The Republican journal., 1872-09-26

II She was weary? Tomorrow night her
teacher would be home.
Bette was in bed in her little room off
the kitchen, and Mrs. Alton was gossip
ing with Il neighbor; so Maud took her
shawl and went out of the kitchen door
Passing round the house she sat down on
the front doorstep That door was rarely
opened in the winter time. and as she
wanted to be alone she chose that spot as
being most secure. 1t was 8 glorious
night-the moon flung her pale beauty
over hilltop and valley, resting almost
like henediction on the lonely farm
house. and far more lonely girl. Oh, that
calm, pure moonlight and the ''tloor of
heaven thickly inlaid with pantines of
bright gold ~ How beautiful it seemed
after toiling all day in the hot close kitch-
en-! 1t almost seemed to Maud that the
sad-eYed stars knew OF her sorrows and
were looking kindly down upon her.
Maud Alton was strangely beautiful to-
night, indeed, a new beauty had fallen
upon her since the night of that hurried
parting in the wood shed She had carried
about on her white brow q something that
seemed almost as precious to her as the
Kiss OF her dead mother! Maud had borne
her head proudly ever since her teachers
lips had touched her brow Oh, that first
kiss of love how precious it is , How we
carry it about on our brow, years and
years after the lips are cold in death, or
perchance. false to us Maud's broad,
white brow and deep gray eyes grew al
most radiant as she thought OF his parting
words. Only in the solemn mouth could
her sorrow be read That feature can
H.. ,.I-4
lips wore the panied look that always set
ties about ones mouth when the heart is
aching.
A little while, the girl sat lost in this
secret dreaming; then the wind blew the
snow in her cetill she shivered ith cold
and the cold brought thoughts of her
cheerless home.
In an instant every feature of this night
seemed changed; its beauty was lost to
her; the moon looked cold and hard now,
and the stars had lost their kindly light
She bowed her head and wcpt then start
Ell up wildly, for q pair of strong arms
We're thrown around her. and the words
pet" and "darling" fell upon her ear.
Paul Phillips drew her to his breast. and
folded his heavy shawl carefully around
her, the two sat down in the moonlight.
There was little said at first Maud only
said:
go Paul | am SO glad "
And lie anSwered
and 80 am |, darling!"
1t was enough for Maud that he was
"homc again; and though she was not
sure that it was right for her head to be
lying on his breast, it seemed so precious
to feel that some one cared for her; and
She felt so happy after her desolation. that
she just let it lie there. Paul was busy
studying the fair face appraised to his; and
after her heart ceased to throb so wildly,
he bent his handsome face close to hers,
and whispered that he loved her dearer
than he loved his lfe-that she was more
precious to him than his honor and his
hopes Of heaven-that his kind aunt was
waiting to receive her and Bette to the
pleasant home thav shared together
Would she be his wife ?
Gaze you cold, Maud?"
"No-oh no, Paul! | will never be
cold again Oh, how kind and good God
i, Paul, To think there was nothing but
LITTLE paper wall between my desolation
and all this happiness ~
'lf God spares my life, Maud, you
shall never be desolatc again My aunt
has been mother to me ever since | was
five years old, and She SAYS she loves Won
already. have been telling tales, YOU
come with me over to Mr. Emerson's
lon know he is my best friend here; we
will tell him how it is, and be married to
night"
80, Paul this is so sudden, SO SO
"Never mind, dear; | want to put it
ont of that wOman's power to grieve you
further. We will leave in the stage in
the morning. Come, Mr.. Emerson is used
to sudden surprises"
"Rut, o Paul it looks 50 strange
.HNo it don't; we'll be called ''eccen-
tric." and its no ones business anyway
Come, promised auntie that if you would
be my wife, | would bring you home to-
morrow. You had better not stand there
flushing and paling; remember, it is ten
O'Clock, and you have beer out this eve
ming, and may expect 2 lecture as long Us
the moral law You had better come and
get married, like a good girl, and then
she shan't scold YOU As my wife she will
not dare
There was rogush look in the hand
some face that almost tempted her 10 say
''No''; hut her heart kept pleading in
Paurs favor.
"But your school Paul ?"
II will send my brother 20 teach the
rest Of the term
Maud laid her hand in his without
another word She would 90 as Paul said.
and let Mrs. Grundy and AUNT Rachel say
what they pleased.
1T will be a novel wedding. darling
Come"
The widow was thuuder-struck when
they entered the kitchen an hour later,
together Ii was the first intimation she
had of Mr.. Phillips return and it struck
her in moment that he must have come
in the stage at seven o'clock, and they had
been together ever since.
;:RealIy, Miss Maud Alton, vou are a
prudent young lady, holding stolen inter
views, and gallanting round with young
men all night. | am
.'Thcre, Mrs Alton, that is enough
will not permit you to use such language
to my wife"
"Your wife ~
Eyes, madam, my wife we We're mar
:ied IN hour ago, by Mr.. Emerson"
We will not attempt 10 describe the
scene that ensued or the words that were
spoken. The widow talked till she was
hoarsc, and then sat in sullen silence till
the clock struck twelve; then rising, she
said sullenly:
"You had better leave the kitchen,
Mrs. Phillips; | want to shut up"
"1ou can retire, Mrs. Alton; | will see
that no robbers enter. I want to help
Maud pack her trunks, after which she can
lie down till five O'Clock we leave in the
stage at six"
"Well, let bv-gones be by-gones. You
look tired, Mr. Phillips, and had bet
ter go up to your old room, and rest. [
will help Maud pack up"
Poor Maud looked up appealingly at
her husband. 1t was evident she dreaded
to be left alone with her aunt.
You are very kind Mrs. Alton; but
haye letters to write, and my school affairs
to arrange, and will have no time to rest
OF sleep tonight"
A radiant look flashed over Maud's face,
and Mrs. Alton turned on her heel with
ont anothor 1uov1 cauy Olainfy that