The Snowflake herald., 1920-04-23
SAY 1T
BY IRENE WALKER.
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" lS1O' Dy Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate

N0"h' 10 the shifting breeze BLOWING
! cool from the lakes, or warm and
sweet from the sun-baked pines on the
hiils. In the brief address which had
/ marked the close Of BethePs first cele-
Dfation Of "old home week" the old
man had had curious sensation of
Delng personally arraigned and. as he
I logged along the familiar homeward
road, letting the aged mare take her
own lelsurely gait, unwonted emotions
had begun to stir within his breast.
We permit our tender emotions to
gradually CONCEAL to a point where
only death or disaster is able to thaw
them out. Many husband who re-
CARDS himself as miserably yoked to
mlsllt mate would speedily discover,
were he to set about cOurting his wife
over again, that he is welded to one
of the sweetest women in the world,
These were the compelling words of
the distinguished statesman that haG
inspired a train of thought which the
Old man found it impossible to dismiss.
Bethel had never been "a kissing
community"
The words of the lecturer had
aroused Lorenzo to a full realization
OF situation which he had, hereto
fore but vaguely sensed and as the
mare turned unguided into the home
lane, he had fully resolved to "jest
show Marthy few 'tentions."
The Chapman homestead was a mile
from the village church. which, for
lifetime, it had been their custom to
attend. Martha always rode with her
husband to "the meeting house" but it
had been Lorenzos habit, for years, 30
drive back home as soon as ''the morn
ing preaching was over leaving her to
participate in the Sunday school ser
vice, i'm which she had been a teacher
from girlhood, and make her way back
as best she could Although not an un-
common arrangement in the neighbor
hood, 1t was one which, although
proudly self-containeG Martha had
never mentioned to Lorenzo, she had
bitterly resented from the first On
the Sunday following "old home week"
when she came out Of the church at
the close of the Sunday school she
found Lorenzo with horse and buggy
drawn up by the horse block.
Wondering vaguely what had de
tained him. but never suspecting for an
instant that she had anything to do
with his presence there, Martha, from
mere force of habit, started on, or
foot as usual.
Lorenzo called out after her.
"Marthy, hi there! You'd better
climb up-it's as cheap to ride as to
foot it. ben' as I'm goin' your way
She climbed up. Her demeanor GER
tainly offered little encouragement to
gallantry but, having made up his
mind to it, Lorenzo was resolved not
= TO abandon the theory with a single
test: therefore. when his wife came
out of church the following Sunday.
after Sunday school, she again found
Lorenzo's horse and buggy drawn vi
beside the horse block.
The following Sunday, as Martha
washed the breakfast dishes, she
looked out upon steadily falling rain.
No mere wetting kept the church going
Bethelite from morning preaching, but
she said to herself:
Il wish Reno would come after me
today-Tve a great mind to ask him.
But almost in the same breath, she
gave her gray head a defiant toss and
added: "If he don't think 'nough of
me to come thout my askin' him. why
he needn't come, that's ALL"
But all during Sunday school her
manner was so pre0ccupied that, more
than once, the members Of her class
of haIf-grown girls stared at her in
omen wonder As she made her way
to the door, her heart beat fast and
the blood surged to her head, in q
way that made her dizzy and faint
She pressed both hands tight over her
breast before looking toward the horse
block
Yes. Lorenzo was patiently waiting
in the downpouring rain.
Her rebellious heart broke entirely
away from her-the tears streamed
dcwn her cheeks.
I'm sure. 'Renzo," she sobbed its
very good Of you to come arter me ID
the rain, like this"
"Why. Marthy Why, Marthy" he
gasped. again and again, like one dunn
founded. Il hadn't no idea you cared
so much about footin' it,.
'tWhy, Reno, it isn't that at all Dut
If makes me so-so-happy to think |
YOU care 'nough bout me to come for
me-"
Lorenzo climbed out Of his buggy.
He put his arm awkardly around ms
wife. and patted her heaving shoulders
'You poor creature you! You poor
creature !" he repeated, with quiyering
chin. "AIarthy, I see I've mace an
awful botch of our married life but, II
YOU think you can forgive me- III try
to treat you from today as woman
ought to be treated. d you know
Marthy you old precious, you I've
about made up my mind that married
,sra' N'fNxxr