Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1858-10-23

timopy TO his enleebled condition. ne belu
both oe Marks hands in his, and, wniie ms
eyes were dim in tear.mist, said, WIN ,ai,
tering voice. "Bless you, m.my boy LID gag
to see you once more. l thought m,ght
hear my summons o ore. you'd come You
do remember your old uncle
Mark could not restrain himself but wept
outright. The gentleman sank right into his
chair, still clasping Marks hands. Neither
could speak, but they looked towards each
other an unutterable tenderness;
At length, controlling the tide OF feeling,
Mr.. Hardwick said ID don't be cast down,
Mark these tears are not bitter, but l'iull
of oy.-Th there, now, 60 aud kiss your sister
and Lizzie"
The girls appeared wipiug their eyes, for
they had lett the room overpowered they.
greeted Mark aflectiouately, and then all -
down about the hearth. Topics enough there
we're. Mark told of his pursuits and pros
poets. The village gossip about the lost SER
want girl, (of whom Mark knew something,
but had reasons for silence,) the approaching
ma riage of Mrs. knloch; and the exile oil
two heiress from her own home, were all dis
eussed. After reasonable time, Mark ex-
cuss d himself and went TO Mr.. Affords pom
dering much on the strange events that had
perplexed the usually quiet village. lie reach
ed the house, after a brief walk, and was met
by Aunt Mercy, the portly mistress, but with
something less than her accustomed cordial
ity. >, =,
Miss Kinloch is not able to see company"
she said, "and must be excused"
Mark poured forth torrent oI questions,
to which Mrs. Afford listened, her broad fea.
lures solteuing visbly and at length, with
an apparent effort, she asked him Ito come
agin to-morror or the day arier.
The more NJ ark reflected on Mrs. Affords
behavior, the more he was puzzled. Had
Mildred denied him admission? His own be-
trothed refused to see him No, he was sure
she was sick and besides she could not have
heard Of his coming. So he soothed himself
But the imps of suspicion and Jealousy still
haunted him at intervals, and more misera.
bic man than the usually buoyant and san
guine Mark, it would be difficult TO find.
The next. day, as soon as breakfast was
| over, Mark, though trying to cheer up his un-
Gle, was secretly longing for the hour when 1t
would be proper to present himself at Mr.. Al
ferd's. But time does move, albeit with lag
gng pace TO u lover, and in due season Mark
was on his way. Near the house he met the
! farmer. who greeted him heartily, aad wished
him Joy with knowing smile. Mark took q
freer breath il there was any difficulty, MIR.
Afford certainly did not knew it, Bnt then
it occurred TO him, that shy young ladies do
not often make cOutideRts OF elderly husband
men in long blue lrocks, and his spirits fell
again.
Mr. Afford leaned against o fence and
threshed his hands to keep them warm, while
lie told Mark that "he had been with Mil
drcd privately out TO the Probate Court
that the case had been stated to the ju lge,
who allowed, that, as she was above fourteen,
she had right to choose her own guaGdeen,
that he. Afford, was to be put in, in place
of the Squire. e.-ahd that then, in his opinion
there would be an overhaulin' SOS TO hey
things set to rights"
! Mark shook the hand Of his good friend
warmly, and commended his shrewdness.
but 'ta'nt best to stan talkin' with an ol
feller like me-" said the farmer "when yol
ran do so much better Jest look !'
Mark turned his head. and through tht
window of the house, saw the retroatins
figure of Mildred. lie bounded across th,
yard, opened the door without knocking. ant
rushed into the house. She had vanished
no one was visible but Mrs. Afford, who Wa
cutting up golden pumpkins in long coils t.
dry.
Come, Mlly," said the good woman
Giant no use ; he saw ye."
And NJ ildred appeared, coming slowly GU
OF the buttery.
"Ye see, NJ iIdred felt little hurt about
letter; but ! kner there was some mistake
so | want goin' to hev ye go off thou
some explanation"
"a letter xplsnatiou - said Mark, tho
roughly bewildered
Here it is said Mildred, taking lette
from her pocket, still locking down.
Mark hastily took and opened it. The en-
valnpa hcra Al ilIraS'S otArncc in hand M
unlike his own; the enclosure was lette
from Mildred to himself, which he now say
for the first time.
mildred" said he, holding out his hands
"could you doubt me?"
She covered her face with her apron, bu
stood irresolute. lie looked again at III
letter.
why, the clumsy trick, Mildred Thi
post.ollice stamp, New York is not genuine
Just look it is a palpable cheat, an mita
ton made with pen. The color did no
spread, you see, as ink mixed with oil does
This letter never left this village. ] neve
saw it before, could not have seen it. ID
you doubt me now, dear Mildred"
Even if the evidence had been less con
vincing, the earnest, heartfelt tone, the plead
ing look and gesture, would have satisfied
much more eXacting woman. She spran
toWarus nef lover, anu uunE her arms aoOu
his neck. The pentup feeling of days an,
weeks rushed over her like food, and tn
presence of Mrs. Afford was forgotten.
Mrs. Afford, it would seem, suddenl
thought of something for, gathering hersel
up, she walked Off as fast as the laws Q
gravitation allowed, exclaiming,-"There
never did see Sech hensl Alus a-ayir
into the kitchen. l wonder now, who LEI
that are door open"
The frightened cackle of the hens, tn
rattling of pots and pans by the assiduou
> housewife in the kitchen, were unheeded b
the lovers, "emparadised in one another
arms" The conversation took too wide
range and embraced too many trivial detail
TO be set down here. Only this | may say
they both believed, as every enamored conpl
believes,l that, though other people nigh
cherish the properes. affection for each othe
yet no man or woman ever did or could el
perience such intense and all, pervading emo
tion as now tbrobbed in their breasts
fact, that they had been created TO exemplii
the passion, which, before, poets had onl
imagined, Simple children! They had onl
found out what hearts are made for
CHAPTER XIV.
, The last picture was pleasant relief iu
, rather sombre story, therefore We prefer