Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-03-24
A Romance of the Border

tic VI q people 10
MIN than the returns in money,
though he owned TO himself that this
money would play an important part
in matter nearest to his heart.
So he hurried back, when his work
at the State House was finished, to
Attegat and to Evangeline. And
again. as he had confessed to himself
once on the long road, he knew that
his eagerness to be gone his ardor OF
haste, his longing to be once more in
the north, were inspired by the girl
who was waiting up there for her
lover!
THE GIFTS IN THE LAP OF JUNE
1uNE came to Attegat once more,
y swinging her censers of purple
haze above the domed hills and over
the twinkling river.
June laughed that year. June rioted
In masses Of herbage on the alluviaI
meadows where the floods had dump
ed the rich new soil. The people or
the border laughed. too, for joy had
neen born out of sorrow, good fortune
out of tribulation.
Patiently, Justly, sympathetically
three earnest men were distributing
the lands to the settlers; and Norman
Aldrich was that one Of the three who
was most exalted in the minds Of a
thankful people.
On the hill which dominated the vii
lage of Attegat hammers changed and
saws rasped from dawn till dusk, for
the big school was rising from it's
ashes again, more spacious than be.
fore. I
The merry music Of that industry
came in at the open windows Of Ma
dame Ouillette's cottage, and the cray
on portrait of the deceased Monsieur
Outlet grinned most amiably. But IL
departed spirits can, as the widow Of
Monsieur Ouillette so fondly believed,
show delight through the agency OF
their portraits, it is not at all probable
that he was rejoicing that day over
the diligence of carpenters. There
must be more heart-interest in matters
which can draw the attention OF Il
spirit from affairs of paradise to
things Of earth.
There was heart.interest that day
in the cottage where the portrait
smiled.
There was subdued hustle in the
home Of Madame Ouillette - quiet,
happy hustle. Only two were there.
the madame and Evangeline Beaulieu.
"Yes. the kitchen and the little bed
room are enough for me-" sighed Ma
dame Ouillette, surveying her work OF
removal of her belongings, examining
with glstening eyes the new furnish
| ings which had taken the place of
her own plain household goods. For
I shall not marry. Mam'selle. That n
settled! He has frowned many times
| when l have been tempted. You may
see how happy he seems now-that |
have given up the thought forever
yes" admitted Evangeline, her
cheeks rosy, "he has a wonderfully
happy look Everybody seems to be
happy today"
"Ah, Mam'selle," returned the ma.
dame. archly, when love has scrubbed
| the looking-glass of life all SO clean
and bright. and you look into 1t on
your wedding day with a smile, surely
| the world must smile back!"
She came to the blushing girl, put
her motherly arms about her and led
her toward the door.
You shall go into the garden now
and sit and dream, for the dreams OF
the wedding day are the sweetest
dreams of all life. My hands shall do
will be my happiness, Mam'selle. You
shall cut the roses and lay them in
this basket so that they may be ready
when l come to the last task. for you
shall come in tonight from under the
stars to rest under the roses"
Love makes poesy blossom in the
plainest life: Madame Ouillette felt
/ the influence of it, and her Acadian
nature voiced that poesy as best she
could
Evangeline, in the garden, felt IL
more deeply and did not attempt to
voice 1t. -. ~,
| CONTINUED TOMORROW