The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-02-24
NO. 32l.


Hubert had said, was coolish, walked out into
the moonlight She had not. perhaps, defined
the motive, and yet it would have suggested
itself to another
She had not long pursued her lonely walk
when she encountered the object Of her
thoughts sittingly moody and silent in the
moonlight. He looked up as she approached
but did not speak but what cared Linney-
she could have found excuses for him. had be
been twice as sullen and seating herself on a
tuft of clover little way from him, she talked
cheerfully and hopefully Of the future before
him. But not till she had disclosed the little
secret about the money she had saved for him
did his stubborn humor bend at all. Taking
from his pocket large red silk handkerchief
he spread it on the grass beside him, saying
" Won't you sit here Linney!' and when she
had done so, he said, by way Of apologizing
for his rudeness--" That George Weldon has
been the curse of my lie +"
Never mind him, )" answered the girl, sim
ply you need not be enyious of any one,
now !"
Willard laughed, because he thought he
ought to laugh at her little notions Of position
and independence but in truth he felt more
elevated and seli-suffcient than she could think
him, now that he was to 90 to school, and have
beside nine dollars, all his own, to do with just
as he pleased
And now that Willard was reconcled 10
himself and George Weldon forgotten, they
were very happy. long time they fingered
under the apple.tree, the yellow harvest moon
light dropping quietly through, and though
neither said to the other, love you, il was
felt and understood.
Alas alas they might sit under that APP
ple-tree now as then, but through the yellow
moonlight each would look upon how different
q world! And would they be happier
When at last they returned to the house,
Willard said, "When at the close OF the ses-
sion come home, what joyous time il will
be! And you, Lnney, will be as glad to gee
me as you?"
ooh, Willard can you ask " she replied
Z" shall pass all the days we are parted in
thinking OF the time we shall meet, But you
will be 50 wise, then" she continued, hall sad
| y, 81 will not be a fitting mate any more -
Linncy!" said the young man, and he
spoke and looked reproachfully, apd perhaps
he felt at the time that her fear was unkind
cob! no" she answered quickly, and as
| though he had assured her of his truth TO her
self, "you will not forget me, know you will
not and how happy we shall be, and how
much you will know, to tell me-"
|
! ly to the guidance of fairer hand than VIII
| lard's the old man was at work alone making
shocks of the wheat Mrs Hubert sat on the
porch sewing and thinking what would be
nice for her good man supper, and Linney
was in the shadow of the applc-tree, her heart
Tutoring and her hands unwrapping from
its brown paper envelope small parcel, which
which she had that day discovered on the table
of her own room, addressed to herself in the
well known hand of Willard.
He had meant it as a pleasant surprise for
her, she knew but he could not have fancied
it would be 80 pleasant AZ it vast seemed
like a new tie between them But il it seemed
30 while she knew not yet what it was how
much stronger seemed the tic when the wrap
per was removed, and she saw within it small
Bible, bound in red morocco and gilt She
opened it, and, written on the fly-leaf in a large
school-boy hand WAS
STEAL not this book, for fear of shame,
Fer hero you find the owners
" MALIsDA HULBRRT.'
She blushed, though no one saw her to SEQ
the name which had never been whispered to
herself written clearly out.
Kissing the book, che pressed il close to her
bosom, while she recounted the hours and the
| days that Willard had been gone, saying to
herself" In six days more he will have been
gone two weeks and then another week will
soon 20, and then another, and he will have
been gone month then shall get a letter,
and in four months after that h. will como
home" Farther than this she thought not,
but concealing the book, returned TO the houe
very happy yet there was one sad thought
Willard had appropriated two dollars OF the
money especially designed for himself to tho
| getting Of tho book
The days seemed longer and the tasks
heavier, now that Willard came not at sunset
from the field and somehow OF other the walks
through the orchard and the grove lost their
charm but what with work and hope the
time went by and the day Of the expected let
ter arrived
With the earliest dawn, and long ere tho
harmless fires Of sunrise ran along the faded
hill.tops, Lnney was astir. The wood seemed
TO kindIe Of itself and when she brought in
her pail Of milk, the kettle was singing about
coffee. All day she watched the clouds with
unusual interest; and once or twice walked to
the road, and looked anxiousy in the direction
of the post Office and when toward evening
she saw the deep gray dust dimpled with heavy
drops of rain her heart misgaye her sadly
As many clouds, however, were white MS black,
and as they chased each other swiftly by, the
sun shone through now and then, and the
| wind came roughly along sometimes and dried
the wet dmples, so the girl took hope again.
Before the dinner hour the house was set in
order "the Saturdays work done,' and Lin
ney long in advance Of the coming Of the
coach Which should bring the mail made pre-
parations for her walk, and seated herself ut
the window to watch for the distant cloud of
dust that should indicate its approach. 1t
Al L.
when it did, the coach came not. =" Ii is
always the wayo said Linncy Z" might have
known it would not come till midnight" and
going 10 her own room, she unfolded the Bible
from its careful envelope and gazed earnestly
for few minutes on the name written there
not for its own sake, but for the dear hand
that had traced it then closing the volume
she resumed her watching. At last the heads
of the gray horses were seen coming over the
hill In moment her little cottage bonnet
was on, and her gray shawl wrapped about
her, and with a beating heart and quick step
she was ON the way.
81 know there will be no letter for me" she
said, by way Of strengthening herself against
disappointment, rs she drew near the grocery
store, in one corner Of which, on a few shelves
the few letters and papers that found their way
to our neighborhood, were kept.
Her heart beat eagerly Ms the postmaster
slipped letter after letter through his hands,
but at last her eyes fell on the long-expected
treasure. Il was from Willard but tho lines
were not quite 30 tremulous as those in the
Bible
There was another for Mr.. Hubert, and
from Willard too, but Linney looked not 30
anxiously upon that. | need not repeat the
contents Of either-they may be readily guess
cd. The one TO his parents related chiefly to
tho neighborhood and its inhabitants, the
teachers and students Of the school, his own
prospects and hopes for the future, with the
earnest wish that he might repay them for all