The Project Gutenberg eBook, Aftermath, by James Lane Allen

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Title: Aftermath

Author: James Lane Allen

Release Date: September 28, 2004 [eBook #13554]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII)

***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK AFTERMATH***

E-text prepared by Al Haines

AFTERMATH

Part Second of _A Kentucky Cardinal_

by

JAMES LAKE ALLEN

Author of _The Blue-Grass Region of Kentucky_, _Flute and Violin_, etc.

1899

Dedication

This to her from one who in childhood used to stand at the windows
of her room and watch for the Cardinal among the snow-buried cedars.

I

I was happily at work this morning among my butterbeans--a vegetable of
solid merit and of a far greater suitableness to my palate than such
bovine watery growths as the squash and the beet. Georgiana came to
her garden window and stood watching me.

"You work those butterbeans as though you loved _them_," she said,
scornfully.

"I do love them. I love all vines."

"Are you cultivating them as vines or as vegetables?"

"It makes no difference to nature."

"Do you expect me to be a vine when we are married?"

"I hope you'll not turn out a mere vegetable. How should you like to
be my Virginia-creeper?"

"And what would you be?"

"Well, what would you like? A sort of honeysuckle frame?"

"Oh, anything! Only support me and give me plenty of room to bloom."

I do not always reply to Georgiana, though I always could if I chose.
Whenever I remain silent about anything she changes the subject.

"Did you know that Sylvia once wrote a poem on a vegetable?"

"I did not."

"You don't speak as though you cared."

"You must know how deeply interested I am."

"Then why don't you ask to see the poem?"

"Was it on butterbeans?"

"The idea! Sylvia has better taste."

"I suppose I'd better look into this poem."

"You are not to laugh at it!"

"I shall weep."

"No; you are not to weep. Promise."

"What am I to promise?"

"That you will read it unmoved."

"I do promise--solemnly, cheerfully."

"Then come and get it."

I went over and stood under the window. Georgiana soon returned and
dropped dow