The Lincoln County herald., 1871-06-15

For an hour Afterwards John romped
with his sisters children, and told stories
10 the boys, and talked to his father.
When . man has barely escaped gong
over precipice he does not like to think
about It. John did not.
At last the little children went to bed.
The old gentleman grew sleepy, and re.
tired. The boys went into the sitting
room and fell asleep, one on the lounge
and one on the floor. Huldah was just
ready to be. 10 her pies. She was deeply
hurt, but John succeeded in making her
more cheerful. She rolled up her sleeves
and went to rolling out her pastry. He
thought he had never seen . sweeter
picture than the young girl iu clean dress
and apron, with her sleeves rolled up
above her elbows. There was a stat
uesque perfection in her wellrounded
arms. Tho heat Of the FIRE had flushed
her face little, and she was laughing
merrily at Johns awkward blunders in
pie making. John was dolighted-he
hardly knew why. In fixing q pie.crust
his fingers touched hers, and he started,
as il he had touched . galvanic battery.
He looked at Huldah, and saw half
painful expression on her flushed face.
For the first time it occurred to him
that Huldah Maunors had excited 10 him
feeling a thousand times deeper than
any thing he had ever felt toward Janet,
who seemed to be now in another world.
For the FIRST time ho realized that ho had
been more in love with Huldah than with
Janet all the time. Why not marry her
And then no remembered what the Gov
ernor had said about his marrying q
woman's heart and not her head.
He put on his hat and walked out-out
into the darkness, tho drizzling rain aud
the slush of melting snow, 6ghting a
fierce battle. All his pride and all his
cowardly vanity were on one side; all
the irresistible torrents Of his love on the
other. He walked away into the dark
wood pasture, trying to cool his brow,
trying to think, and (would you believe
itO trying to pray, for it was great
struggle and in any great struggle true
soul always fnds something very like
prayer in his heart.
The feeling of love may exist without
attracting the attention of it's possessor
1t had never occurred to John that he
could love or marry Huldah. Thus the
passion had grown all the more powerful
for not being observed, and now the un
seen FIRE had at a fash appeared as an all
consuming one.
Turning back, he stood without th'
window in the shadow, and looked
through the glass at the trim young cir
at work with her pics. In the modest
restful face he read the story Of hear
that had carried great burdens paticntl,
and nobly. What a noble picture sh
was Of warmth and light, framed il
7 darkness. To his heart, at that momen,
all the light and warmth Of tho worl
centered in Huldah. All the world be
3 side was loneliness and darkness an,
g drizzle and slush. His fear of his siste
Q and his friends seemed base and cowardly
! And the more he looked at this vision Q
l the night, this revelation Of peace an
J love and light, tho more ho was deter
e mined to possess it. You will call hir
: precipitate. But when all mans nobil
g ity is on one side and oil his meanness o.
the other, why hesitate? Besides, job
}. Harlow had done more thinking in tha
' half hour than most men do in mouth
D Tho vision had vanished from th
window, aud he went in and sat down
d She had by this timo put in the last pie
I aud was sitting with her head on be
. hand. The candle Aickered and wen
e out, and there was only the weird an
ruddy freight. l cannot tell wha
words passed between Johu and tho SUI
y prised Huldab, who had thought hil
y already bctrothed to Miss Dunton.
= . cannot tell what was said in the light {
that Ere; I don't suppose Huldah coul
tell that story herself.
o Huldah asked that he should not sa
i any ything about it till his sister was gone
9 Of course John saw that she asked il 70
g his sake. But his own cowardice wl
8 glad Of the shelter.
8 Next day o brother Of Johns (vhor
Q I forgot to mention) came home froI
IS college. Mrs Holmes husband arrive
unex pectedly. Aunt Judith, with b
t family, came over at dinner time, g
there was large and merry party. Tw
}. hearts, at least joined in the Deacon
Is thanksgiving before dinner with muc
il fervor.
ri At the table the dinner was much ad
O mired.
"Huldah," said Janet Dunton, II iii
K your pies. I wish could hire you to {
|. to Boston. Our cook never does I
y WE'LL"
}. John saw the we'll aimed shaft hidde
r under this compliment, and al bis ma'
hood rallied. As soon as he could |
o sure of himself, he said: ...
,f "You cannot have Huldah sbe 10 al
ready engaged"
Q "How's that?" asked Aunt Judith.
d "Oh, I've secured her services" sai
d John -.....,. ....
II "Whatl' said Mrs. Holmes, engage
vonr-vour-help before yOu We engage