Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1865-02-09
VOLUME XIV.

y
young mans face flushed Indignantly Mar
garet said nothing and he went on:
Howeverit's the last time shall trouble
him, or cross your scruples again for the
present"
The last time?' Margaret pressed one
of the pods with her thumb, and looked up
inquiringly.
Yes, the very last time Pm going
away going to California" The flush had
gone out of his face, and instead was
look Of fierce determination.
"California !" The pod was opened, and
a sound dozen pease rolled across the kitch-
en- floor. California was a long way off to
her, little girl, sitting in that Vermont farm
house.
"But, Arson isn't it a dreadful wicked
place ? Amt they heathens, and cannibals,
and bad as the Hottentots most? ?"
Don't know Pm sure, Maggie. | only
know that there's gold, and that it's great
country ont there Oh, you ought to hear
Jim Bartlette talk You'd think twas
mighty slow work getting living off these
rocks" he said
Il know-but, Anson, seems to me
'twould be better to stay in a Christian
country" said she, hesitatingly.
81 declare Margaret, you're well-nigh as
bad as Uncle John. He says I'd better
steal horse, and get sent down to Wind
sor to making scythe swaths." Arson
laughed his old merry laugh Margaret re-
membered it. 1t was years before she
heard that laugh again.
Then there was a pause. The cat doZed
upon the settle, and the tea-kittle sang up
on the hearth.
And when will You ever come back,
Arson ~ asked the girl
when | can bring something with
which to make home of my own" he said;
and then there was another silence.
The pease were shelIed and Margaret was
sitting with her two hands folded upon the
top Of the basket Anson sat gazing at
her with hungry look in his eyes That
head with its heavy coil Of hair at the back,
the long-lashed downcast eyes-hc took
them all in with look How many nights
in the years that came after did he see i'll
the darkness that little figure parting the
shadows come and go before him.
Here's something | found for you," he
said at length, lying in her hand a small
gold cross. You'll wear it sometimes and
remember me, know"
She did not move Only her fingers were
like ice as he touched them, and her face
was pale.
81 must go now" he said, rising.
Margaret stood up leaning against the
deal table She raised her eyes now, and
Arson stood looking down into them-those
clear brown eyes-and holding her two
hands in his
"Don't you think you can wait for me,
little girl ?" he said It'll be a long while.
We shall be old man and woman by that
time perhaps" trying to smilo. "Will you
wait for me until | come back ?"
Il will wait for you forever :" The words
were low and her lips were very white
BLESS you, child But, please Heaven,
you sha'n't have to wait as long as that =
and he drew her closer to him
"Good-bye and God bless you Marga-
ret !"
She felt his arm drawn tightly round her,
knew that his lips touched her cheek, and
then she sank down upon the floor, her face
buried in the cushions of the old chair.
Why, Marg'ret, what air ye doin' ?"
cried good old Mrs Frear. "Here tits
twelve o'clock this blessed minute, and the
fire all out What will yer father say"
Mrs. Frear had begun vigorous attack
upon the cooking-stove, but stopped short
as Margaret, rising wearily, stood before
her with blanched, bewildered face
Why what ails the child Bless me,
she looks as eff she'd had a strokew A stroke,
indeed, but not exactly Of the kind to which
her mother referred.
Margaret passed her hand across her
eyes heavily, as with an effort. It's moth
ing" she said. " | must have been little
faint. That's all"
"All enough, should think YOu Just
come into my room and lie down ON my
bed, and I'll make you a bowl of sage tea
Mercy to me | hope 'tisn't the black
tongue. Your Aunt Mary told me that was
prevailn' in Barnet Just let me look O
yer tongue :" and the good woman hustled
about, bringing blankets and brewing herbs
in her soicitude for her child, quite oblivi-
Gus Of dinner and all other minor consider
ationS
And Margaret buried her eyes in the
snowy pillows while Ansen, all his world
ly effects packed in one Valise, took his way
on foot to the next stage-tOwn. And the
next week a tall man stood upon the ships
deck and watched the blue New England
hills grow dim, and little figure, i'll its
brown dress, sat still in the Vermont farm
house and worked on as before-only her
cheek was a trife whittier, and instead of
her old song there was silence
/ Ten years Long to look forward-to
look back, only the brief dream of sum
mer night. But time enough to create
many new joys, to forget many old ones.-
Had Margaret Frear forgotten Why we
will see.
The same tidy kitchen the same old
chair, and seated therein pale woman in
mourning dress She had sat down in the
kitchen she could not stay in the sitting.
room to-day. They had carried out from
there yesterday coftin--her mothers; and
in that place between the windows, where
the table was standing now, ii had stood
/ She seemed to see the black pail there yet
There was a knocking at the inner door,
followed by the entrance of tall woman
in a dark gingham gown. 1t was Mrs
kittrcdge. She lived next door, which next
door was good half mile away but they
were all called i'll Heathe near neighbors.
told my husband" she said, laying
down her sun-bonnet-'1 told him Margret
that I'd just come over and sit down long
IL III