Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1871-01-06
THE CARPENTER.
A CHRISTMAS STORY.

The company dispersed. some wan
dering, some buried with minor arrange
ments for the evening. Little Lillian sat
silent in pensive, deep delight, satisfied
beyond words with the presence of him
she had long looked for, and sometimes
listening to the holy murmur of the
wind-harp The Carpenter, taking as
he had been hidden, the liberty of the
house, was roaming from room to room,
absorbing all, often returning to the fire.
lit chamber, and always passing beyond
to pause before the picture.
In these journeys, he now-and-then
met solitary members of the group with
which he had so ingratiated himself
and each time, as if to strengthen his
hold upon them, he paused for a word
1t was in this way that he came upon
Faulkner. The young man was stand
ing in the freight room, with clasped
hands dropped, in his wonted attitude
of singular grace, tranced IN muslng-
81 was thinking Of you, he said,
dreamfully, lifting his dark, tender eyes
to the carpenters face as the latter aP-
preached him.
The carpenter put his arm around
him, and drew him to his breast. Faulk-
droop upon the stalwart bosom.
''When saw you, ] loved you, said
the gray stranger.
''And I" returned the young man,
looking up with frank affection. 'fYou
make me feel the reality of something 1
thought an abstraction"
The love passing the love of wo-
men, said the carpenter.
"The same, !" answered the youth
''The love of Shakespeare for the un-
known, David for Jonathan, John for
the Redeemer. The manly love.
The carpenter held him for moment
gathered to his heart. then silently re-
leased him, and paced away.
He had a noiseless movement, not at
all stealthy, but that of a man of gentle
soul and breeding, and so he often came
upon the others when they did not know
he was near. 1t was thus he found the
charming Fanny, in the same apart
ment, innocently dreaming upon the
/ fire, and like a rose in bloom. She
started, but into her habitual caressing
curtesy, as she saw him close by.
Joy and salutaton. sweet child and
I cIaTlfFes5's said - fondest smiling.
Thou arr like some torchs PerftiTfed
and scarlet
The lovely Fanny glowed to burning
crimson at this dazzling orientalism,
and conscious, too, of the fatherly affec-
ton Of his first address, forgot to curte-
sey, and instinctively drew nigh him
for moment then with that expression
only, and with innocent, grateful eyes,
drew backward, and. bending and blush
4 ing. sidled away.
The carpenter continued MS preaInou-
/ lations. A little while after he came
upon Tohn. standing in the centre oi
l.tbe LIGHTED apartment across the passage
4 way. gazing, with arms tightly folded
and face of gloomful misery, through
the doorways to the second room be
yond. where Emily and Faulkner were
walking together.
1--WE met again, said the carpenter
cheerily, extending his hand which the
young man instantly grasped in his own
}, The carpenter held it long, with well
returned pressure. ''This from me
dear comrade, . he said with martial at
: fection. From me, lover of soldiers.
Johns face lzindled in its pallor, witt
pride, with pleasure, with secret, sturd.
! liking, at the magnetic grasp, the foun
tain-opening words and, forgetting TO
the moment his trouble, he looked wist
fully after the gray friend, as the latte
went on to the second room beyond.
3 Faulkner paced slowly off at his az
proach, leaving Emily standing muslng
: ly alone. She looked up. mildly sml
/ ing, as the carpenter drew near.
fsWel met again, daughter, he sal
fondly, pausing before her. Dear eN
r r er to me, the true wife of my soldier.
And bending his grand and gentle hea'
II he went by.
!. One would have thought that he ha
= struck some chord. Emily, dimly sta
i i tied, thrilled and pleased, stood faint
/ flushing, her eyes cast down, her han
4 on her bosom, breathlesslY conslder1n
= with the air of one coming from a drear
Presently she looked up. The carPent
= had disappeared
Meanwhile, Tom, who had been SCOT
ing around after the beauteous Fam
without being able to come up with ne
at last found her in the firelit ROOF
with none but little pensive Lillian pre-
ent. Here was his chance, he though
and, with a loud hem, in he wake
bold as lion on the threshold, b
meek as any lamb when he got ne
her. Desperate, however, he MADE
effort, stammered inartculately- ana
ally said-yes, actually said-that
was a fine eveningi Fanny at once
piled, very innocently that 1t was; a
in a moment, Tom having exhaust
to the fresh and engaging topic OF
weather, and having half turned aw
in whirling embarrassment as to
next thing to say, she curtseyIng r'
him in the most unconscious mann
vanished into old Peter Dyzer's room
. ats no use said poor Tom, talk
. l-lF---I - 1.s.,,-e1f aftaT- bfc fatharfc sfV
in his new abandonment. "She's
Us good fol me, anyway. I'm going
the war-that's a comfort. And |
got the lock of her hair that Emily ST
bed off for me-that's another.
doesn't care a hooter for me-not {
IS, hooter.
"Think so p said blunt voice.
Tom Redeemed like fire. The carp
ter was near him, with pursed mot
smiling.
tYes, I do, blurted poor Tom, ST.
IA ". seeing no other way out OF the
ter now. save open confession to
old friendly father. "She always
awav from me when / come up to h
ess because she loves you,' blufiy
the carpenter,
Tom stared, with rolling eyes, at
has, astounding announcement.
-, nSee here, my boy said the
stranger sare you courageous
"Secesh'Il find out before long,
Piled Tom Indignantly. "Pd face a
81, terry"
VERY well. Let's see if you can
a girl, !" said the carpenter you
NV. 90 in there, my boy, walk up to
prompt, and say, Fanny, / love y
See what that will do. Go, now.
O. Tnrn stared off with sudden v