The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1919-06-26

1t was q summer morning TINT short.
ems the road--even that of the young
lover. Its air was sweet with the
breath Of the meadows. The daisies
and the clover and the cornfowers
and the wild roses seemed to be wav-
ing a welcome to me. and the thorn
trees-shapely ornament Of my native
hills--were In blossom, A cloud of
pigeons swept across the blue deep
above my head. The great choir of
the fields sang to me-hobollnks, song
sparrows, meadowiarks, bluebirds,
warblers, wrens. and far away in the
edge Of spruce thicket heard the
flute Of the white-throated sparrow.
| I bathed Mt 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 Mt the bridge and took
the river road, although I had time to
spare. How my heart was beating rs
I neared the familiar scene! The
river slowed Its pace there. like dis
cerning traveller, to enjoy the beauty
of its shores. Smooth and silent was
the water and In 1t were the blue Of
the sky and the feathery shadow-spires
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 lady? I dismounted and tied my
mare and looked at my watch. 1t
lacked twenty minutes to eleven. She
would come-I had no doubt of 1t. I
washed my hands and face and neck
In the cool water. Suddenly I heard
a voice I knew singing: Barney
Leave the Girls Alone" l turned and
saviour mother. my son. (These
last lines were dictated to his son.)
She was In the stern Of birch canoe,
all dressed In white with roses in her
hair. raised my hat and she threw
a 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
herer
ITO get you," answered.
"What do you wa2t Of mef She
was looking ut her face "a tho water.
II want to marry you." I answered
bravely.
"Then you may help me ashore n
you please. I 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 alwayA
helped her ashore and held her In
my arms and. you know. the lips have
d 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 mer'
she whispered.
"As soon as possible. but my pay 4
only sixty dollars month now"
I'VE shall make It do" she an.
swered. my mother and father and
your aunt and uncle and the Hacketl
and the minister and q number Of ouI
I. friends are coming in q feet e Soata' :
1--WE are prepared either for q picnic
or a wedding" was the whisper Of
Kate.
Lets make It BOTH" I proposed te
Sally.
"Surely there couldn't be a better
place than here under the big pine
, It's 30 smooth and s.T. and shady
, said she.
"Nor could there be better day OF
, better company" l urged. for ! wal
not sure that she would agree.
The boats came along. Sally and
: waved welcome from the bank and
, she merrily proclaimed:
TITS to be wedding"
Then q cheer from the boats. II
which Joined.
I shall never forget how. when tn,
. company had landed and the greeting
, were over, Uncle Peabody approached
your mother and said:
; 'Say. Sally, I'm goin' to plant kisl
on both o. them red cheeks o. yours
an do It deliberate. too"
He did It and SO did Aunt Deel and
| old Kate. and think that. next t,
, your mother and me. they were tn,
happiest people at the wedding.
?
There is a lonely grave up in tn,
hills-that Of the stranger who diet
: long ago on Rattleroad. One day
found old Kate sitting beside 1t and OF
u stone lately erected there was tn,
name, Enoch Rome.
, ut Is very sOrrowful," she whis
pered. "He was trying to find mi
when he died."
We walked on In silence while I re
called the circumstances. How strang,
that those tales of blood and lawles
daring which Kate had given to Amo
Grimshaw had led to the Staying O
her own son! Yet, SO It happened
and the old wives will tell you th'
story up there In the hills.
The play ends just as the night 4
falling with Kate and me entering th'
. little home, 30 familiar now, where sh,