The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1872-03-28
Let George stay. mother il you love

8 let George stay, mother, n you love
George soinehow got hold OF the
old lady's hand and squeezed it hard.
and then he printed a kiss on her
cheek, and when she returned to the
keeping-room there was an appear
ance of moisture about her eyelashes.
"I never did see the beat, dear sus -
she began. q All sorts of things are
happening Content went and got
shot, and scared me out of a years
growth and now George Baker wants
to persuade me to take him for som
in-iaw. He's likely young man and
has mighty taking ways. and ! guess,
if the truth was known, Contents
heart has been sot on him for a long
time. She looks so happy now with
one arm in a sling, that | would sup
pose If The other was broke too, she'd
be in the seventh heaven. Sakes alive!
[ thought couple of hours ago we
was more likely 10 have funeral in
the family this Thanksgiving than a
wedding. Things do take the queer
est turns, and here I've been doctoring
Content for month back with boneset
and camomiie tea, and after all there
was nothing the matter but George
Baker; mistrusted she favored him,
but. law nova days You never can
tell whether ats q girls liver or her
heart that's affected.
= 'Taint as it used 10 be in onr time
Polly. said Uncle John, twirling his
big thumbs in the freight: "a young
fellow then knew how to court a girl
without shooting her. But times have
changed. Even Thanksgiving don't
seem as it used TO"
Law! Young folks can pop the
question as handy as they ever conld,"
said Aunt Keziah, who was plump
and merry. 81 know when you asked
me to have you five-and-twenty years
ago, John, you made dreadful piece
of work. thought you would never
stammer it ont. You are growing an
old fogy, John that's the reason you
think Thanksgiving is anything but
what it used to be-"
George Baker heard the merry
voices in the keeping-room laughing
at Uncle John. And Content watched
him stealthily, as he stirred the fire,
and sent shower of sparks, like rud-
.dy stars, up the chimney.
What did you think, Content,
when left you last summer" said
he at last
Contents heart beat quick and the
sound seemed to fill her ears, and just
then the fire-light fell and left her in
the shadow.
thought you had grown tired of
me- she said faintly, cor liked Jane
Shaw or Mary Davenport better, per-
haps," and then her voice faded quite
out. But Georges came in TO fill the
silence, strong, impassioned and true.
1t thrilled Content to the very center
of her being.
+" / left you because loved you," he
said. 81 thought was too poor to
marry, with only an education, my
hands and my head to make my way
in life. l would not hamper you with
a promise. / hoped your liking for
me had not gone far enough to make
you miserable. So left you deliber-
ately, though it almost broke my heart.
Ever since have been wretched and
to-day took my gun, and came into
the woods just to look down from the
hill at the house that held you, and
after you were hurt, and I, filled with
remorse, took you in my arms with
your heart futtering against mine
like wounded dove, / felt that you
loved me. that we belonged to each
other, and vowed that neither pow
erty, pain, or death should keep us
apart. Content, will work for you
like your very hearts slave"
go, George, do you think care"
cried Content. Il am selfish girl. I
love my ease but would sooner live
with you in hut than with anyoue
else in palace.
The shadows fiickered and mixed so
with the freight that the two figures
seemen as one; and the young girls
pure, fair face was suddenly eclipsed.
"George," said. she at last, =" / will
tell you why went to the woods this
afternoon. l was unhappy and almost
desperate; felt hard and wicked. 1t
seemed to me that if must be always
separated from you, doomed to grow
old and wither up alone, there was
nothing on earth to be grateful for
Thanksgiving was kind of mockery.
1 was sick and tired Of everything,
and when I overheard my mother en-
gaging the parson to talk and pray
with me, grew desperate and thought
/ would run away; and SO / slipped
out of the back door and ran up the
hill, not caring where 1 went"
"Dear little heart" said George
with the tears rushing into his eyes,
big fellow as he was " 1 ought to be
terribly punished fer making you suf-
fer So"
'tDon't speak of that, George" said
Content softly. +" We will never think
of it again. Why, / am just beginning
to realize how dreadful it was for me,
strong, healthy girl, to feel SO rebel
lious and ungrateful. Now my arm
is wounded, and / am o so happy. Do
you know, have fancy that should
like to have everybody, all the world
over, call this Contents Thanksgiving.