The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-09-09
pAYID,s LOVE.

"Nlnflnn
"Mnrian Holbrook. Where can that
girl be9 Tdling away her time, iii
warrant. over SPOTTED butterflies, or
sumthin' like 1t, ard them cutrants
ought to be on n stewin'."
Standing mp, in the white door,
wreathed with its exuberaut scarlet nun
ner, the good lady shndel her weak blue
eyes with one brown hand, md looked
long and earnestly across the garden
expanse-tlie iUws OF thrifty plnntsTa
sentinel column Of hollyhocks, red and
white, around which the bees were
dreaming, clnups OF cinnamon roses
showered down with every breath Of air,
four o'clocks, aud stunte1 geraniums,
to the thick hedge OF currant bushes,
further on. Stillno sign Of tho dimplcd
little maiden, in tue pink sun-bopnet,
who had gone to pick currants for Miss
Follingsbie's tea.
The sun went down behind the rye
field, near by, whose spears CLEANED
like splints OF gold or bronze the blue
bird ilew away to her nest and Murinn
went up the patti between the hollyhocks,
sitting the curnnts through her taper
fingers, wishing she was great lady,
like Miss Follingsbie, perhaps, with
braided hair and q silk gound from year
to year, and never hear her bundswoman
dead Samuel Higgins spouse) lecture
and scold, and tell her what M idle
baggage she waS, and not worth the salt
in her porridgc.
mariana Holbrook, you'll sartin be
the death Of nc. ! could a'picked all
the currants from here to Jersey aud
made jam Of 'em.n r., M 'ii4
II suppose Miss Follingsbie is quite
tuckered out in this time, and thinks
we don't intend to give her any supper
tonight" y 5l.,.
Mrs. Higgins, elbow deep in cup
cake, busted the four from her arms
with her checked apron, took away tue
pan OF currpnts, about which there had
been such to-do, and waited for IN
explanation OF come sort. None forth
coming, she returned to the cup-cake
vigorously.
David Higgins, q tall, comcly youth,
in soiled linen, and signs OF weariness
on his brown face. entered the kitchen
door, and silently Watched the two, and
followed with his eyes the deit little
girl
Mother, I don't want to interfere,
but don't you think you are sometimes
too severe with Marian ? She Is not oil
your blood, you know, and she IS so very
young. I believe sue means 10 do what
Is right
"0f course she means to do what's
right" Mrs. Higgins said, apologetically,
making an end OF her cake, and clearing
away al evidence OF It's construction.
~ never said, David, that she did, as
far as such shiftless critters know. But
Marian Is a great trial to me. 1 pity
any man who is to get her for wife (;
he would have 10 he good .nathrcd and
rich to stand her ways. Shes desttuc-
tion itsell.n --r
Marian put the finishing touches to
the table, shining with It's old.iashioned
silver spoons aud sprigged china ian
heirloom in the hOnored family from
which Mrs. Higgins sprang), aud bath.
ing the flushed face in great tin basip
Of cool water, dried 1t on the wholesome
linen, which impaired q deeper pink
than earnation. Once more the brown
locks were bound up, and. snatching q
red and yellow trumpet flower from the
vines about tue door, Marian went back
10 the best room and poured out Miss
Follingsbie's tea, wondering why slls
had remained all the years OF her life
in strictest servitude at that homely old
farm house, the only home she had ever
known. 10 DO sure, 1t had not been 50
bal ns II might. Very many young
people were In worse straights than she,
and she was not peevish or without con.
tent in the main, and yet Of late she had
begun to realize the something lacking
in her days. She had thought 80 more,
much more, since Miss Folingsbie had
come down to spend her summer. Yet
she was not so idle as 10 envy anv
woman whom o gentle fate had placed
far above her in a social scale. She
only hoped in far.cff way to be near
akin 10 such, one day in her life.
Miss Follingsbie soon finished her tea
and had gone awayto, her airy chamber,
willie ali the tedious business of setting.
things to rights filed Mariap's hands,
her ears we're lent to catch every strain
ofsweet song which 1oated in from the
room above. ss,.. -.
Mrs. Higgins, quite "tuckered out"
with the many things to which she had
given her mind and hands during the
long day, lad retired, as was her custom,
while the crickets were chipping their
fist lays.
Closing up the house softly, Marian
took path through a white gate which
led TO the east meadow, whose fragrant
stubble and morning. glory vines were
thrown out in bold relief by the summer
moon, Just climbing the heavenly track.
Mariau held hut breath and exulted In
the utter stiffness. Presently broad
shadow fell athwart her own. She
had taken the same road as David.
He walked like one In dream, his
han g clasped behind him, his eyes
troubled.
"Afahan r
well, David, ! suppose one may
make turn In the air without the
chance oi trespasslng, Is not this a
paft Of Rye Fields-belongipg 10 Mrs.
Higgins, aud am I NOT part and parcel