South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1873-08-22


hin. He drew up his chair TO the table.
where his father was sitting, and answered
her in soft tone
Il suppose you are right, mother, but L IN
not just myself Tonight
Then he ate his supper in silence, and
after il was over, sat for few moments
thinking silently. At last he took courage
and opened the subject Of which his mind
was full.
Father, James Mccormick is wanting
place. Don't you think, with you to over
see him, he could do the work on the farm
this summer I?
Mrs. OsgOod did not speak, but the cup
she was wplng fell to the floor with sharp
crash. For full minute it was the ONLY
sound which broke the stillness.
At last the old man answered
Il don't know, John-may be he could
| never like to have any strangers working
on the place in my time. did it all my
self till you were old enough to help me,
and everything has prospered Under your
hand, John. Still, may he James McCor-
mick could. Did you think Of leaving,
John 2
Il don't feel satisfied, father, to be a far
mer in this small way. | want to do some
thing more with my life. You could hire
a man to do all tho work do for twenty
dollars a month, aud want to SEQ what l
am worth somewhere else
Then there was another long silence
The mother flushed washing up her dishes,
and came and sat between her husband and
her son Der face was very white, and her
d. hob 10
old man reached out and took one of her
trembling hands in his own
we musu't blame John, mother he
said, trying to speak cheerfully. what
he feels isn't unnatural. Oiber young
men say The same. Very few of them are
contented nova days to live their fathers
lives over again. Only it's come sudden
Dcn'tthink We blame you, boy. It's al! fair
and right-ouly sudden
John got up aud went up stairs His
mo hers pale silence, his fathers attempt
at cheerfuluess, seemed more than he could
possibly bear He went away to his own
room and sat down by the window. Over
across the fields light burned steadily
lie knew 1t was the lamp in Angeliue vii.
marth's parlor. Was she worth all this, that
he was making these two old people suffer
Was he sure that she would love him as
they did -? Was he sure that she would love
him ut all Aud in this untried life, this
great world whore so many failed, how did
he know that he should succeed Whit
was he going to do? How vague all his
purposes were just a dream, born of n
soft spring night, and Angie Wilmarth's
fair face. And for it he was going to over
turn the fabric of bis whole life
No, he would not be so mean. This
summer, at least, should 90 on as before
lie would take time to consider. BY au-
'umn he should know better what be could
10, aud whether be could bear to leave that
old father aud mo,her-fye of whose trea-
sures the churcbyard held, aud whose ell
he was-quite alone. lie began then TO
think that this very fact that lie was their
all, iaid on him an obligation not 10 be C.
Vaded-that no success purchased at such
expenditure would be worth having. At
any ratio he would wait And so sleep came
70 him, and the morning brought him
strength and c1lmness, and seemed to give
bin back his old self again.
'Willyou see james Mccormick to day 2
his father asked at breakfast, with an anx-
ity he strove to conceal.
John smiled cbeerfulIy.
Not to-day, father pot at present. My
plan was sudden, as YOU said-too sudden
to be wise. | have given it up, for a time,
stleast. l will carry on the place awhile
longer.
The old mans face cleared, but be did
not speak; only John Osgood's mother got
mp silently aud kissed him. No young
lips could have been more fond-couId any
be more dear?
Two weeks after that, news came to him
OF Angelina Wilmarths betrotlal to Der
codsin--thc city bred yourg man whom he
had seen riding beside in The May twilight.
ms was an unexpected Disseminating
winch, knowing the man was her cousin, be
bad Fever feared. The news sank into bis
heart with dull dumb pain. She never
would have cared for him, thcn-never had.
II was well be bad not gone away and Left
those two who did love bin TO mourn. Al
ter.ali, perhaps, this existence Of blowing
aud planning was all be was good Tor Fate
bad placed him 1ighuy-had gagged bis
capacities better than be could have done
himself. So he settled back toto his old
grooves with 2 grim resignation which was
not yet content Sul he felt himself at
odds With the life which did not offer bin
what he wanted.
When autumn came, and il was time for
blm, It az all, 10 make The change planned
IN The spring, he was surprised to iud the
inclination TO make il gone Some heal
iug ministry, TO call it of nature or Of grace,
God knows, had been az work in bis soul /;
and, upcousciously to himself, through the
long summer days e. short summer oights,