The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1864-04-15
sflistellal1eoas.
From Harpors Now Monthly Magazine.
THE CRUISE OF THE TWO DEAOONs
A TALE IN EIGHT CHAPTERS.
CHAPTER v, (coSrrsurp.l


she was quito unconscious how earnest they
were, and how deep an interest they express
ed. Realizing them, her plump cheeks sud,
denly redeemed, and in the confused hope Of
doing something which should prevent her
confusion from being noticed, she bounded
ahead of Lsh with saucy, bird.like hop,
uttered quick little laugh, and exclaimed
in what she meant for perfectly free heart
ed tone, a.. r..-.-.
ooh! sec your berries, and don't be-
lieve they 're over halt ripe"
They werc now on the top OF the ridge,
and their path was skirted by the most lux.
uriant high vine bushes. heavy with fruit In
all stages of developement from the scarlet
pigeon-shot sizo up to the luscious ebon-
thimblo. a 'fE -g tr'r "
Lish came slowly on behind the vivaciouu
Becky, with face which seemed to say that
the whole berry crop was at the former stage,
and with its concentrated acidlty occupying
his mouth. His heart. which, ut the deli.
cious moment when the young girl had brok-
on forth into the expression OF ycarning for
his conversion, leaped up to hundred aud
twenty, now subsidized into the most sluggish
of Joe. g.trots; and had he suddenly found him
self alone he would have undoubtedly treat
cd Mr.. Lish Allen to the plainly uttered un-
nattering opinion which now seethed inau-
dble within him-"l'm darned, self.de-
ccivin' fool "
"Where's tho basket, Lish y broke in
upon his reycrio. "Thcre is an awful lot OF
black.berries here, and some of 'em redlnice. F"
"lIcrc's the basket" said Lish, very So
bprly, coming on u step and putting 1t in
Becky's hand with another thrill more pain
ful than when he took it from her. Then
they both tell to picking az il their lives dc.
pended on it, and nothing broke tho silence
for several minutes save tho low, monotonous
cradle-hush of the land-wind coming through
the pines over tho ridge.
Lish was tho first to speak. ,t .
"That air gold chains q lcetle in your
way, / guess it kinder catches on the thorns
there, let INC get it of for you. l'm afraid
you might break it, and they're mighty cost.
ly I've hccrd tell" At the same time ho
disengaged il, almost without looking at it
or Becky, and let it drop quickly from his
fidgety hands MS ifit hurt him. o' -auh
"Oh thank you, Mr.. Allen" " r.,
Lish half started TO hear that title, but
continued, in mcditative tono: at..
"lt's raie putty chain, and looks uncom.
mon we'll on you, Miss Townsend" ~
"Yes, it is pretty. It's goin' to DO mine
all the time when so to spend tho winter
up to Brooklyn"
This speech could not have given Lish
more pain than it did her; but woman might
have been det.d not to make it in her exist
ing state OF mind. ..... .. ,.
Another half start from Lish. And then,
as il it were an old, long meditatcd piece OF
news.
III guess you'll 90 up Brooklyn way long
about next November, won't YET"
"Well. can't tell Jest yet; t's rs mother
is able to get me rcady-very likely, though" +"
"Tol'able good society up tcw Brooklyn,
| hear tell ~
"I believe there is splendid society. It's
gayer'n dozen Muskeogues. In our Meet
in they think it's too gay--somethin to
keep folks minds on the go all the time"
"Jes' SO Wa'al, let mo sec-hold on a
minute, and III bend down that big branch
to YOU: dom you tech it. or you'll start
YOUR fingers bleedin'. Next November |
como Of age, and I'm goin' to tako old Wild
ow Rundells farm, put harf on it into win
ter wheat, top-dress the long medder-thats 8
about t'othcr harl-an' let it winter-foller.
So I'll hev suthin' to keep my mind on the
90 tcw. 1t ill DO my fust experience away
from hum stiddy; but that's putty snug
little farmhouse o the Rundells, and what
with one or tew hired men, and help per-
haps for the dairy an sch, guess We can
pass tho winter kinder comfortable"
Becky accidentally caught her finger on u
thorn, and put 1t to her mouth to stanch the
blood.
"Oh! I'm rale sorry. Here, Miss Town
send, Jest wind this banjanner round it
silks mighty good for scratches-thcrc!
Naow when you want another high branch
don't ycw tech it yourself, but ask me-" And
Lish chivalrously bound up the torn finger,
looking fixedly at it, not at all at the face
above it.
"Thank you, Mr.. Allen; you're very,
very kind"
.;Once in while, when yu'ro up tew
BROOKLYN, you'll think o. your old friends
down to Muskeogue, Tor all it's SO dull, |
guess, won't ye?" %
Lshs hand was just that moment putting
the final touch on the bandage, and round
transparent drop fell on his finger, just where
the opal would have been il L,sh had been q
gentleman who wore rings.
"Raining'?'' was his. instaneously first
thought; but before he could express II he
had perceived the sun was shining too bright
,ly for that, aud with strange auttering
suspicion he gascd into Bocky's face. From
her eyesi rci If. ..ir' LgfI-.'
"Hcv tied that tew tight, Miss Town
send?" .uJ -Ita. r.e
"No. Lish." ,.lg Aa
"Becky, / de,c want to DO professor,
though it's orful hard tew our Mestin', and
I'm poor sinner as ever brcathcd the breath
o. life; but il you'll only teach me Ill be
any thing; and oh, Becky, dcio love you so,
believe It's KILN me," '' ,l
Becky bid both her eyes in her hands, and
her checks were crimson up to the edge OF
the soft crinklcd brown hair. +. {
"Oh. don't do so Dew speak for PHYS
FAKE, icont you teach me :"
And Lish caught the maid around tho
waist with ono Of the big arms that had
brought in the meal barrel. ~. isr , f, to
Timidly Becky stole one Of her round lit
tie arms. around the spick.span new coat.
and hiding her face anew against its lapel,
whispered, ....,. ii, ~. ...........y. !.
"rm only young girl, Lish, but I'll try"
And at that moment kissing came to DO
considered proper by at least two inhabit-
ants OF Muskeogue. ~. t1...,i-.5. ,ea.
Like healthy people generally, Lish and
Becky did not loug uuccumb to the inexprcss-