Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1872-11-16

'Coquetryin said Matte dlsdainfully.
Gas II you ever knew the meaning Of the
word 20
"Probahly he repented, Matte, and
thought a poor country girl would not
grace HE city home. But whatever his
motive, he left me, and confess l shrink
from meeting him"
"Certaluly you do. will not urge you
to stay now dear; nut after we return from
Newport, whcre | suppose Charlie will
have Douglas for his guest, you Will come
home again Z"
"we will see Matte. Let me go now"
81 am afraid you will nnd Hill farm just
as horrld as ever"
Just as horrid as ever Edith concluded II
was, after a weeks sojourn at the dismal
farm ehe called home during her girlhood'
Her uncle did not domineer quite 80 much
over the dignifed, stately lady, who came,
after Ave years Of city life, to replace The
Uniformed girl who had left hlmi but he
was morose and ill-tempered as ever, and
the dreary house had no added charm.
Edith found there were servants 10 do the
churning, baking and house work she had
shared with Matte, and rambled about the
place, wondering a little how meny weeks
Of 1t would suffice to flt her for a lunatic
asylum.
In one Of these rambles, two weeks'after
her arrival, she came upon a group Of men
who were repairing the tumbie-down fences
and Tickety gates about the place, They
were at work uIon the old gate post she
had turned into post-ofiice, and 1he stood
list tlessly watching them as they loosened
the earth around It, to lift the rotten wood
work from Its place. The loose top was
gone, and there were wide cracks In the
wooden slab under II, where the love let
tiers of ave years ago had lain waiting Tor
eager hands aud eyes.
Edith felt her heart beating fast, her
eyes filling with tears, as blow alter blow
fell upon the hollow post, cracking, bend
ing It, till It fell TO the ground, Just as the
noonday bell called the men to dinner
When the curious eyes that might have
seen her wer, safely indoors, contempla-
ting meat and vegetables, Edith went close
to the old pot, and looked into The hole
where II had stood for 50 many years. ln
the damp dark earth she saw 10. .ded
I paper, evidently shaken from the hollow
post by the recent blows. \ strange sur
foeating feeling Leld her fast fra moment
then she stopped, reached over and secured
the letter. Ii was not a dainty mlssivei
such as she sent to Newport, for 1t was
not easy for her to fad scented paper ant
tinted envelopes at Hill farm. II was Q
sheet Of coarse letter paper, folded, SEALED
and stamped with thimbe top, dlrectet
In round girllsh hand TO Douglas Fisher
the letter she had written TO appoint tim,
and place for an elopement-the letter hI
had never seen that In her hurry and agita
tien she must have slipped through one o.
the wide cracks down into the hollow
post.
She opened It carefully, her heart pity
ing even then the simple girl who opened
her whole loving soul to her lover. Th'
yery words were so different from those
she would use now. No polished cour
tesy Of address, no polite evasion Of thu
tender questions, but a frank, girlish out
pouring of her happy consent to leave hei
hard, bitter life, aud accept the SUNNI
future her lover promised her. Edith wal
cold, impRssive and stately In the day
when she shared her sisters happy home
It was a rare event TO see her show emo
tion IN any way and Charlie had wondered
more than once at his cousins admiration
Of her siatdeeque beauty.
But as she read now the secret Of he
lovers apparent ackleness, the record o
her own young heart, the tears fell fas
upon the yellow stained sheet, and sob
shook her WnOle form. lheIc was no On
to see her, and she knelt down by the tallel
gate post, and wept for her own lost you'll
and broken hopes.
tshe was still kncelng there. the opel
letter IN her hand; she heard a footste
turn from the road into the narrow Ian
leading TO the farm housei in moment
would be at the gate. She sprang to he
feet, and faced tall heavily bearded msi
who paused for a moment, looking searel
ingly into her faee-only for a moment
and then he opened his arms.
edith" he said, in deep tender tones
never saw your letter 20
She was resting against his breast, q
sh put il into his hand, and told him no
she found II.
"Mattie told me all" he said, "and
> came on at once. Oh, Edith, II seems 10
!, much happiness NOW o find you still ell
! gle, and still my own"
Charlie and Matte were fully prepare
! for the return Of the truants to Newpor
l and the autumn collected a c0ncourse
dear friends to witness grand weddinl
y few euspectiug tho previous couriship
8 the handsome couple who were unite
y after long years.