Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1858-02-17
uEDID. ANDTHEN HE DIDN'T.

James Smith wasn't a good man--at least
everybody said so, and that must be true
tho he was an accommodating neighbOr, and
went to meeting Sundays, and had been known
TO tell his experience, the wickedness of which
drew ;many sigh and groan from the pious
old d-acons. He used TO drop dime rcgu-
larly into the contribution box, and sometimes
a quarter; but then that wasn't all. He was
said to be guilty Of paying more attention to
u couple OF sparkling black eyes, than to the
devout teachings of the minister, and the sigh
which now and then escaped his breast, was
not exactly of n go-to-meeting character.
Kate Hopkins had the eyes above alluded to,
and had good bringing up; but they were
little too black and mischievous for the well
fare of her heart. She boarded at James
house. (James was married man. She,
too, went TO meeting regular, but was particn-
larly fond OF going evenings. Mrs. Smith
staid at home then, and took charge of three
four little curly headed children. Mrs.
Smith began to think Though she didn't say
anything about it) that her husband was get
ting pioGs rather too fast, or that the minister
preached better sermons in the evenings than
in daytime. Mrs. Smith was an o6seyrlng wo-
man, and had noticed that James and Kate
would come home slower than the rest of the
congregation, and some other little things she
did not think best to sag anything about. /
did not say that Mrs. Smith was Jealous wo-
man, but she certainly had some very strange
freaks. One Sunday evening, just before
meeting was out, she tho't she would while a
way few minutes, just to kill time, by sitting
under grape vine by the gate 1twas warm
night-the new moon, too small to stay up
late, had disappeared entirely. Presently the
sound of footsteps was heard; the steady mea-
surrd tread of old men with thick boots, and
young men with their best new calf-skins;
and the stamping of still smaller ones, which
made such racket that she would have liked
10 have run, but she didn't.
1t soon still, however, and no one had
disturbed the gate She could not have been
mistaken in this, for she close by il, and it
never opened without long grating or growi
ing noise, though it hated to be disturbed.
1ark the careful step of n man approaches,
aud the patting of little gater boot falls soft
ly on the night air. 1t nears; though slowly,
and the quick hearing ears of Mrs. Smith
caught something like the sound of mufiied
whispers. They came nearer, and finally
stopped. Mrs Smith held her breath, while
MT. Smith turned his back toward her, leaning
partially against the fence, and Kate, as near
she could see, leaning partially on him. 0,
that her ears ad been deaf, that her little fiut-
;cring heart were not susceptible of such agi-
tation. Was she in her right mind or had
some wild fancy taken possession of her tho'ts? I?
She was not crazy, and her ears could not well
misunderstood at reaching distance. Smith
spoke first, after moments pause:
"Thcre is but one thing left for us to do!'
ion, clinging closely to him all the while.
.sFlyi fly with me-dearest, away from this
unhappy spot, where | can pour ont my love at
your feet, and forever bask in the sunshine Of
your charms. The world will be naught to me
unless l can clasp you to my heart, and not
feel the pleasure TO be momentary and fleet
ing.''
81 am yours forever" sighed Kate, leaning
her head upon his shoulder, sand whatever be
your wishes, will only be too happy i'll obey
ing then.''
sSTo-morrow night, them" answered James,
ssyou will meet me at the foot of the lane, at
10 O'Clock, where l will bave carriage in rea-
diness. and ere the day dawns upon us we will
be out of the reach of harm or danger from
Nancy, and l shall not care for any one else"
81 will be there at the hour,' SAID Kate /;
"and now We must go in or Nancy will be I'M
easy.''
But before they disturbed the ugly gate,
Smith drew Kate to his heart in one fond low
idg embrace and smack went kiss upon her
upturned lips. As Smith turned around he
thought he saw wsomething fash.
The old gate swung on its rusty hinges, and
the lovers took the path leading to the back
door, Mrs. Smith heard his last charge to
Kate, to be puuctual at the hour, aid hastily
ran to the front door, and by the time they had
gained they back door she was comfortably
rocking in her arm chair as unconcerned as
though nothing had happened
That night Smith dreamed lovely dreams,
how he would fly with the idol OF his affec-
fions and evade the search of those whose re-
vengeful dispositions would tempt them to iol'
low; but Mrs. Smith dreamed how he troaidni
and how much he would repent of ever hav-
ing ventured upon SO hazardous an expert.
meIt; and how liable were human hopes to
blast, and the fondest dreams to vanish in thir
air. But how to Illustrate his plans, was the
question. She didn't sleep when she dream
ed, but she decided upon plan of action, and
then dropped herself into the arms of MoFphe
us- She arose early, prepared q good break
kst, and expressed herself quite uneasy abou