The mountain Democrat., 1864-11-19


lStN9 et tue bottom, Of the old hu@ cart,
'it wouldn't DO to let the gssss grow uh-
der his horses feet .
Charity stood at the window and watch.
ed her lover as be went down to the gate,
and o, how small 10 the leart0f the true,
levipg woman, looked Sqsire Heming-
way's great house On the bill, with IL
handsome carpets, and its rich, dash
ioned furniture, and the new family car
rage, and the 1ery black ponies.
Reuben Taylor and she had been play
mates from their early childhood for their
families were neighbors. The iFst morn
ing she went to school she had been
placed under Reuben's charge, and from
that time the boy seemed to feel that lit.
tie Charity Ames' had large claims to bis
good Offices. He brought her the first
ripe berries IN summer, and the earliest
nuts in autumn; be carried her over the
hills to school in the winter on his sled ;
and so their lives grew and blossomed in
to youth and maidenhood in the quiet lit
tie village which sat Oetwixt the hills and
the sea.
Then terrible blow fell upon the house
Of Reuben Taylor. A DeighbOr Of his
fathers, bard, gripping man, rich in fields
and pastures, discovered flaw in the ii.
tie deed which had given the old Brook
Property to the Taylors for three. quar-.
ters Of . century. Farmer Taylor was q
plain, honest, industrious man, though by
no means an acute business man, and this
late discovery Of flaw in the title deed
Of the old homestead, which had been
his fathers and his grandfather's before
him, fell with crushing force on bis
spirits.
The matter was sharply contested in
law. Public sympathy was, of course,
entirely with the Taylors, but that did
not prevent the decision being rendered
against them. The excitement and suf.
fering which he had undergone, threw
Farmer Taylor into a fever, from which
he never recovered.
Reuben was at that time only sixteen
years of age, a bright, intelligent, indus
trious boy. His mother was shrinking,
fragile woman; and Amy, his sister, was
not yet in her tenth year. The family
were obliged to leave the old homestead
which almost broke Mrs. Taylor's heart
She held, in her own right, few acres o
wood and pasture land; and this, will
the help of Reuben, was all the doubly
stricken family had to depend upon fo
their subsistence. But the boy was brSv,
and energetic, and there were many dis
posed, for his fathers sake, to employ
him. And rs he grew older, the pastui'
lands were converted into thriving whea
fields; and Reuben commenced farming
on small scale for himself
But it was hard, slow work, the swee
face Of Charity Ames, now blossomed in
to early womanhood, extending afar o.
on the mountains of his future, SCENE
to lend new strength to his energies
new courage to his heart. But Reube
kept his secret as girl would hers; an,
only occasionally waited on Charity HON
from meeting or singing school. He ncv
er by q word or look signi6ed to the CIR
of his love what lay so deep and tender il
his heart, but Charity was woman, ant
guessed it.
'Oh, I am no glad, Reuben! Yol
must 60 right of with me-
Go where, Pussy p and he caught th
child in his arms as she sprang toward
him. She was a pretty creature. Am
Taylor, just in her twelfth summer, wit
brown hair, with a flicker Of gold in il
and eyes like Reubens, and cheeks an
lips like clover blossoms.
oh, Just over to the store. Mr.. Math
ews said he should get back from tow
before sundown, and he'd bring the nev
calico dress mother has got for me-
Wait until after tea I've been pullin
stumps all day
'Oh, I can't, Reubenl' said she, shak
ing her head around so that the touch {
gold stuck out wildly besides, 1t wOul
be too late to see the dress tonight, 70
Mr.. Mathews shuts up at dark .
I'm afraid, daughter. that supper
get cold afore you can go there and back
interposed the voice of Mrs. Taylor, as sh
broke several frcSh,laid eggs into th
spider.
mo, it won't mother. Dobbin can 6
fast, and get back in half an hour
Amy run up to her mother, and woun'
her aims about her neck in a way tina
was irresistible. It was quite evident sh
was a spoiled child.
Get your bonnet in hurry, then
exclaimed Reuben, as he took down hi
coat from the peg on which it was hang
ing. Il reckon you wouldn't feel quit
so set on a ride if you'd been pulling
stumps and building stone fence to-day
Don't go with her, Reuben, said Mrs
Taylor, in an undertone. She was lit
tie, pale-faced, sorrowful- voiced woman.
well, l shan't have moment's peac
until bedtime rejoined the indulgen
brother. And the next moment Am!
was at his side.
I'm oil ready, Reuben
The young man p:nched her dimple'
chin, pronounced her the torment Of hi
life, and they set out together.
They had gone about : mile In. tn
rumbling old vehicle, which had to per
form the three-fOld duty of carriage, wag
on and cart, when horse suddenly rush
ed wildly past them. Every muscle O
the noble animal wss instinct with terror
bis nostrils were dilstod; and, with hi
long, brown name caught and tangled IL
the wind a he swept by, he presented
that ball. thrilling, half-appalling spectAcl
which thoroughly frightened horse al
ways does - - '-.~-,..--'
'Oh, my, Reubsn!' exclaimed Amy
drawing in . long breath. J., Wasn't tina
kinder grand, thought
Reuben shook fis head. I'm Afrai
he's done come mischief He's hrOke
1wGy from 1 carriage, and them shaft
must br9ise bis LEGS before long. SO be-
come to HE senses.' -ee ~. r
Abods- halEmils further down th
road, they came upon A.earriage overturn
ed and broken, near large pile Of stones
over which the fFiRhkened animal ha