The Meeker herald., 1922-03-11

tIoo, deepened and eftsn covered bis
/ face with its veil. That u another
way that Nature has Of preparing the
young. For these the rosss have fallen
and only the thorns remain. Thsy
are not lured they seem to Be- driven
to their tasks. but for all. soon Or
late. her method changes.
On q beautiful morning Of June.
1884. John Mcneil left the village.
Abe Lincoln and Harry and Samson
and Sarah and Jack Kelso and his
wife stood with the Rutlsdges In ths
dooryard Of the tavern when be rode
away. He was going back to bis
homo In the East to return 10 The au-
tumn and make Ann his bride. The
girl wspt o. II her heart would break
when be turned far down the road
and waved his hand to hef.
-Oh. my pretty iassi Do yoa not
hear the birds singing b the mead
owsr" said Jack Kelso. think Of
The happiness all around you and ef
the greater happiness that 10 eomins
when be returns. Shame on you r
"Tm afraid hs1l never come back."
Ann sobbsd.
.Noossnssi Don't ct Q maggot In
your brain and let the crows 20 walk
Ing ever your face. Cone. we'll take
ride In the meadows and II don't
bring you back laughing you may call
NE ne prophet"
30 the svent passed..
Harry travsssd abost VIII Abe .
good deal that summsr. -sssctiossss-
Ing" ~ thsy called II. iron farm -
farm. Abe used to 60 into the nssds.
with the men whose favor hs sought
and bend his long back ever sc1ths
or . cradle and race them piayfally
across the hsad q grain cutting Q
wider swath than any other and al
ways holding the lead. Every man
was out Of breath at the end q bic
swath and needed few minutes for
recuperation. That gave Abe chance
for his statement Of the eounty's nsSds
and his plan Of satisfying them. He
had met and talked with majority
Of the voten before the campaign
ended In his election In August.
At odd times that summer b. bad
been surveying = new road With Har-
~ Needles for his helper. In Sep
tembsr they resumed their work upon
II In the vicinity Of New Salem and
Abe begaa to carry the istters In his
hat again. Every day Ann was look.
Ing for him a. he came BY In the dim
light Of the early morning on his way
| to work.
Anything for msr' she would ask.
"No mail In since I saw you, Ann. !"
was the usual answer.
Often he would say: I'm afraid
not. but here-you take these letters
and look through 'em and make sur"
Ann would take them In her hands.
trembling with eaEeruess. and run In
doors to the candlelight. and look them
over. Always she came back with the
little bundle Of letters very slowly
A. II her disappointment were heavy
burden.
.ThersT be one next mall u ! have
to write II myself" Abe said one
morning IN October ~ be went on.
To Harry Needles, who was with
him that morning. he said:
II wonder why that fellow don't
write to Ann. couldn't believe that
he has been foollns her. but now !
don't know what to think Of him.
wonder what has happened to the
fellow"
The mail stage was late that ere
ming. As 1t had not come At nine Mr..
Hill went home and lett Abe In the
store to walt for his mail. The stage
arrived . few minutes later. Abe e.
amIned the little bundle Of letters and
newspapers which the driver had left
with him. Then he took q paper and
sat down to read in the freight.
While he was thus engaged the door
opened softly and Ann Rutiedge en-.
tered The postmaster vas not aware
Of her presence until she touched his
arm.
"Please give me . letter." she said.
"Sit down. Ann" said he, very gent
~. as he placed . chair In the nre-
glow.
She took It. turning toward him
he added:
I'm sorry, but the truth 10 II didn'l
come. II is terrible, Ann. that have
to help in this breaking Of your heart
that 10 going on. seem to be the
head Of the hammer that hits you %
hard, but the handle 10 In other hands
Honestly. Ann. I wish I could do the
suffering for you-every bit Of it-and
give your poor heart Q rest. Hasn't
he written you this summeff"
mot since July tenth" she an
swered. Then she conhded to Alb,
that her lover told her before he went
away that his name WINS not Mcneil
but AcNamar; that he had changet
his name to keep clear Of his famil,
until he had made success; tina
he had gone East to get his fathel
md mother and bring them back will
him: lastly she came to the thin