The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1870-12-23
BIDDEFoRD, ME-, FRIDAY

happy to see him. That was what
meant, mother"
'Oh, we'll" replied Mrs. Pursall, too in
tent upon the pies tn detect the veal
points Of this lucid explanation, "that wa.
so long ago that very likely he's forgot nj
about it. But Philip Is always welcome
anyhow"
Polly said nothing. In her secret sou
she did not believe Phil had forgotten.
How distinctly she remembered abou
that promise All through the short Va
cation, 20 vaguely alluded to rs ''in th,
summer" they had been together. Phi
and she. gardening Mt the rate of mig
nonette seed 10 twenty minutes converse
ton; '.botanizing" Heaven save the mark
Polly hardly knew the difference bctwecr
pistil and pistoD; dawdling at the gate
under the pink sunset till the moon rose
shy and silvery above the pink, and Mrs
Pursall's voice addressed them from m
upper window on the subject of damp
..trapesing," to use the language OF the
same authority. In wet grass Of evening.
to search out glow-worms-all these and
similar pursuits had made Il time OF en-
chantment. Phil was an old playmate
and neighbor; nobody thought much ol
their being together, but Polly thought a
great deal. And the last day Of all, when
she supposed him gone he had stolen away
half An hour before train time, and sur.
prised her In the cool well room, her
sleeves rolled up, her slender waist en-.
veloped In white apron making l.ies-
all unconscious OF his proximity. That
last visit stood In bold relief from others
for, lingering there outside the window,
words had been half said, have looked
which she could never forget, though a'
the time half frightened. she had pretend.
ed not 10 understand them. And at last
he took to teasing her about the pics, a'
she daintily rolled her paste, and Jagged
the narrow strips of edging. Wouldn't
she make him one-all of his own-ni
Thanksgiving time. for instance, for he
was coming home then3 Oh yes, he was
sure she would. though she gave no prom
ise he should come in the evening for It,
And then the time came for him to GO
And leaning through the window-Polly
colored now rs she thought of it-hc had
softly kissed the little brown wrist and
departed. his las. words being. elf you
love me Polly. don't forget the pie."
am afraid II was too late for that "if."
For. dreadful rs it seems. the Pollys oi
real life do not always wait, rs the books
say they should. until decisive word has
been spoken before yielding their hearts,
Love comes unsought, unseen, rs the sun
comes or due; eyes ask, and looks ask.
Prudence tugs feebly at the bolt. and
Cupid takes possession for bliss or bale.
Which in our Polly's case, Il was to he,
remained to be shown. She feared moth.
ing, poor child. Phil loved her, she was
sure. and all the hopeful sky was bright
with early dawn.
"If YOU love me-" The words so light
ly spoken hummed round her like n song.
rs she drew from its hiding place Pills
pie. Such % pie! Crisp rs frost, foam
white. except where heat had kissed It
into brown, with edge so trinity, 20 exact
ly cut. and middle adorned with won
drous t~irl Of past, embodying the initial
"P,"-a marvellous pic!-a pie to make
the mouth water, and put an appetite un.
der tho RIBS of Dyspepsia. l. ne and
lovingly did Polly gaze on this CHEF -dGucrc
before committing 1t to the topmost shelf
in the pantry. and then restoring all To its
pristine tidiness. she fled up stairs, for
there was hat to bc trimmed, and, house
keeper though she was, Polly was no less
girl-a girl Of eighteen. and, what was
more. the pretticst girl Of eighteen in Co
hasset. Something was due to this emf
ncnt position.
So.shut into her room. she sat adjusting
the killing little feather on the new tur-
han, turning now and then tO survey the
effect in n morscl OF looking-glass, and
by-and-by, rs the drilted gold began IL
gather round the sunset, n sound came ON
the wind-the distant shrek of locOrnO-
tive. The train had arrived ut "the june
tion." four miles away. Far abovs the
woods she could SEQ the dim blue smoke,
Down went the new hat and lovely
smile parted her lips. That shrek meant
Phil; and / question If Beethoyen's
finest sonta could at that moment have
seemed more musical-so truo II Is that nj
times we listen with an inward ear to
which all sounds are mclOdious IL they
suggest the thing we love.
Phil was come. The thought awoke
with her next morning, and lent its spring
to the many small businesses which ush-
cred in the day. II was for him she rub
bed the crimson apples till they shone,
hcaped the grape clusters so tastefully.
and crowned the vases with chrysanthenl-
ums and gay leaves. Tho candles she In
serted in the tall plated branches should
brighten the room when he entered, the
noble hickory logs should warm. the pol.
ishcd andirons please his eye. She lent
her whole heart To the icing-Phil liked
loaf cake. And If ever the spirit Of Lady
Mary Wortley's sentiment was carried
outfit ever room ceased 10 DO room,
n dinner n dinner-it was now, when
transmitted by tender alchemy, the old
farmhouse took on higher meaning, and
Mrs. Pursall's nuts and apples became In.
deed .the refrcshment provided for be-
loved one"
All things in order at last n merry par
ty set off for church. Father, mother,
brother James. his wife and child-irsi
installment Of the family gathering-and
in the midst. Polly. The sun shone; crisp
leaves rustled under foot; In all Cohassei
was no blithcr face than that crowned by
the new turban. rs our little maid took
her scat in the gallery from: row rs one OF
the village choir. How everything SEEM
ed To smile! She loved the world; she
loved the governor for arranging this do.
li.htful day--the day which made so many
people happy; which brought Phi
home.
1t was carly. Tho mclodcon was play
ing low. droning voluntary; the green
curtains wero half dnlwn-plcnty oI
chance for the choir TO peep and
to whisper "A thing all choirs like to
do.
81 say. Polly. where did you get thai
featherp" asked her neighbor. 81 only
wish somebody would give me one. III
just elegant !"
Mother bought it. said Polly. her eye
on the door.
who are you looking for7 Your ma;