The Jasper news. [volume] (Jasper, Missouri) 1898-1924, 1919-05-15

breath of the meadows. The daisies
and the clover and the cornhowers
and the wild roses seemed to be wav-
Ing welcome to me, and the thorn
trees-shapely ornament Of my native
hills--were in blossom. A cloud OF 4
pigeons swept across the blue deep
nbove my head. The great choir OF
the fields sang to me--bobollnks, Bong-
sparrows, meadowlarks, bluebirds,
warblers, wrens. and far away In the
| edge of spruce thlcket I heard the
flute Of the white-throated sparrow.
| bathed at brook In the woods
and put on a clean silk shirt and tie
out of my saddlebags. I rode slowly
then to the edge of the village Of Can
ton and turned at the bridge and tool
the river road, although had time te
spare. How my heart was beating aG
neared the familiar scenei The
river slowed Its pace there, like a dis
corning traveller, to enjoy the beauty
of its shores. Smooth and silent was
the water and In It were the blue of
the sky and the featlcry shndow-spirea
Of cedar and tamarack and the reflect.
ed blossoms of iris and meadow rue
1t was lovely scene.
There was the pine, but where was
my ladyf dismounted and tied my
mare and looked at my watch. II
lacked twenty minutes to eleven. She
would come-I had no doubt o, Al.
washed my hands and face and neck
in the cool water. Suddenly I heard
voice knew singing: Barney
Leave the Girls Alone" turned and
saviour mother, my son. (These
last lines were dictated to his son.)
She wns in the stern of birch canoe,
all dressed in white with roses in her
hair. raised my hat and she threw
q kiss at me. Old Kate sat In the bow
waving her handkerchief. They
stopped and Sally asked In tone Of
playful seriousness:
young man, why have you come
hereF
ITO get you" I answered.
"What do you want Of me-" She
was looking ut her face in the water.
~ want to marry you," l answered
bravely.
"Then you may help me ashore IL
you please. am in my best, white
slippers and you are to be very care
full"
Beautiful She was the spirit Of
the fields of June then and always.
helped her ashore and held her In
my arms and. you know, the lips have
q way of speaking then In the old, con-
vincing, final argument Of love. They
left no doubt In our hearts. my son.
"When do you wish to marry meT
she whispered.
"As soon ms possible. hut my pay In
only sixty dollars q month now"
1--WE shall make 1t do," she an
swered. my mother and father and
your aunt and uncle and the 'Hackets
and the minister and number Of our
friends are coming In u fleet Of boats"
1--WE are prepared either for picnic
or q wedding" was the whisper of
Kate.
Lets make 1t BOTH" proposed to
Sally.
"Surely there couldn't be a better
place than here under the big pine
IFS SO smooth and soft and shady"
said she.
"Nor could there be better day or
, better company" urged, for was
, not sure that she would agree.
The bonts came along. Sally and I
waved welcome from the bank and
she merrily proclaimed:
, "It's to be q wedding"
Then q cheer from the boats, In
which Joined.
|, shall never forget how. when the
company had landed and the greetings
were over, Uncle Peabody approached
your mother and said:
: "Say, Sally. I'm goln' to plant a kiss
, on both o. them red cheeks O. yours.
an do It deliberate. too"
: He did 1t and so did Aunt Deel and
: old Kate, and think that, next to
your mother and me. they were the
happiest people at the wedding.
There is a lonely grave up In the
hills-that of the stranger who died
. long ago on Rattleroad. One day
found old Kate sitting beside 1t and on
stone lately erected there was the
. name, Enoch Rome.
"It is very sorrowful." she whis
pered. "He was trying to nnd me
when he died."
= We walked on In silence while re
e called the circumstances. How strange
y that those tales Of blood and lawlesi
daring which Kate had given to Amos
. Grlmshaw had led to the Staying Of
her own sonl Yet, SO 1t happened
0 and the old wives will tell you the