Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1870-03-30

and was listening, white and eager, greedy
to lose nothing. not even the pain every
word brought her.
But do you think they will marry. -
asked Millie moving her chair to bring it
before Eliza excited face.
Il understand he has taken her home to
sec his folks, and see how they like her.
Oh, did you know we are expec.sng Au-
gusta and the baby in few days, she ad
ded, as though with sudden change of
thought.
1t made no difference to Aunt Betscy
what the suhject-she was at home on any !;
and taking pinch of snuff she chatted
way just as readily on the next theme put
In her way with such adroit carelessness
When Eliza went home soon after, Mil
lie went to the gate, and finally along the
road as far as the third maple tree.
-. Il thought you were my friend, Milie, :"
said she bitterly. '.But you knew how
lenged to hear whatever else your Aunt
Betsey could tell. !"
so am your friend, your true friend !;
but you looked as though there was dag
ger sticking in your heart, and was not
going to let her go back TO Dorset with any
story about you to tell Miss Halsey. Be
sides, she had told all she knew, and some
she guessed, already. Don't cry, Zay. !
have presentiment it will come out right
yet.
Right meant to these young girls the
way most desirable, in their finite eyes they
sec such a little way into lie and the great
beyond
So Millie went back to the gossiping
aunt, and Eliza went forward TO take up
the burden Of life from which the sun was
darkened, and the moon withheld her light
But
'The darkest day,
Live till to morros, will have passed away
Aunt Betsey was right ABOUT a great ma
ny things and at the very moment she
was taking a pinch of snuff, and uncon
sciously thrusting poisoned arrows into the
heart Of Eliza Orange, the sam, subject
was being discussed by Frederic Ches hunt s
father and mother in the clean, airy kitch
Ell Of their farmhouse.
= Did you give Frederic hint of how you
felt, mother ?" asked Mr.. Chestnut, aux
lou sly mot a word for nor against. l
wouldn't. treated the girl just as well as
knew how though never could stand it
with the Dudgeon blood | always did
feel as though was porcupine with my
quills out wherever saw one OF the fam
lily, even as long ago as when they and we
were young together though don't know
any reason why, replied Mrs. Chestnut,
stopping moment to mediate upon the
metaphysical side of the question, "Wcll,
SO il is, " she resumed cheerfully, after an
unayai!ing pause some folks eau bear
cheese, and / never took to the Dudgeons.
But, nevertheless. shall try to treat Fred
dys wife Ike daughter, whoever she r,cy
be- so showed her my chceses, and took
her out to see the garden and the big, and
never breathed breath for nor against TO
Freddy Only as she was off putting on
her things in the real Dudgeon way, david
ling aud dowdy, Just said to Freddy, sort
of aside, said |, Next time you come
bring Eliza And he never said word
and never said wuld. l wouldn't tol
anything.
All, kind -harted Mother Chestnut
Unconscious influence is sometimes might
lest and word spoken 10 due season how
good is it
Frederic didn't tell you, | suppose,
asked Mr. Chestnut, anything about what
made the trouble bctwixt him and Eliza
Orange +? Or wasn't there ever anything
to it only our surmisings, after all 2
We'll don't know. replied Mrs. Ches
hunt ali the more chee,fully TO balance tho
glocm of her husband, Il guess they liked
each other, DO mistake about that; but
they are both pretty proud and pretty stufy
and | mistrust something has gone wrong
that they won't either one Of them come
back of. But, then, nobody can tell the
Letwixts and betwceus of a couple OF young
folks, and themselves as little as any
body. Young folks don't know more than ;
couple of rabbits hat they w.nt and wha
they ought to want, and they are just as ap
to stumble on the wrong thing as the righ
thing" pursued Mrs. Chestnut, with The
wisdom of experience and of long observa
tioa stirring in her brain. "WhY, cam
positively say there was any certain en-
gagement, or the like of that, but | suppos
ed it was an understood thing Well,
don know, father, it will come out right
one way or the other, and talking won
feed the pig, or pick the peas for break
fast to morrow morning."
So saying, Mother Chestnut put on hel
sunbonnet and went briskly out, with +;
pail of milk in one hand and an empty bas
ket in the other 1t was not her heart tha
was on the anvil, and so she could comfor
herself for her disappointed expectations b,
the homek duties Of her homely life
Meantime, at the same moment, Freder
ic Chestnut, alone in his counting room
trotted his foot and thought.
Since that one black day, so long passed
now, he had been in a whirl of wounded
self love, suspicion and despair. Unsatis
fed and restless, he had been tossed from
one mood to another, sure of nothing bu
Il