Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1860-07-12

LWlllght one ednesday eVeuin, that ] shut
the little brown gate Of Widder Treats cot
tage, and a couple Of voices stole 10 me from
the mont room. | knew Melissys at once-I
should have known it in Japan, but the other
one made me halt a minute and listen, and
then knew IL was Daniel Shades. He'd been
ct home e9 anf en-, ever since the winter be-
fore, and he always made a great stir among
the gals when he showed his smart face and
figure at meetin or singin' school Then
some on those gals was mighty jealous,
COS he'd shown Melissy so much attention at
the frOlic at Pixies tavern; and I'd heard a
good many ill-natured sort of remarks about
how Melissy Treat would have given all her
old shoes 10 have catched Dan Slads, but he'd
given her the slip, and so she was glad en-
ough 10 take up with Nat Palmer arter ALL
| knew 10, although she never mentioned it
to me, that helissy had heard all this gossip
but it didn't disturb me in the least, for Dan
had tried good many ways TO wait on her
and not succeeded"
"But that still June night when Twas COM
in down the lane, with my soul as full of
sweet thoughts of Melissy as the apple-bough
was full Of blossoms, / started all of sudden
to hear that quick, leapin' laugh of hers com
in out Of the front Winder. all tangled in
with anothers that knew at once to be Dan
iel Slade, and the sound brought back the
old burnin TO my heart and l Slid round to
the side winder with no intent to listen, only
to kinder collect my thoughts and conclude
whether twas best TO 60 in or turn right back.
But, as ] said, il was a warm still eyeniu' and
the side winder was open, too, and the wood
| pile right under it. so their voices stole out
to me-
"Now, Miss Treat said young Slade in
his most winnin' way, u hope you want re-
fuse to 90 on this sailin-party with me. We've
got up about twenty couples, and we expect
to have strawberry-supper down 10 the |
cove
"Now, there never was a gal that was
tonder Ofa sail, or a ride, or a scrape of any |
kind than Melissy Treat, and knew il was |
great temptation to- her, perticurler as she |
could triumph over all the girls BY showin' |
EN- she could get Slade for the speakin'. Nv |
heart seemed to stand still, as l waited |
for her answer. It came at last low and |
steady
81 am very much obleeged to YOU, Mr.. |
Slade, but it won't be possible for me To 90 |
on the sail next Thursday .
81 wish I knew the reason, Miss Treat
I've heard, Of late, from several of the pos-
sips, that you were engaged to Nathaniel |
Palmer, but didn't believe a word of il or |
that he has anything to do with your refusal
Tor he isn't half good or smart enough for Won
to waste your thoughts on"
81 jumped right up then, and rushed round |
the wood-pile; and-God forgive me-the
blood OF my youth billed in my VEINS, and i'll
could have reached Daniel Slade at that mo-
ment | should have felled him to the floor.
But just as I got round the corner of the
house Melissys voice struck up to me, not |
any louder than usual, but it had a clear ring
ing sound in it as though the wavering head
sat proud and still on the snowy neck.5
"Mr. Slade, whatever is your opinion of Ma
thaniel Palmer, you must only speak of him
to me with the respect due to my betrothed
husband"
"The fellow sat dumbfounded a minute, then
he stammered out, "Excuse me, Miss TT Mt:
had no idea matters had gone 20 far, didn't
mean any offence, and wish you much hap
piness." And then he went ON talkin' of
other matters, and laughin' loud and careless.
but any one could see he was not at ease so
in few minutes he LETT. | heard Melissyfol-
low him to. the dOor,and bid him good evenin',
in her quiet pleasant way, only there was a
little more dignity than usual about it; and
heard his footsteps go sharp and quick up
the road, but scarcely noticed EN-, nv heart
was so full of new tenderness tor. ..Melissy.',
Gas soon as / could compose myself /
went up to the front door, and Melissy came
out and met me with her own frank. pleas
ant smile, only there was a red spot in each
cheek and her lips seemed to culver lest the
least bit when she bid me ''good evenin' p
We went into the little front room, and then
took her hand, and lookin' straight in her
face, "Melissy, heard jest now, what Daniel
Slade said to you about me, and what YOU
answered him.
"0Natr'
tShe was so completely taken aback Shat
she wrenched her hand right out of mine.
eyes, l heard every word ont out there by
the wood-pile, and Melissy Treat though l
won't say | am good enough for YOU, be
cause / don't s'pose there's a man on earth
that is, still do most solemnly promise you
here, God bein my witness, that so far as
mortal man can, by constant love and tender
care for you, will prove myself worthy 20
be your husband"
"And what did she do, Uncle Nat ?"
'She? She jest put her little soft arms
about my neck, and her smooth cheek ae'in
mine, and whispered, 81 know you win, Nat,
l know yOu will !"
"And you've kept your promise, know
Uncle Nat"
"Ask Melissy ask Melissy, answered
the old man, with a quiet chuckle in his
voice.
"And how long after this were you
married p
''The next October. We wasn't very fore
handed to commence with, for all Melissy |
brought me was the little brown house and
the few acres of orchard-land round it, and
my father had half dozen sons to divide his
property amongst; but he gave me the east
medder and the pastur' lot j'inin'; and we had
brave hearts and willin' hands, and the Lord
prospered US, in the long run, above our de-
serts, and its above twenty years now since
the old homestead fell into my hands. We've
seen bright days and cloudy ones together
1t seemed like wrenchin' our hearts in two
when Melissy and laid our five bright girls
one by one under the grave yard grass and
it was this, great deal more than the years,
which has worn out the light from her eyes
and the sparkle from her smile; but the Lord
knew what was best and it's comfortin to
reflect that we've got good-sized family in
heaven, if We havn't on earth, and for the
rest-well, as ! said, you can ask Melissy
Palmer whether I've fulfilled the promise 1
made in the little brown cottage that stood
on what used to be Orchard Lane thirty years
ago."
The words broke the spell for me. Sitting
there under the tulip-tree, with the wind
Tapping the great leaves overhead, had lis
tened to the old mans story, and the long
gone years had come before me, too, and un-
covered their faces, and talked with them.
But with those words they vanished slowly
away and with a start l came back to the
present The day was going down with all
the gorgeous rite and ceremonial of an 0c-
tOber substituting close to its life, which
had been one gift of fragrance, and glory and
beauty.
Uncle Nat reused himself "Well, child,
they'll wonder what has taken US, at home,
| nuRss I'd M idep IA bapn bara ao lono |