The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1869-03-19


been careful livers. But we manage now to
pay our rent without eucroaching OH the u-
terest Of the two thousand dollars; SO we
felt that We were gaining u little all the
time. Ur
Once in while Mr.. Hope came out to see
his place. He would go ali over the grounds
with falher, aud talk patiently about rota-
tion of crops, and clover and timothy. and
buckwheat Father said he understood things
wonderfully for a man whose life had been
passed in town. 1t was his Scotch quick
nees, suppose. Every time he came, too,
he used to chat an hour with mother and me,
and he always spoke of Marcia--told what u
brave, ST. ong split she had, and how nobly
she was doing; till, after awhile. got used
to the idea that they did not care for each
other, and ly and.by, when the farm was
clear, Mr.. Hope might be my brother.
tried to be glad, hut | confess the feel
| ings bad about it were often not generous.
| | hope / am not meHner or more selfish than
| the rest of the world. but could not help
| asking myself sometimes how it was that
| Two men had loved Marcia and none at all
had loved me. If her beauty had answered
| the question. then why had she been made
more beautiful than |? What was at fault
with the arrangement Of things that all the
|
bitter to others? Then | remembered how
| hard she was working, and felt ashamed of
myself But it did seem as if all her troubles
blossumed into blessings How superior
! Mr. Hope was to james Hsrrs Indeed
am not sure that [ was getting TO think him
superior TO every one.
Three years went round IN this way, and
it came the third anniversary of the day on
which the ftrm had been sold. Marcia had
not been home for some time; but she had
written that she should come home on that
| day So we meant to make sort Of festival
of it. We could afford to now, when, after
all, we had not left lngleside, aud things had
come out so much letter than We had feared.
! Marcia deserved, TOO. generous welcome
Mother and had worked hu>;iy. getting the
house in perfect order, making pirs and
cakes and swp"tm; ats, and when the day crmp
We were all ready We hurried through the
morning tasks, and | ut on pretty fall
dress, with bright ribbon at my turoat,
aud Il bunch of scarlet leaves in Ghy hair -
Then / waited eagerly enough for my sister
She hal promised to come in the early train,
and little past ten / saw her waking up
from the depot, leaning on Mr. Hopes arm.
Il think he might h We let Is have her TO
ourselves this one day." | said, little bit
tarly.
As they drew nearer noticed that Marcia
had left OIL her deep mourning She wore
black silk, and looked rngu in it. thought
that the three years, instead Of wearing up
on her, had hut dreprned and enriched her
beauty. She had certainly never seemed Sc
peerless as when, having put aside her shawl
and bonnet, she came and stood in the sit
ting-room window, looking ont on the bright
ness of the autumn day. Her tall slight
tigur" seemed To nave acquired new rlpgincr
in the midst of tasks hat would have wrapped
most women from their natural g"ace and
symn"iry lie" face IVES clear, and It hrg!Ii
color flushed her cheeks. Some secret glad
ucsS kudipd her eyes and curved her lips
did not wonder that Mr.. Hope looked at
her so much; but thought OF poor James
liarris,4 rods away in his grave, aud tried to
! believe ih"t it wdS only FIR his memory
felt icuiouS
1T is just such day" she said. AT last
''as the on" bofUrr the old farm was sold
DO you remember, hru, how We locked out
of this window together, and saw father and
muIh'r makinrthr muurnfu farewell round,
Trank Cod aud thank yor, Mr. Hope, til,
farewell never cainp;' aud she glanced up al
him with that wonderful light in her cyas
and smile which made ler whole face bril-
liaut,
She looked long time at The well-known
well-oved scene, with the bright October
glory resting on it. THEN SHE went up Il
father and leaned over him with the Old CD
reSSing mHnm"r.
Father" she said, ''you must own Ingle
side again"
"Irs, daughter, if it pcases Cod he an
swcred, gently. He had always been gentle
ana these last Years had made him more so.
1t hss pleased God, she cried, impeti
ously. Father, have succeeded even b t
ter than my hopes. . gave myself five years
TO make two thousand dollars in, and have
accomplished it IN three"
She took out roll of bills, and handed
them to him.
There it is iatter. Now you have onl,
to transfer the bank stock. and IngleSil,
will he paid for. Yuu must own it again to
day"
Mr. Hope came forward and smiIed-thr
old hrartSome smile which had not iced thai
first time | s,w him.
'She made me bring the deed" he said. -
"She hadn't patience to wait twenty-fou
hOHrS IG1ger- you must own lngleSide agaiI
before this sun went down."
Halfirwi,errd, my father attemled un
der Mr.. Hopes direction, 10 the details o
the business; ami when it was all done he sa
still, like one in maze, turning the new
deed over in his hand. Marcia went up tC
him aud kissed hun, aud he took her into hi.
arms.
''God bless you, my child. my own child!'
1 he bIrulhcd, fervrull ly-''rven rs through
you lie has blessed me beyond my hopes"
Il said | would live ill the old place wa
oleared!'
Marcia spoke triumphantly; and with tha
glow Oh her checks, that light n'hrr eyes,
thought she looked as if she might live for
ever.
"You will not go hack again to tcwn?
my mother asked her. with fond anxiety.
The question suggested Il new fear 10 m,
father, and he held Marca's hand tight, ill,
looked into her face.
mo, child, you won't go hack, will YOU:
he pleaded, searching her face with his eyes
She stopped and kissed him-they had ulway
been 50 dear each other.