The mountain Democrat., 1864-11-19


to Rocky Beach, as soon as the moon gets
large enough, which will happen BY the
last Of next week; | should like to engage
your company, If it's agreeable. ! The
speaker caught his breath little at these
last words /; but he got bravely through
them after all.
The spinning wheel suddenly pansed in
Its revolutions. Charity tapped the board
Immediately with her foot. >.
4 am much obliged to you, Mr.. Taylor,
and If can be spared
She looked so sweet, gazing ont with
lady-like selfpossession at the distant sea
as composed as the sun on the carpet,
there were quick swelIings and ebbings in
the heart under that plaid dress; she look
ed so sweet that the bashful soul Of Reu.
ben Taylor was stirred within him, and
before he knew it be had laid his hand on
her shoulder, and broke out an entreaty.
'Oh, come now, Charity do say you
will go!'
The words we're not much but the tones
were.
The roses hurried into the girls cheeks
now, aud she made 9 half coquettish
movement backward; but the answer came
pretty readily
We'll, I'll go If I can, Mr. Taylor
The young mans deep brown eyes
flashed with pleasure.
Thank you, Charity. Truly wish
you'd call me Reuben, as you used to
when we went to the old red school house
on the green
Wei, we've grown older since ther,
you know'-making tactile investigations
Of her fax.
Yes l know; but somehow you'll never
seem anything to me but little Charity
Ames-'
There was no mistaking the quiver in
the voice now, no mistAking the blush in
Charity's face either; but it fell back inla
moment, and an arch light supplanted it,
leaping up from Der lips into her eyes, and
she looked up with that little jingling
laugh Of bers
And you will never seem to me any
thing but just the provoking, tormenting
little rascal you used to be, Reuben Tay-
lor.'
The young man laughed heartily at this
very uncertain compliment; and, after
chatting q few moments more in the same
strain, he put on his straw hat, bade Char
ity good afternoon and got as far as the
door, when he turned quickly back, with
face struck with sudden seriousness.
Charity, it is not true that you are 60
ing to marry Squire Hemingway, as the
neighbors say!'
Poor Charity the bot bushes came
and went in her cheeks. She opened her
lips to speak, but something rose up in
her throat and beat the words back, and
at last she broke down in a sob.
4 shouldn't think you'd come here to
insult me, Reuben Taylor
The young farmer was distressed be-
vond measure, especially IS Charity bu-
ried her face in her little brown dimpled
hands, and continued to sob as though
her feelings we're aggricved beyond meas
ure. Reuben leaned over the girl, and
laid his hand on the smooth shining brown
hair.
CHARITY, won't you forgive me for ask
ing that question: You know why
did it,
No, | don't, I'm sure, sObbing and
keeping her face in her hands.
Look up, then, and see.' There was
something in the tones that would be like
ly to secure compliance.
Charity Ames did lift up flushed, tear
stained face, and Reuben took her hands
in his, and said, looking straight into her
eyes, but with the muscles working about
his mouth:
Il asked you, Charity Ames, because
love you better than my own life, and be-
cause my happiness for all time is bound
| up in your answer.
There was . mixture of tenderness and
manly dignity in the young mans man.
ner at this moment, which no person could
have been insensible to. His face was
very pale with the struggle which it cost
his brave heart to make this confession /;
but every feature was struck through with
q light that made it beautiful. Charity s
eyes did not drop till he concluded; there
was something in that face which magne,
tized her gaze to it.
% Reuben THE voice and the gaze
fell together, but there was that in both
which Reuben Taylor understood.
He bent down by her, for she was cry
ing now, but very softly.
Il never meant to tell you this, Charity
though I've carried the knowledge in
my heart for half dozen years-until /
had home to offer you which should be
worthy of you. But the truth has got
out Of me now, and there's no taking it
back. 1t seems wrong to ask you to wait
so long; but you know how it is-there's
mother and Amy that I've got to look out
for, and it's slow work pulling up bin; but
the thought of you makes my heart brave
and my hands strong, aud please God, I'll
have nest warmly lined for my singing
bird yet. Will you wait Charity, little
CharityH'
There was such tenderness Pickering in
and out of her name-it never sounded
half so sweet to her before; and the wo-
mans heart leaped out, and engnlGed 10
one mighty wave ell the girls timidity,
and coquetry, and pride.
Yes, Reuben, will wait for you With
heart as brave and patient as yours, no
matter how long the lime is.'
You should have seen her face then; it
looked to Reuben like the face Of an an
gel, with the tears held in check in the
blue eyes, and the light sitting through
| them IS it Sits through vapors at sunrise.
So they sat together in their first dream
Of love, and talked hopefully Of the future
Reuben Taylor and Charity Ames.-
! And the soft wind rumpled and tossed the
apple blossoms, aud sighed and quivered
among the pines, and the slow sound Of
the waves on the beach came in through
the south windows which look out on the
sea. ''.'..- .....,. ....-ss.
! AtlAs there was little click Of the
back gste latch, and Chsrity gathered
away her hands. 9nickly from Rsnbe9's,
and The cOloF'dsspen6d 10 her cheeks.