Urbana union. [volume] (Urbana, Ohio) 1862-1872, 1870-12-14

lie, when he Wonit tell the truth p
Tell me- continued Miss Eleanor in
the same tone, when he read it, what
did he say? You saw his face. Did he
kiss it ? Didn't he once whisper, Poor
Eleanor9
Gracious Lord of heaven!' -redeated I
to myself, shOw's a man to keep from
telling a lie, when he can't tell the
truth?'
Her eyes seemed to look me through
and through. was afraidof them.
why don't you speak, John Par
sons?' asked she at last.
Miss Eleanor said I, put to it, the
room was very dark, for attendance
isn't good at the 'Golden Heart, It
would have needed cats eyes to have
made out the biggest print; bat I placed
the letter into Master Hugh's hands,
can say that
4NIiss Eleanor fell back on the pillow,
with dreadfnlly disappointed face.
fThen, John Parsons, she whispered,
you mean you've nothing to tell me
no news to give memo eOmfort-nOt a
word p
The big tears that trembled in her eyes
rolled over, one by one. As watched
them running slowly down her cheeks,
it needed all the courage ] possessed in
me to say tNo.' And don't believe,
John Parsons, were you at any time in
like circumstance, however much put to
it, you could have said NO again.
She turned her head to the wall and
lay quite still. heard little Sob
Then she stretched out her hand.
Thank you, John Parsons she said;
'that'll do. You may go.' 9lE
So left the room, and passing down
|, OF fofrnaao fOrrrOt cno IonvT
coat and gray, wOrsted stockings. The
difference of station did not strike me
the same as when I went up. The let
ter in my pocket thumped against my
heart like a crime. Some way or other
1 was determined to get rid.of it.
I heard from the butler that Master
Hugh had gone, and was not expected
home for months. When asked where,
he said. TO the Pyramids But that
did not help much.
1t was a bold thing to dol resolved
to write to him and send him Miss Flea
nOr's letter. I couldn't have slept with
it in the house. I was not sure tnat the
post would take my letter at al, still less
sure that Master Hugh would read it. 1
had not held pen in my hand since l
covered the page of copy book with
Perseverance, at Barton school, so
lOuuu IL dlNla uOb CO444O db s4AnA4uLNA etA "
me to write. The pen wanted to go one
way and another, and the ink SEEM
ed to quarrel with US both. Neither did
the spelling come any way. natural
When I had put down the words, they
didn't look at all what I meant. After
five copies-and it was very hot work
I got on pretty tOlerable. It was this;
Mister Hugh. 7 John Parsons Ferry
man Barton and yours Umbly, ope
youe'Il receive this without displeasure. |
I couldn't Face Miss Eleanor agen with
it in my pocket, I couldn't say what
you saide to me. No, sir not with
Them eyes. Please don't send it back |
to me-. Miss Eleanor asks alWats for |
you. EXquese the libertie Agen Umbly |
yours, John Parsons
I took it to the post-office myself. The |
directory knew was the place to look !
for addresses; but that, along with the |
Pyramids, was beyond me. So 1 just !
wrote Mister Hugh Charters, and hand !
ed it over to the postmaster, who was |
friend, 1 haveing ferried him across
since he wore buttons.
For months I heard nothing, and |
could only trust in the two post offices !
at Barton and at the Pyramids. Miss
Eleanor recovered slowly, and went for |
a change of air to an aunt in Scotland. /
Before she left she sent me a WOllen 1
comforter and note. In it she said she |
had made it herself, to keep my throat |
warm in cold weather. Fancyher think
ing of my throat me, q teTry-man! I /
always wore it-mild and chilly, dry
and damp days. When tied it round
my neck of a morning, thought of her;
and very generally through the day I
thought Of her. The months creep on
at ferry about as fast as they do else
where, and at last Master Hugh came
home. I saw him several times, but he
did not mention the letter, nor did I; for
I was rather uneasy about the three
sylIabled words. He seemed to have
forgotten Miss Eleanor altogether, for
he never spoke of her.
One day 1 found his book in the damp
grass, where he had left it all night 1t
belonged to the Hall, for there was an
iE. b. on the first page. Beside it lay
a small glove. I picked it up; it was
Eleanor's. 1 showed them both to Mas
ter Hugh, when he came down later in
the day.
Sir said I, Mr.. Beresford is to be
back on Thursday. Shall I take them
up to the Hall to-day, and give them
to the butler
No, said he quickly and I thought
his tone strange. Leave them with
me. will take charge of them
About week afterward, 1 was doing
in the boat, with my coat over my head,
being weIl-nigh driven crazy with the
HES, and Master Hugh stretched under
The elm-tree reading, when heard him I
start suddenly to his feet. I looked up.
There stood Miss Eleanor on the OppO-
site bank, with her hat full of flowers.
She looked straight across at him, and
then grew very red. The river was not
80 wide that they could not her each
Jther speak across it.
q It's q long time said she, since
have seen you, Mr.. Charters.
"A long time, Miss BersfOrd, said he.
I stared from one to the other. Bless
me! Was it posOible? They had forgot
each others names.
so long said she presently, playing
leTvously, with the flowers, so long
that can scarcely believe there is only
the river between us
If it is So returned he, the river
mas widened strangely since we last .
met. Certain words, like certain June ,
days, are difficult to be forgotten
Hiss EleanOr's face flushed, and she
turned quickly away. r..
and she added in a low voice, diff
licult to be forgiven Then, after few
silence, she asked. But are
they too difficult to be fOrgivenP
Master Hugh had torn the leaf he ;
held in his hand into small pieces and
turned the last fragment into the stream.
His eyes were down. Hiss Eleanor half ,
turned.
DO you say repeated she slowly,
they are too difficult to be forgiven?
4 wish answered laster Hugh, rais-
ing his voice. 4 wish it was half as easy ,
to forget as to forgive, Hiss BeresfOrd; ,
the word is utterly Inappropriate /
I could stand it no longer Bless my :
souIv said to myself, what's got into =
them? I didn't believe it possible /
They've forgotten each others names!
Why cried I, all of a sudden, inter- I
'ering in o shocking manner, why {
Master Hugh and Hiss Eleanor y I
She turned at the words, and gave
lim such look like prayer. Even q
ler hands seemed to pray. Master {
Hugh stepped forward to the edge of the c
water. c
Take me acrOss-quick, John Parsons I
-quiclv said he all at once. [
NO. said Eleanor in a low voice
Take me, John Parsons-me first
your pardon, Master Hugh said I,
making for the bank but you know,
ir, ladies came first, and Miss Eleanor
irst of all J.
When we reached the other side, he e
OOk both her hands. 1 was glad to see c
hadn't remined them for nothing. v