The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1869-01-15

/ live." '''fH i--. af..~ ,'|I
l. Frankly she held out her hand; the bright
tears yelling up to the brown eyes, lay
sparkling on the long lashes, ready to fall in
drops of gratitude ,....
Gentlyhe took the berry-stained hand in his
holding it in a warm clasp while falteringly
she continued;
''My brothers life was hard at the farm,
and he is high spirited and impetuous; but,
indeed, he is good at heart, I'm sure of il. -
Z our own kind nature must tell you how
much feel your kindness t
The tears in the truthful brown eyes ran
over, and the qnivering lips could scarce
form the words that crowded to them. A
hot tear fell on the changing opal, quenching
its brilliant rays in a drop more bright than
| the rarest gem.
The vague wrong that careless Robert
| Stewart at first dimly contemplated perished
with the one silent tear upon his hand, shiel-
ding her unprotected youth and worldly in
| experience as securely as if surrounded by q
fathers guarding arm--a tender mothers
watchful care
''She is wonderous lovely despite her
| frightful Dress" thought the handsome grad
uate, contemplating silly the sweet creature
before him. GAS fresh and pure as a noun
tain daisy. If she was only we'll educated
| what magnificent woman she would make.
| But he only said: .
| 'Are you fond of books?"
'Oh, yes, was the eager reply. "You
can't tell how long to possess just few
to be all my own like my voice. To read
alone while nobody talks around me- some
| thing good and true, better and different than
the rough language of every day. I have
but little time to read though" she added
dejectedly, looking down at the ground in
the old weary way. i
"You have the evening to yourself, sup
poser" he questioned thoughtfully.
I "Not always, you see there is 80 much to
do at our home, she replied apoogetically,
pulling at the tape strings of her apron. She
might have added that she was never allow
ed light in her room other than the moon;
| going to bed summer and winter in the dark
lying awake in cold nights, shiveringly
watching the pale stars come and go. "Na-
| lures bright lamps hang in the sky lonely
and still, like me-, she used to fancy, vainly
trying to read their mystery Evidently
her companion OWNED the true state of af-
fairs, for he looked at her pityingly, saying
| encouragingly, 70 a......I. .f.
"Girls always find some time amidst all
their work to Gull a little pleasure. If you
| will come here to-morrow--the berries must
be picked you know-perhaps you may find
a few books that will please you in the cavi.
ity of the old oak tree yonder, the third on
the right. 1t has been the sJorehouse OF
many generations of squirrels. Henceforth
We will call it storehouse IF the mind-lit-
orally tree of knowledge dedicated to you,
whose fruit shall cheer and strengthen the
mind. You will be sure to read carefully
the passages marked"
| ''Indeed, oh, indeed will I'll ponder
every line and word with such grateful
heart" she cried, at the same time trembling
with delight.
Mr.. Stewart, with natural vanity, felt con-
fdent that she would joyfully dream over the
designated portions without suggestionfrom
him; but he liked to see the rich color run tC
her eager face. and the happy wonder of the
hazel brown eyes.
They parted good friends, with mutua
shake of the hand, each in different way
thinking of the other-he haunted by the
memory of the sweetest voice and the low
liest face he had ever seen. ''Dressed fitly
and educated, he kept repeating mentally
'and she would be uperb-gloriously beau
tiful. Away from the slavery of the farm
house and its sordid inmates, she would
blossom into my ideal of perfect woman
What splendid eyes! how that tear on my
hand startled mel What tender, confdinl
mouth? Poor girl and SUCH a motherl
wish she was away from all that drags he
down" = H..
Bob pulled his dark mustache thought
fully, musing about Agnes Willard unit
he entered his fathers gate. Meeting hi
only sister Annie, on the porch, he exclaim
ed gaily: ..r
"By Jove, sis, 1 found Hebe in the Wal
nut Grove. Such wildhower, to call tina
old Hatfield, father, and his hard, coars
wife mother. She sings like nightingale
Annie, and methinks has burdene'
heart, which only forgets its SORROWS in son
soaring away beyond the unre6ning inhu
ences of the farm and its mean owners t
trancient bliss.
"You mean young Agnes Willard" sal
Annie, smiling at his enthusiasm. 'Yes
she is sweet girl; but seldom see her pa
tient face, much less hear her wonderfu
! voice, though l have two or three times
|, while walking out, heard her singing whe
she thought no one near. Were her mothe
less peculiar, 1 should like to win he
friendship; for, Robert, she is worthy {
TRUE friendship of me, and from YOU"
! Annie said this pointedly, searching he
brothers face with wstful, anxious look o
her own.
} Bob came to her side, and kissed tn
noble brow, fully comprehending the meanin
of her earnest words -. lt
"You are the best of women, Annie, th
truest of sisters, and am your brother; doe
that satisfy your l want you to be the frien
: of little Agnes; for the poor, lonely girl
l sake, not mine. .'.s .G
Then he laughingly related the barn-yar
battle; the surrender of Hatfield; the retire,
: of AL; and the alarm and anxiety of Agnes
How that he had met her in the grove b
chance, and unobserved listened to her sim
ing. sa la.. .sa-. -..i...
g We are sorry to say that Bob omitted a
/ ludiIg to the tear that dimmed his ring,
r well as the books that were to be trusted I
0 the old hollow tree; arguing that "Ann
' might laugh at him, misunderstanding b
: motive which was simply to give the Do