The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1872-12-12


parted. The years passed on, and still
John fingered in Germany, q hard-work-
ing, lonely student. Success had not
come to him in a full tide; he had been
refreshed only by an occasional scanty
ripple. Absence tries the worth of our
friends severely; but at the end of eight
years, John Douglas had no reason to
complain OF his place in Elinor's heart.
And then, Fate, the great mischiet-maker,
decreed that the Reverend Gilbert Palmer
should receive ''call" to Thorndaie.
And, coming, what more natural than that
he should find in Elinor Reid the dream
of his manhood fulfilled No one Won
dered at his choice; everybody wondered
why his suit was not successful. Miss
Lodemy, who may be considered as a sort
of sounding board of the village opinions,
speculated great deal on this matter
'For my part" she was fond of saying.
Its jest as plain as the nose on my face
that these two people were cut out tor
each other He's considerably Older than
she is; he's good-looking, smart we'll
connected and pretty well off As for
that, though. she's got money enough for
both. Only herself and mother to share
all that Reid property" The unlucky in
situation that perhaps Elinor was waiting
for her cousin, never failed to rouse Miss
Lodemy's Indignation That's a likely
stoy! What do you s'pose those two
children knew about love? The new
m nister' Ctour years residence in Thorn
dale had not been sufficient to rob him OF
the distinguished title, ''new'O will carry
the day, OF I'll miss my )" and Miss
Lodemy nodded her head triumphantly
But, owing to our privilege of authors
clairvoyance, we are able to see that the
minister and Elinor only stood to each
other in that delightful, dangerous rela-
ton of every dear friends" Living as
Gilbert Palmer did. when he first came to
Thorndale, above the village gossip, no
hint of Elinor's attachment to her cousin
had reached his ear. Long ago had he
declared his love; long ago had he re-
ceived his answer. His quiet words rang
constantly in her ears, Il have waited
nearly a lifetime for happiness, Elinor; I
shall wait still longer"
Over and over again Elinor said to her
self II love John OF course. | love
him !" When young woman seeks 10
convince herself in this way. does she
lsEe him
L,
"all will be we'll" And John had written
that he was coming. He hal left Ger
many But the days had passed into
weeks, and the weeks into months, until
over two years had been spent in dreary
suspense and waiting In this interval,
Elinor was forced to admit the humiliat-
ing truth that her affection for John
Douglas had dropped to the level of pure
sisterly feeling. And now began the bat
tie between love and (what seemed to be J
duty.
We understand now the reason of her
tired look, to-day. The submissive atti-
tude of the trees, holding up their giant
arms to the sky seemed to her a type of the
desolate, waiting lives in the world. But
for the trees, at least. is a coming SPRING
time" she mulmnred The next moment
she laughed AT herself for the fancy "Am
| growing sentimental? A walk to Aunt
Marion's will cure me"
She left the parlor. and shortly after
| presented herself, with hat and cloak, at
her mothers room. II am going Ia
Woodside."
That long, lonely road at this late
hour? ?" inquired Mrs Reid
"The walk will do me good, )" replied
Elinor, land Aunt Marion will bring me
home after tea'
Nothing escaped Miss Lodemy, sewing
| by the window of the little brown cottage
over the way She watched Elinor out OF
| sight with Il wise smile lowering round
| her thin lips. 'tShe's started to see her
aunt, I'll bet and the minister went the
same way, full two hours ago. How sur
| prised she'll be-" But another surprise
was in store tor Elinor OF which Miss
Lodemy little dreamed
! Night came Ola raw, cheerless night
| 1t was too dark TO sew longer by the win
dow, and Miss Lodemy prepared to light
| the lamp and drew the curtains The
| sitting-room floor, like life, had its ups
and downs, -F'Enough to make n fellel
sea-sick to walk round here" grumbled
| the brisk little woman, rs she creaked
about, stirring the fire and putting away
| her scattered work Suddenly her atten.
ton was arrested by the sound of wheels
They stopped at the house opposite, and
| by straining her eyes in the darkness, she
saw the figure OF q man alight from a close
carriage, and, with hasty strides, 90 ul
the graveled path to the house. Miss
Lodemy grew excited. She felt unequal
to observing this all alone. 1t was high
time to call in her sister, and the shril
voice piped out, 'Lorany Loranyn'
| The kitchen door opened, and through
it drifted an odor of fruits and spices, and
freshly baked bread and pies Loranv ap
rolled up, and a general Thanksgiving
doesnt-come-buto air about
her. These sisters were a curious pair
One, as sharp and slender at the needle
the sign of her trade; the other, round
smooth and heavy as one of her own
apple dumplings.
''What's wanting, Lodemy? Don't hin
der. I'm in hurry to finish up the work
Seems to me | shall never get through
| The pies are not more'n half baked; took
me pretty much all the afternoon to pin
| feather them chickens"
"Somebody's come!' breathlessly ex-
claimed Miss Lodemy
''Here? Good luck ?" said Lorany
looking helplessly down at her half mour-
ing calico, rather worse for its kitchen
experiences,
mo, no AT Reds. A man has Just
gone in there. It's so dark that cant
tell who he is, but s'pose'n it should
| be''-
''John Douglas" !" broke in Lorany
"We1l, well :" and, unmindtul of her halt
finished baking, she placidly sank into the
low rocking chair, while her sister main
tained her post by the window.
Tell you what Mrs Douglas will be
a happy woman if John has come home,
said Miss Lodemy. Poor woman she's
had sight of trouble. Wonder if John
ever got the news of his fathers dcatl, p
"You can't tell much by them Red>
and Douglases, rejoined her sister
"They arn't very free to talk" She took
up the poker, and gave the fire a stir
This attention was entirely unnecessary
but it was absolutely impossible forLorany
to sit with empty hands She was one OF
the worlds grown-up babies, constantly
demanding plaything. If she sat down
five minutes to wait, she must twirl the
scissors, or tidget with the fire, OF bite a
piece of thread, or roll the spools over
the table
"There! he's come out, and is going
off again" suddenly announced the sen
tinel at the window
| Lorany hurried to look, but her curiosity