The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1860-11-23

A ycrv welcome intrusion, Miss Mary.

A very welcome intrusion, Miss Mary
| Ofcourse. when ho went away, Miss Mar.
had to invite him to call ut tho Old Rex
sometime, and sec her father; and, OF course
he did not forget tho invitation. Marl
Goldsmith was not at home the day he came
but Mary told him tho minister waited iul
hour in hopes he would come.
We do not vouch for the truth Of he
statement.
Mary always went to the Friday evenin,
meetings with Aunt Sarah, and Mark al
ways sat up until she came home. On
night he was sure he heard deepcr-tonet
voice than q woman's conyersing with her n
she came up the yard. But the good
nights were exchanged outside the door
and she came in alone. She saw that {
cloud had settled down on the old man,
brow, but il cleared away Us his eye fell OF
her face radiant with happiness, for, 30 lik'
her mother was she at that moment, that HI
longed to fold her to his heart, and tell hcl
of it. But never lover hid more jealousy
his passion than did Mark Goldsmith hi
overwccning love for his daughter. So th'
cloud gathered again, rs he asked sternly
Who camo with you, Mary ?-Tom
Brown?'
Mary hcsitated for moment, and then
going up to- her father, she laid her hand on
his shoulder, and with bushes mantling hcl
cheeks. said
No, Iathcr, II was tho ministcr-and
think hc likes me-
Pshaw, said Mark, it's my broad
acrcs he likes better
AS If an arrow had pierced her very heart
Mary turned and left him. When SHE
reached her chamber, she threw herself into
chair, and burst into tears.
The old gray cat, who had followed hel
mistress upstairs, jumped into her lap and
rubbed her head lovingly against Mary's
hands.
'Oh, puss,' said she, crying more heartily
Z" I'm glad there's one in the housc to love
me-.
When this good thorough crying was over,
Mary felt better. And rs she stood up in the
moonlit room, folding her shawl, a pleasant
thought seemed to strike her, for u smile
broke over her face, like sudden sunshine
after April showers.
Yes, | will will do so, she said, laying
the folded shawl on the bureau, and bringing
down her hand upon it energctcally. My
father must learn the lesson some time, and
why not now ?
What this lesson was wc shall SEQ.
The rough repulse he had given his child's
generous confidence troubled Mark for many
days aitcrward, and was the secret spring ol
many a new plan for her happiness. When
the next Friday night came, no secretly
hoped Mary would have the same company
homcward, and. when the timo drew near
for her to bc there, he lit the two tall LAMPS
On the mantc.piecc. This made q decided
addition to the ordinary illumination given
to the room by single candle in a pewter
ndlestick-addition enough, Mark thought
Us he rolled up the two front curtains, to
make the child understand that her compan-
ion would DO welcomed if ho chose to come
m.
For long while Mark sat uncasily watch
ing tho face of tho old-fashioned clock in the
corner, for Mary was somewhat later than
usual. When she came, however, shc OPEN
cd the door so gently that q less watchful
car would not have heard her ut all.
'Sho's bashful child thought tho old
man, and feels sort Of shy for he truly
thought the minister was in the entry behind
her, so he said with more than common
cheerlulncss, ask him in, Mary, ask him
in.
There's nobody hero, father she replied
Crayely. Il came from Aunt Sarah's alone.
Umph!' said Mark.
Mary made no alusion to either lamps or
window curtains. and after telling her ia.
thcr. as she usually did, the various items OF
news she had cleaned from Aunt Sarah,
quietly withdrew, and left him to his medi-
tations.
As for Mark, he concluded Mary had made
mistake in thinking herself an object OF
special regard to the new minister, and said
to himself musingly, as he laid down on his
pillow,
.Umph wiser heads than yours, child,
make mistakes in their reckonings.'
Whether Miss Mary had made mistake
we do not say, but 1t is certain that the
young minister thought ho had, when he
came out into the churcll-porch that Friday
evening and found her gone.
On the next Wednesday the sewing cir
clio was held and the minister was invited to
tea. Now. Mary was there, and had left
word ut home for the hired man to come for
her with the chaise at nine o'clock. The
minister made several Intellectual attempts 10
speak to her during the evening, and when
he had heard that the chaise had come, and
she was going to ride home, he somewhat
anxiously followed her into the entry, say
ing. in an undcrtonc:
Al l.. h,n ant-nt, tpf IN
to you,' (as though she did not know it,)
adding, shall you be at home tomorrow
evening"
Il shall be at Aunt Sarah's" said Mary,
'and,' she continued, with roguish smile,
AUNT Sarah will be very glad to sec you
there
From that time, Mary spent oil her Thurs
day evenings at Aunt Sarah's, and Miss
Sykes, with whom the minister boarded, said
she did not know what II meant, but there
was one evening in the week that the minis.
ter always went away, without telling any
body where he was going. And forhe part
she must say, though she had tried, she
couldn't find out.
One day, about month after this, when
Mark went down to the village the grocer,
son, said to him:
well, Square, how do you like the new
parson?'
.Umphv said Mark, 'he's no great
We'll, anyhow, he likes the folks up Of
the Old Red, I'm thinking
Mark looked up at Joe, inquirinsly, and
then said.
'Pshaw no never comes there!
We'll, if he don't, hc wants to and that II
just as bad said Joe. Folks say-and you
mustn't mind 1t if an plain with you,
'Squirc-folks say you hold rather too tight
q rein with that girl Of your'n.'
Mark made no reply, but, gathering uT