open, so almost
before she knew 1t Christine found her
self In the big square sitting-room OF
the Harding homestead.
She had not been in a private home
of this size for years and years, not
since her childhood days and before
long arid years of furnished rooms.
The house gave her rather an awesome
impression of vastness and elegance.
1t had been solldly built for posterity
by u forebear from New England. It's
furniture was mid-VictOrian.
"Have you always lived in the city?"
Miss LOttie Harding asked in her tim'I
voice. Miss LOttie was an "Old maid"
who spent her years in making endless
yards of tatting.
"Since l was two" said Christine.
"Are your parents llving?" pursued
Miss Lottie, to whom family was ones
most interesting attribute.
mo" answered Christine.
This put Il sOmber period on thel
conversation, broken only when Mrs
Harding brought in the tea.
In spite of herself the girl presently
began to feel the hOmelike warmth
of the place. When she left stepplngI
out into the damp spring dusk, ID
seemed as though the chill wind struck
her with redOubled force. She shiVl
cred, and hurried back to her dlngy'
room In the village hotel.
The next day Christine met Richard
Harding on the corner by the post Of
fice.
"Can't you take a drive?" he called
eagerly. "My teams just over yon-
der"
The girl perked her pretty head as
though considering.
"Why, perhaps" she conceded, 'fOr
little while"
Presently they were riding OFF down
winding road bordered with dog
wood and the picturesque Towering
Judas tree.
"rm going home next week." she
announced, as calmly as though her
heart were not beating furiOusly.
Homer? he querled.
Back to the city, where 1t isn't so
lonesome. 1 only came to substitute
for a month, anyway, and I'm not
used to the country. It's too quiet
for me-"
II suppose It ls," Richard assented.
letting the relns drop loosely. ~ sup.
| pose You couldn't stand IL here. But
I've something to ask you. Christine.
II I should be willing to come to the
city and live your way-give up this
quiet country life-would you marry
me. ChrlstineT
leave here" cried the girl incredu-
lous. "Why. Richard. IL like you
best here. You belong here. oh. Rich