The Washington times., 1934-09-22


ing these the good old times"
laughed Seward. "We'd better en-
Joy ourselves, though, while We
can. It's peaceful enough here,
isn't it?"
After Q while they rose and
made ready for their walk.
Out Of the Past
They could see Q white road
climbing the ridge opposite them.
It curved and disappeared, beck
oning. They reached 1t by . short
cut across the pasture land. It
was good to swing along between
hedge rows, to reach . bridge
across q wide brook and lean on
the rail to watch its waters pur-
ling over the stones, spreading
into q pool below. There were
bitter-sweet berries hanging on .
stone wall.
And Seward picked them for
Cathleen. They came to q de-
serted farmhouse and explored 1t.
There was no door and the stairs
were rotten, but it was o spooky
delight to invade the ruined
rooms where simple people had
once lived. A little farther on,
they found an old family grave
yard and paused to read the
quaint names on the leaning
stones-Ebenezer and Amzi.
The living boy and girl stood
in the hot still sunlight and
spelled out the dates and the
almost illegible rhymes cut in the
crumbling marble. Born 1877
died 1S66-that was Ebenezer,
who had outlived three wives.
Several Of the graves were those
Of children. Deborah .Fancher,
aged 2 mos. and 8 days." Gath
leen read aloud. Poor little babyI
Shed have been an old woman
now, If she hadn't died." Cath
leen had never before seen such
a country burying place, touch
ing, forlorn, peaceful.
"And AmZi wants us to remen-
ber that some day we, too, will
lie Cold in the narrow grave an
l. and watch our step accord
ingly. Not yet awhile, AMI!
Shall we be on our way?" asked
Seward.
A mile farther on, q railway
track crossed the road. and they
turned along it for the childish
fun Of walking on the rails.
Neither could manage it, until
Seward suggested that they take
hands. After that it was easy and
there were few missteps. It was
good to hold hands like that,
with no sentimental implication,
Cathleen thought.
Feeling her hand firm and
friendly in his, Seward knew q
rare contentment, and would have
liked to go on indefinitely walk
ing hand in hand with her.
A chill in the air, a gradual
change in the light, made him at
last step reluctantly to the ties.
His wristwatch showed 4 o'clock.
"Have to be turning back now,
I'm afraid. It's a long walk to
where we left the car, and quite
a drive home from there"
Cathleen drew a long regretful
breath. "Our beautiful day 10
nearly over! But we have the
going back STILL"
"You like it then? So do I, q
lot. Let's do it again soon, shall
we? know very few girls, if any,
that would care to put in a day
with me just like this" he said.
tits been like heaven, to me,
What more could anybody want,
I wonder?" she said.
"They don't think they're hav.
ing a good time unless moneys
being spent on them!" Seward de.
clared with rich youths cynic.
ism. They want to be dancing,
or going somewhere in a crowd.
This is free, so it's no good"
II don't know what one could
buy with money that would bo
any better-to see beautiful coun-
try, in pleasant company" She
smiled frankly into his eyes.
Lost
Just ahead Of them the track
crossed a dirt road, and they
stepped off the rails and turned
up 1t. They now followed a coun.
try road, running between bright
banks and flanked by meadows
and woodlands, for a mile or so.
Then Seward stopped and wrinkled
his straight nose in an engaging
expression Of uncertainty.
II don't remember that farm.
house ahead Of US, do you? II
seems to me we ought to have
passed that graveyard before
now!"
"We'd have noticed that red
barn, I'm sure" said Cathleen.
But how could we possibly miss
the road?"
1--WE were trying so hard to keep
on the rails-that must have been
it! This may be a road we didn't
notice. On the other hand, maybe
we're right, and simply didn't no
tice this place when we passed it."
He hesitated, frowning. IT won
der if we better go back or keep
on? Even if this is a different
road. it seems bound to hit the
highway sooner or later. Chances
are it would be shorter to keep on
it, now we've come so far!"
1--WE could ask at the farm.