The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1860-11-09
Or was there n dearcr ono
Still, and o nearer ono
Yet than all otherf

he need have little concern for tho looks oi
her who was holding his heartbeat under
her finger, be she ever so ugly.
At length the doctor arrived. was re-
leased, and the wound was dressed. .t
Life had 30 nearly ebbed that II was nee
csary to have gentle care for few days; |;
and as there were no women In the depths OF
that forest within many miles, mother would
have us remain and rest, that she might care
for the stranger. Father was not unwilling
for he said:
sTaint no uso to oycrdrivc and worry our
selves, and then, agin, It's no loss to help n
young fellow like him TO live
We staid four days. remember nothing
remarkable about it, except that the stranger
became likely and interesting as ho grew
stronger, and that father and mother both
liked him.
They seemed to regard him as a superior
in some way. liked him too. But then
was only child; and mother had always
taught me to be unobtrusiyc and quiet in the
presence of strangers. j used to wait on him
a good deal though, and often read to him,
and answered his questions concerning the
books which had fallen in my way. thought
him rather inquisitivo sometimes. But then
be seemed to know 30 much it gave him q
sort of right to be FREQ with simple people,
like us, and especially with an uncouth child
like myself. used to wonder what made
him look ut me 80 much-not rudely, but
with studying expression; full OF good
breeding, but earnest. lntuitively knew
he was reading me. Nc! hoped that he
liked it.
When wo left him, father gave minnie de-
scription of the locality which ho designed to
select rs our future home. 1t was to DO on
such 'quarter-section, in such q township,
and on such grange"
Il sh II find you all again." he said as VIC
rolled away.
Some disappointment concerning the land
upon which father had intended to settle,
together with rather glowing accounts oil
more northern section of the country, pro.
duccd an important change in his plans and
the final location OF our home.
II there were time to give thcm. the rough
yicisitudcs of pioneer lfc would DO sugses'
two of somo description in which the writer,
if not the reader, would take an interest,"
There was hard work for fatbcr--bornc stout
ly and chccrly, however. Those great forest
trees came crushing down ono by one, spread
ing more and moro of the SLY above us, and,
with their smouldcring in heaps, filling the
air with perfume which soon camc to have
touch of homo in it.
Mother made tho log cabina very COM
Portable place indced-a tidy ,loublc, attrac'
tive home, for us of simple tastes and habits
Mother and had full ullsupcrintendcnco OF the
garden; and not unfrcquently Drowned oui
faces in keeping 1t FREQ from weeds. For my
self, was given more liberty than l should
have taken, perhaps; but loved no well u
roam under tho trees, in search of flowers ant
curiositics, that lear sometimes forgot the
house and garden work ut home.
lived rather an unrcstrained, rather O
wild life, in keeping with my rolicking ten
denotes.
While tho three years were going by used
to wonder sometimes when should bo wo'
man in that seEsc of tho word which implies
a consciousness of different style of nature
and existence. Father would often speak OF
me as a young woman now. Tho dresses OF
thrcc years ago were quite outgrown; the
little broken mirror-all wo could boast
told story of moro symmetrical features and
deeper life In my face travellers, who often
camc that way, treated mo with considerl.
ton never eyinced toward achild; rustic
young men wcrc shy Of me; and yet It seem.
cd to mo that was thcsamo untamable girl
I had over been.
Laughnsly, | said to my father ono day,
I'm q woman after all, unless get sobcred
suddenly
Ho only looked up with an expression OF
honest pride in his good, fathcrly face. We
are not the least alike, yet | love my iathcr
dearly.
Mother said to mo ono day, as she sat sew.
ing in the breeze, by tho open doorway:
1--we got something to tell you, child.
I saw by the slightest possible catching OF
the breath and constraint Of tone, that the
subject was embarra sing.
Idroppcd my work upon my lap, folded
my hands, and looked up. Mother broke
the ice with one of those sudden blows which
her quick hand knew how to deal.
Mr.. Brock wants TO marry you.
Me = and, darting out Of tho doorway,
ran down the path. and then walked hur'
riedly into tho forest. wandered about
breaking twigs from the bushes, hunting bear
tracks and flowers, till was calm ns well as
tired. And yet every thought took form in
tho ejaculation, 'Mc!' In two hours 10
turned. Mother was sitting in the same
SPOT. ] took my seat and work, and Tor a
little time We worked away quietly.
He is likely young man.
said nothing.
.Your father says his clearing is one Of tho
b,st within ten miles, and is sure togiyc him
a good, comfortable living. besides making
him we'll of by and by, when the country
gets settled :, A.,
but he's SO much older than I and then
I'm only girl, and am 50 happy here at
You won't always want to 1.-Two at home.
child. You will bc happier to have home
of YOUR own and Mr.. Brock is good and sale
and substantial
But don't love him.
you will child
We sat still long while, and, when we
put aside our work to prepare for tea, moth
or only said
think It over, my daughter
I thought it over. lle was good, and
liked him. IfIdidn'tlOye him it was equally
true that loved nobody else, and was not
likely 10. Mother wished 1t, and perhaps
had better. Oh, If | could only love, 50 AZ
to be FREQ from this missiyins! The mex,
Sabbath morning l said:
Il gucsl had better
She came and put her arms about me, and
when dropped my face on her breast, kissed
my forehead very tcnderly. A month or two
after this, while out in the forcst-mmbling,
reading and thinking-Ponto, my guardian,
suddenly burst away from me with the most
yocifcrous barkings. and, before could con-
troll him, he was beyond tho reach Of my
voice. saw one Of the company OF tn,eierS
level gun at him. Another Knocked ,ho
muule up at just tho right instant, ana ,no
spent shot fell rattling through tho leaves
about mo. and
III. .nanaoa ,s"0 a.pod .pc mo for ng6.'s resting
"a IN our little l0g-h0ueo.