Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes Co., O. [Ohio]) 1870-1895, 1870-12-29
No. 10.

And now DR.. Ives grew afraid of
; this little Hildah, grew very doubt
D ful of himself.
: How softly the music rose and
t fell like dream; the sprays of or
4 ange blossoms seemed to thrill above
Hildah to the strange, sweet chords.
A little pause, then DR.. Ives said,
'Hildah, you can only speak the
truth. You do not hate me, Hill
/, dah%
She took rose from her hair,
dropped it into the palm of the
: speaker, then, smitten with that in
stinct of shyness that will not let a
woman be won in breath, Hildah,
with grace so swift and elusive
| that she seemed to float out ON the
music, passed into the room beyond
When DR.. Ives dared TO follow, she
was nowhere to be found.
If Hildah smiled in her dreams
that night, the morning brought a
sorrowfnl dawning. Her father was
sick, perhaps DYING so read the
dispatch that was brought to her
pillow. So, filled with dread. yet
: striving to be calm, Hildah made
herself ready, and was prepared to
: start with the sunrise. She went
from Maud's home with kisses and
caresses, telling how hard it was to
part with her, and how entire the
sympathy that went with her. The
little rustic maid would leave Maud's
splendid home, touched with some
thing that home had not before she
came. The simple, earnest faith of
a Christian heart, would not be with
out meaning, even to Mr.. Suther-
land, who, grave and stately, dis
dained frivolity, yet had believed in
science only until now As for the
pale lady of the house, who had
hungered for sympathy born of a
kindred faith, she would not forget
Hildah. whose coming had made q
sunny spot on the invalid's S memory.
Maud and Brenda, in their bright
garniture of dress and jewel, well
coined the many guests who came
and went on New Years Day-'a fine
day. every one called it, with the
clear sunlight, cold, transparent air,
and sapphire sky overhead.
Hildah, travelling fast, fast, over
tracts of snow, yet found the trav-
cling too slow for her yearning,
anxious heart. But home was
reached at last, and her father, per
haps he would not die they said.
But there were long watchings,
by day and night, in the sick cham
Der. Hildah sat among the shad-
ows of the sick mans room, and, |
with her mother, kept anxious watch |
and waiting. By-and-by father |
grew better-that was, well. But |
farmer Brownway would never be |
strong of head and hand, as in
times past.
Across the road. just on the edge
of the grove of pines, stood the
village school house. Hildah found |
herself installed here, one day, as
mistress. 1t would help father a
little she thought; sickness had
been expensive; where there had
never been toomuch to spare. there
was now less than ever.
If work, close and unremitting, |
makes the day pass quickly, surely
the months must have seemed short
to Hildah. And, perhaps, they did.
The face was as sweet and child-like
as ever, but the blush-roses waxed
faint in the clear, pure cheek. The
mouth had grown firm, too: self
control taught the slender, upper
lip to crush down the soft-red of the
under one. Hildah was brave wO-
man now, who had learned to 'suf-
fer and be strong.
The months passed away, with
letters once and awhile from Maud
and Brenda, telling of their school
life. Brenda's were earnest and
thoughtful. oft-times asking eager
questions of that higher life, of
which Hildah's simple faith had
caused her to think.
Yes, the months had come and
gone, and it was New Years Eve
again. Hildah had gone abont all
day with cheerful air, for she was
the light of home. No tears she
thought to herself: no sighs. My I
life is just rs God will have it-dare
| be less than content:'
The twilight was closing in with
plumy flakes of snow falling quietly.
Cheerily burnt the logs in the wide
fireplace: full to the brim with am
ber-red cider, stood the old-time
pitcher i'll its accustomed place, red
Spitzenbergs and dish of little ,
cakes keeping guard beside it. 'Fa-
ther' and mother sat on either side ;
of the hearth stone, smiling at one ,
another, looking with fond pride at !
Hildah.
Il think some Of our 'neighbors
will be in tonight, says father.
Yes, sir answered Hildah; but
her thoughts are far away. She $
thinks of the music she heard just !,
a year ago; watts of fragrance from I
the orange tree float around her, and i
enfold her in sweet memories G
Sweeter than either vibrates the 8
wordsshc cannot forget You do not {
hate me, ,IIiIdah:' II
The brave heart tagged little, I
Just moment at the window, to l
make her face bright for father and $
mother just prayer for the bright
New Year that would dawn to-mor- I
row, prayer for herself, for that +
other heart that year ago had told i
its story-faithful herself. she yet i
thought him true. $
Oh. heart, that will not doubt. t
that believes on to the end, there is t
a blessing for you, /
Even as Hildah stood at the win f
dow, the soft light of moonbeams g
struggled with the snow-fakes, con- i
quercd, fell upon her lovers face as $
he swung aside the gate, and came
up the pathway in the triumphant v
moonlight, the joy of expectancy t
upon his face. Y
What more? There was room at {
the simple fireside for DIR. Ives; @
there was room in the heart of ia h
ther and mother for the man Hill h
dab had chosen; man who was, @
and yet was not, the DIR. Ives of 8 a