Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1868-03-04
THE SHAKER CONVERT.
CONTINUED FROM LAST, MEEK.

hau OIten naunteQ her thOrShtS since SR"IRS'
/, met his dark, expressive .eyes.q He. was .ioi.
teripg about the doors, as she, approached
with her companions but he soon entered The
temple and watched her as closely as before
During that week man, in a common Ia
borer's garb, applied for work at the Trustees
Office his appearance was so much in his
favor that he was employed at a moderate
price, and sent into he.gardena. None o.
the people with whom he mingled suspected
that he was any other than he seemedTa
quiet diligent man, having no purpose beyeHd
earning his daily bread.
Bessie Percival did not see him for seTera!
days, but one afternoon, just as she was dis
missing her school, Mary Reed stopped on
her way to the flower garden, and asked the
young teacher and two or three of the little
pupils to 60 witkher. As they tr;pped along
the neat walks, Bessie saw man at work
over broad bed, gorgeous with Haunting
blossoms. Mary wished to gather some for
medicinal purposes, and they paused nearthe
laborer. He looked up and bowed d-respecitul-
ly, and with asudden start. Bessie recognized
the stranger who had so deeply interested her
at church. There was no miStsking him,
though bis elegant dress had been exchanged
for the simplest costume; that tne, manly
face, those dark, eloquent eyes, that well cut,
decided mouth, the thick black hair curling
beneath his straw hat, and the stately yet
graceful figure, she was not likely to forge:.
The color came and went on her cheeks. Ter
white, veined eyclids dropped, and she com
menced pluckiug the flowers with kihd Of
nervous haste. Mary Reed noticed her con-
fusion, but supposed it only what might DC
expected of modest Shakeress on meeting a
stranger Of the other sex, and felt secretly
pleased. The children at length called her 10
shrub, at short distance, to look at bird 5
nest they had found, and,BcSsie tremb!,d in
every limb, as the young man glanced signltl.
cantly at her, and said, in the lowest OF all
low tones -
"You know me, see-I came here for
your sake-do not betray me"
Betray you! Oh nay lnurmured Bessie.
"A smile Of singular sweetness rippled over
the strangers face.
'"I felt that could trust you," he contin-
ued /" and-and-" ne suddenly checked
himself, for at,that moment Mary Reed came
back. lie appeared entirely absorbed in his
work, till Mary asked some assistance ;.l
gathering the flowers, and then, as he handed
Bessie lafgc bunch of them, added:
do not forget me. Ouly the thought that
am near yo% can reconcile me to my posi-
ZION here"
His eyes dwelt an instant ON the beautiful
face, ander that plain palni-le bonner, and
with evident reluctance he turned from tie
timid young Shakeress.
Time passed on, and Bessie Pcrcival anu
the stranger occasionally met as they came
and went about the village, but no word was
exchanged between them for more than a
week. At length severe storm kept him
from his gardening, and he ws> employed ;i,.
doing up. odd Job here and there. tic l!;yd
come into the Ctfice ohc day for new orders.
wheu, as he stood waiting, he Glanced to Lear
Daniel Pearson, man who superintendent
much OF this kind of business, gay that Il
pane OF glass ha;i been broksn at the school
house, and somebody must be sent TO mend
it. a CLEAN of light flashed from his eyes
and turning to Pearson, he said, carelessiy:
Cant do it? Ivc finished those othe'
things, and can't bear to be iding round, il Ii
is wet weather"
"Well," replied Daniel Pearson, F" / sup
pose you can mend it; you're rather ingeni
Gus. Yea, you can go, and R"uben,", point
ing to lad in the corner, "can 60 with you
perhaps he'll be some help"
The young man would have objected tc
this part of the arrangement, but ne had as
cer,ained that it was Shaker custom to have
a third person present whenever he had any
commission to execute among the females u
the sect. Still be trusted to his own shrewd
ness and tact, which had already gained one
opportunity of speaking to Bessie, and started
his errand with light heart. The boy
who accompanied him was dull fellow, ant
he found no difficulty in sending him back
few rods to look for knife which lie hadpu!
posely dropped.
He raped at the school.housc door, and
Bessie answered his summons. She bluSnet
and trembled as she saw him standing on th'
threshold, and could not help whispering;
How rash you are If thiS boidnrs'
should be discovered, how angry Cur people
would be. Go, go, go, beg of YOU"
"No. | cannot" was the quick reply
don't be afraid. haven't come here with
out permission know better than to ex
pose myself and you. managed to lie sen
10 YOU on an errand. came TO mend apan'
of glass-where is it2 ! await your direction.
lie said this in such comicnl manner tina
Bessie could not repress smile, but aeon re
suming her grave ar, and continued
sit is the entry window that is broken
here, friend" and she laid her small hand oi
the window in question.
shall | disturb you if begin bc'or
| ..a- ..t ii h.r
"Oh! nay," said Bessie, and sue was abou
to leave him. when lie said, earnestly:
Elizabeth, gathered these for you in tn
gard you do not know their language, bu
if you are disposed to think kindly OF me
take them, if not, crush them beneath ycn
feet"
He dropped cluster of.gol en- hearte
pansies upon the floor. A moment more an
she bad picked them up and was concealn
them amid tie folds of her kercbief. Tn
Young man would have uttered his thank:
but the boy came saurtering in with the mi
sing knife and Bessie hurried away.
Even dull Reuben Smith thought the ne
.aborer q great bungler at the kind of wor
on which he was employed that Afternoon
He did indeed seem very awkward IN the us
of his tools, al d was long timc about
But to tell the truth, he liked to linger there
BcsSes sweet voice came musically 10 his ca
and more than once he lost himself in a dt
lightful day dream. When the school va
dismissed, and the children were fllcckin
out, he appeared to be giving the lat toucht
to his work.
ais ,hi all there is to be done p he aske'
as Bessie glided across the entry.
YEA" she said, stopping moment.
I" .ffe you the only teacher?' he continued
"Nay," replied the girl "Jane Dutton
usually here with me; she has taught OF
school good many years, but she wei
home two hours ago quite sick with the hee'
ache"
q For a time the stranger maintained