Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1859-03-30
MORNING LEADER.
THE QUAKER,s LOVE.
BY NARY W. JARvIN.

al am sorry thou dost not love me, Martha"
The speaker was young man of pleasant,
frank countenance, though now shadow of
disappointment fingered on his features, as
he stood in the low, old fashioned sitting-room
of Elder Grants house, one quiet October
evening.
Reuben Kane's fair, open countenanee did
not belle his nature. Straightforward, manly,
shrewd at a bargain with ''the worlds people"
and, because of his superior business talents,
promoted to head offices in the Sociely-kind-
hearted, and, though sober-minded, yet fond of
joke now and then-it was not strange that,
with all these qualities, the young man should
have come to be regarded as pattern by the
Old people and an "eigible one" by many a
fair Quaker maiden And vet, though many a
soft blue eye was guilty of the offence Of Hook
ing out from under bonnets of drab on the
Lords day from the female side of the plain
Quaker Westinghouse on the hill, and earnal
meditations, fear me, intruded on the long 81
lences-though many soft spoken "thee" and
''thou" fell on Rueben's ears, and yet none had
power to move his heart save the fair, brown
eyed Martha. .--
Perhaps Elder Grant, from his high seat
where he sat regularly every Seventh day
now in silence, now uttering the inspirations
which ''the Spirit" Prompted-had never lifted
his eyes to note The young mans gaze which
turned oftener across the aisle to the row of
occupied wooden seats opposite, where the
demure Martha sat; but when Reuben sought
him one October day, and though very red in
his face, and with an unwOnted stammer in
his speech, spoke of love as connected with his
Martha, the old man placed his hand affection
ately on his shoulder, and said candidly:
go to the girl, Reuben. and tell thy story.
There isn't lad in the village I'd rather have
for son than thee" r helr..r sl48.
And SO Reuben went with the prOfer Of
his strong earnest heart to the girl, and met,
not as he fondly believed and dreamed, a
blushing, timid ''Yes. Reuben" from her rose
bud lips, but firm, though kndly-wOrded re-
fusal. ...s- a.-...i.5.
may, Reuben, don't ask i'll iwish thee had
not come hither with thy offer of affection,
when there are so many others more worthy of
thee" and the young girl paused, as if compass
sionating him.
II am sorry thou dost not love me- Martha. :"
1t was all he said-it did not betray any viO-
lent outburst of feeling; but it was sad and
touching in its very calmness, and the girl
was affected by it and did not know how to
reply.
There was little pause there in the old sit
ting-room.
'sYea, 1 am very sorry, Martha, " he repeated
at length. 81 did not think Of any but hee-I
did not know or care if they were worthier-I
only loved thee, truly, Martha"
81 never dreamed it, Reuben. | wish thee
had not told me of this" said the girl, cover.
ing her face with her hands and strangely
moved. --H
perhaps it is because of my sudden speak
| ing that thou art mistaken In thy feelings TO-
wards me, Martha" said the young man, kind
| ly, hopefully, noticing her agitation. cart
thou sure, Martha, thou dost not care for me in
the least 7"
"Yea. quite sure" she said hastily. GAS a
| friend, Reuben, thou art cherished, and will be
always; but don't ask more, Ipray thee. Don't
speak of this ~ -.r.r
Nay, l will not, since it distresses thee
Forgive me, Martha / would not wound thy
feelings for the world. Let us forget this"
'Thou wilt marry some one else and be very
happy, Reuben" said Martha.
NAY, l shall never marry, Martha" replied
1 the young man, sadly = "But let US speak nC
more of this. When we meet again it must bt
as frieuds, since thou hast forbidden dearer
yea, a tenderer relation God bless thee, Mar
tina, and send thee one after thy own heart, t.
guide thy feet through lie, though nobody car
ever bear thee a trHer heart than l have done
Thou wilt not refuse thy hand at parting, Mar
thai" 1It tttlt4t te.it' 30
The girl laid her fair, plump hand, white al
the snowflake and unsOiled by toll, in the broaC
palm of the Quaker youth, and for momen
they stood eye to eye, face to face.
A sad look, q springing moisture, was in thu
YOUTHS large blue eyes, and the girls gaze fel
under his He did not leave a kiss upon thu
ittIs soft hand he held, as more gallant lover
do at parting, but he did press it long and earn
estly, as though 10th to resign it, then said
in q low voice:
"Good night, Martha. God bless and keel
thee ~ then passed out.
And Martha Grant sat long after the yOunt
man had left her, with troubled look creeping
10 to dim the brightness of her eyes, and he
little hands folded in quiet, dreamy, sort o
fashion, as if she were thinking deeply.
20 dear why did he come here aud tell M
this y, she sighed heavily. Or why cOuldn'
il have been earlier, before he told me but
hush / mustn't speak of that :" and she glsnc
ed round the room with frightened air, the
whispered to herself 81 don't know but it
wrong to 90 on seeing limits deceiying In
dear, good old father-I wish i hadn't let hin
put tins on my finger !" and she lifted one littl
hand on which cleaned a slender circlet ofgol
shining bright in the hre-glow.i III give
back, aud tell him he must 60 away, or ask m
father for me, and then I'll never marry any
body, but live and die here, taking care OF nj
kind old father Poor Reuben I'm sorry b
came here to-nis ht-he looked so sad and sobe
! ike. Yea, 1 wish he hadn't told me - an
; pretty Martha Grant looked soberly into th
, fire
The winter had passed, with its drifted snow
and sharp airs; and the pleasant New Englan
May had come. 1900,
Everything looked pleasant and cheerful, a
, of old, in the dwelling Of Elder Grant-eyeT
e Sunday, as had been his wont, he sat in his a
. customed seat in the Westinghouse on the hi
: while Reuben Kane and Martha occupied II
spectiyeIy opposite seats across the aisle; br
though the young man cherished still his qul'
love, he had never spoken of it again, and Nal
tha was not troubled by q repetition. lt
i Yet Martha was not happy Day by day, g
ing about her fathers house and directing th
domestic duties, troubled light crept into hs
ewes. and a nervous, restless feeling imbued h'
i being. She grew thin also, and the face thi
: looked out from her Sunday bonnet had lo'
something of its freshness.
NPerhaps she repents her dismissal OF the Ia
Reuben, the old elder said, looking upon ne
1 aIt capaot he Sat she is pining for that elt