The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1921-12-15


among the ferns and mosses in the
cool shade sweetened by the incense
Of burning fagots. over that repast TO
which we shall be returning often for
refreshment IN poorer days. We had
thought OF you and Of the man 10
well beloved Of you and us in all these
plans We shall live In Springfield
80 that we may be near you and him
and our friend, Honest Abe"
II Il long letter presenting minute
details In the history Of that senti-
mental journey and allusion to mat.
tiers which have no part In this record
its substance being fully In the con-
sciousness Of the writer, he tenderly
folds II up and returns II to the pack.
agc--yellow and brittle and faded and
having that curious fragrance Of pa
pers that have lain for scores OF years
In the gloom and silence Of locked
mahogany drawer. SO alive are these
letters with the passion Of youth In
long forgotten years that the writer
ties the old ribbon and returns them
to their tomb with n feeling Of sad
ness. finding a singular pathos In the
contrast Of their look and their con.
tents. They are turning to dust. but
the soul Of them has gone into this
little history.
The young man and woman mounted
their horses and resumed their jour
ney. II was after two O'Clock. The
Grand. Prairie lay ahead Of them. The
settlement 81 Plains End was twenty
one miles away on Its farther side.
They could Just see Its tall oak trees
In the dim distance.
I'VE must hurry. II we get there
before dark" said the girl. "Above
all. we must be careful to keep our
direction. It's easy TO get lost down
In the great prairie"
They heard n cat-bird singing In
n near thicket as they left their camp.
II reminded BIN OF her favorite bal
lad and she sang II with the spirit Of
old:
MY sweetheart, come along
Don't you hear the glad song
As the notes OF the nightingale fowf
Don't you hear the fond tale Of the
sweet nightingale
As she sings In the valleys belowf
As she sings In the valleys belowr
They went on. shoulder-deep In the
tall grass on the lower stretches OF
the prairie. Here and there II gave
Harry the impression that he was
swimming his horse I'm NOISY, vivid
green water" They startled herd
Of deer and number Of wild horses.
When they lost sight OF the woods
nj Plains End the young man, with
his cavalry training. was able to ride
standing on his saddle until he had II
located.
II reminded him Of riding in the
Everglades and he told of his adven-
lures there ms they went on, but very
modestly. lie said not word OF his
heroic fight the day that he and sixty
Of his comrades were cut OF and sur
waters" but BIN had heard the story
from other lips.
Late In the afternoon the woods
doomed In front Of them. scarcely a
mile on Near the end OF the prairie
the, came TO road which led them
past the door OF lonely cabin. II
seemed 10 be deserted, but Its win
dows were clean and a faint column
OF smoke rose from Its chimney. There
were hollyhocks and sunfiowers in Its
small and cleanSy dooryard. A morn
Ing. glory vine had been trained around
the windows.
Broad creek Is just beyond" said
Bin. II don't know how the crossing
will be-"
They came presently to the creek.
Unexpectedly swollen. A man stood
on the farther shore with some seventy
feet Of deep and rapid water between
him and the travellers.
THAT man looks like Stephen
Nuckles." said Harry.
ut is Stephen Nuckles," BIN an
swered
"Howdy, Steve" the young soldier
called.
"IIowdy. boy" said the old minis
ter. THAT ar creek Is b'illn' over.
reckon you'll have TO swim the hosses."
They tried, but Bins horse refused
to 90 beyond good footing.
"You kin light at that ar house an
spend the night. but the folks have
gone erway." the minister called.
81 guess you'll have TO marry us
right here and now" Harry proposed.
might Is coming and that house Is
our only refuge"
poor boy There seems TO be no
escape for you'll" BIN exclaimed with
sigh. do you really and honestly
want to marry met If there's any
doubt about II I'll leave the horses
with you and swim the creek. You
could put them In the barn and swim
with me or spend the night In the
cabin"
Its cool evening and the creek
is very wet" he answered. "Itn 60
Inu ~ tala this naftar In NV nun