Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1871-12-01
THE HOOSIER
School, Master.
EY EDWARD EGGLEsroN.
CIIAPER NIN.

FACE TO FACE.
IT the lane, dark, under the shadow
/ of the barn, Ralph met Hannah car
ryin% her bucket of milk (thcy have
40 pals in indiama.D lie could see
only the white foam on the milk, and
Hannah's white face. Perhaps il was
well That he could not see how white
IIannah's face was at that moment
when a sudden trembling made her
set down the heavy bucket. At first
neither spoke. The recollection of all
the joy Of that walk together in the
night came upon them both. And It
great sense of loss made the night
seem supcrnaturally dark TO Ralph =
Nor was it any. lighter in the hopeless
heart of thcbound girl. The presence
of Ralph did not now, as before, make
the darkness of her life light
Hannah --n said Ralph pres
emily, and stopped. For he could not
finish the sentence. With Il rush
there cane upon him a consciousness
of the suspicious that filled Hannah 5
mind. And with it there came Il feel
ing of guilt. He saw himself from
her standpoint, and felt Il rcmorsc al
most as keen as it could have been
had he been criminal. And this
sudden and morbid sense of his guilt.
as it appeared to Hannah, paralyzcd
him. But when Hannah lifted her
bucket with her haud, and the world
with her heavy heart, and eSsaycd to
pass him, Ralph rallied and said:
- IO" don't believe all these lies
that are told about me-"
~ Don't believe anything, Mr.. Hart
fI - l..
anything against you. And wouldn't
mind anything they say if it wasn't
for two things" here she stammcrcd
and looked down.
q Ifit wasn't for what" said Ralph
with Il spice of indignant denial in his
voice.
Hannah hcsiiated, but Ralph press
cd the question with CagornCsS.
saw you cross that blue grass
pasture the night thc night that you
walked home with me- She would
have said the night of the robbery,
hui her heart smotc her, and She adOp-
ted the more kindly form of the SEN
tCncc,
Ralph would have explained, but
how?
al did cross the pasture" f" he began,
= hut ---p
just here it occurred to Ralph That
there was no reason Tor his night eN-
cursion across the pasture. Hannah
again took up her bucket, but hc said:
Tell me what else you have against
me.n
| " | haven't anything against you.-
Only | am poor and fricndlcSs, and
you oughn't 10 make my life any
heavier. They say that you have paid
attention TO a great many girls. |
don't know why you should trillc
with me-"
Ralph answered her this time. lie
Fspokc low. He spoke as though he
were speaking TO God F." It any man
says that ever trilled with any wo-
man, hc lies. have never loved but
! ono, and you know who that is. And
God Knows
81 don't know what to say, Mr.
/ Hartsook.n Hannah's voice was bro
Ken. These solemn words of love were
/ like a river ia the desert, and she was
like a wandcr6r dying of thirst
don't know, Mr.. Hartsook. Ii was
alone, it wouliin't matter. But I've
got my blind mother and my poor
Shocky TO look after. And | don't
want TO make mistakes. And the
world is SO full of lies don't know
what 10 believe. Somehow l can t
help believing what you say. You
seem to speak 80 true. But --"
But what >" said Ralph.
-" But you know how | saw you Just
rs kind To Martha Hawkins on Sun
day as-as ~"
!" Han-ner!" 1t was the melodi-
ous voice OF the angry Mrs. Means,
and Hannah lifted he pail and dtsap-
rearcd.
Standing in the shadow OF his cwn
despair, Ralph felt how dark IA night
could Le when it had no promise of
morning.
And Dr. Small, who had been sta-
bling his horse just inside the barn,
came out and moved quietly into the
house just rs though hc lad not listen
cd iutcnty To every word of the con-
vCrsatiOn.
As Raluh walked away lac tried
TO comfort himself 10y calling TO
hisaid the BULLDOG in his character.
Bet somehow il did not do him amy
good For what is 4 bulldog but a
stoic philosopher Sto.cism has It's
value, but Ralph had come To a place
where stoicism was OF no account
l-The memory OF tiie Helper, of ! IS
sorrow, his brave and viciV ious ondti-
rance, came when stoicism failed
! liappmcss might 20 out of life, bat IN
the. light of Chrisl's lie happiness