The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1920-04-01
SAY IT
BY IRENE WALKER.
.w. 1920. by Mcclure Newspaper syndi,


.G. 1921. by Mcclure Newspaper SyndicAts.)
Lorenzo drove slowly homeward in
the late August afternoon, oblivious to
the flood of mellow sunshine pouring
down, to the shifting breeze, blowing
cool from the lakes, orr warm and
sweet from the sun-baked pines on the
hills. In the brief address which had
marked the close of Bethel's first cele-
bration of "old home week." the old
man had had q curious sensation Of
being personally a%rraigned and, as he
logged along the familiar homeward
road, letting the aged mare take her
own %leisurely gait, unwonted emotions
had begun. to stir within his breast.
I'VE permit our tender emotions to
gradually CONCEAL to a point where
only death or disaster is able to thaw
them out. Many Il husband who re-
CARDS himself as miserably yoked to d
mistit mate wQald speedily discover,
were he to set about counting 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 had
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 Il 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 a few 'tentions."
The Chapman homestead was q mile
from the village church, which, for a
lifetime, it had been their custom to
attend. Martha always rode with her
husband to "the meeting house." but it
had been Lorenzo's habit, for years, to
drive back home as soon as "the MORN
Ing preaching" was over, leaving her to
participate in the Sunday school SER
vice, in which she had been Il teacher
from girlhood, and make her way back
as best she could. Although not an I'M
common arrangement in the neighbor-
hood. it was one which, although
proudly self-containeG Martha had
never mentioned to Lorenzo, she had
bitterly resented from the first. On,
the Sunday following cold 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-
tanned 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, on
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, bein' as Pm 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 up
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:
II wish Reno would come after me
today-I've 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 %preoccupied that, more
than once, the members of her class
Of h%alf-grown girls stared at her in
open wonder. AS she made her way
to the door, her heart beat fast and
the blood surged to her head, in a
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
down her cheeks. =
"Tm sure, 'Renzo," she sobbed, tits
very goo6of you to come arter me in
the rain, like this"
""Why, Marthy! Why, Marthy !" he
gasped, again and again, like n dunn
founded. II hadn't no idea you cared
so much about footin' it."
"Why, Reno, it isn't that at all but
it makes me so-so-happy to think t
you care 'nough bout me to come for
me-"
Lorenzo climbed out of his buggy.
He put his arm awkardly around his
wife, and patted her heaving shoulders.
"You poor creature, you! You poor
creature" he repeated, with quivering
1HSn NAK~~kI,, 49, w.