Litchfield enquirer., 1873-11-27


 of the home that would be SO lonely if she did not come to share 1t. The shy, sweet eyes were turned away as he plead ed; but in the blush that came and went | upon her cheek he read his answer: and Abram, waiting for her coming. wondered why his Blossoms" eyes were wet with tears and her voice so tremulousIy happy as she said goodnight"
 Uncle Abram, come out on the beach with me awhile; it's so warm this morn Ing, and Alice led him-a willing prison er-to their favorite nook behind the boat. which, though older and Trailer far than when she sat there years ago, happy child. was strong enough to shelter them from sun and wind
 ''Well Blossom, what now?"
 'Tell me how you found me, Uncle Abram?" 1
 And over again he told her of the sud- den squall-the line of foam breaking over the low rocks, on one of which. in the rain and the storm, he found her. sI was lonely then, my little Blossom he added fondly, "and you came to me like Gods blessed sunshine on a wintry day."
 She slipped her hand into his, and he pressed 1t gently.
 "And my father was drowned, too ?"
 Yes, dear. we never heard nothin' of none of 'em." .
 "Poor Papa," and the girls face sad dened. Then she looked out into the brightness and the sunshine, and her eyes grew soft and tender, and the sweet mouth smiled little The guIls were screaming and chattering on the rocks. The plash of the little waves came faintly up the beach. Two fisher boats were rocking gently on the shifting waters. A long way up the reach of sand there was some one coming.
 Abram looked wistfully at her. He could not understand these moods that came so often now upon his 'elittle Blos- son." Alas he had no part in her mus jugs; hosstarted when he spoke to her. l 'sWhat thought you be -thinkin' of, Blossom? Won't yoe tell Uncle Abram ?''
 And then, with her face hidden on his shoulder, she told him how she had promised to sail across the seas with her lover. "'He is all alone, as l am," she said, presently, "and l love him, Uncle Abram."
 The strong, faithful heart contracted with sudden pain, and the kind. eyes grew dim, while his hand moved gently across and across the bright eurls, for in that bitter moment the hopelessness oi his own great love had come to him.
 ''There pretty Blossom" he said rising, '.let me go away awhile and think 1t over"
 You're not angry, Uncle Abram," and the soft lips touched his hand.
 No, dear, now why should I be an gry?" he answered gravely; but as he turned away his head was bent, his steE l ,1o | aged him more than years before.
 When he came back again some one was in his place under the old boat; some ones hand was playing with the golden curls, whose very thread was dear to him He was not needed now, and, with q sigh he turned away. But Alice heard him. and, springing up, she ran down the yield ing sand. 'Uncle Abram! stop, please;' then, with rosy blnsh, Ernest wants to speak to you.
 I So the two men sat down together Neither spoke for some minutes; both were watching the graceful figure moving slowly along the shore; one. with the light With gHs 7o5R 5s PgI1es Ses his ifs dead.
 Presently rock hid her from theii sight, and then Abram broke the silence with quiet dignity in his voice and man. ner.
 ''Aliee tells me, sir"-he would not cal her Blossom" then-''as how you re wantin' to take her away from us here. It's sudden news to me, sir, very sudden. T The young man smiles little. '.So 1t is to us all, sir; but hope it Is not un- l welcome?"
 Abram looks up gaavely. "Mebbe, sir, I'm not goin' to be civil; but I can't say a3 it's welcome You see, Blossom - the old name will out-''was all I had an tho l knowed she want one of us, she's told me often and often bout houses an trees an han some things she's seen; an how she knowed she once rode on an elephant, and saw black people round | her,
 ''Ah yes, in India. From what she has told me, I fancy her father was an officer. She is lady, evidently. I am going to try and find out her family when we go back 'Well, sir, mebbe you're right; you're | deal cieverer than me. But, as I was sayin', though I knowed she wa'n't like us, thought mebbs she'd stay, like the flowers stay, and the sun, to cheer us up bit; but it ain't to be so, and l ain 1 goin' to fret her by worritin'; but d like to know-you won't take no ofense--pool lamb, she ain got no one else to stand up for ler-you ain't deceivin' hel no way? You love her, as you say? You're takin' her away from friends as has loved her all her life, an friends as would give their own life for her as willin' an as easy you'll be true to her, will you? There ain t nothin to hold you but your word, an there ain't none to help her when shes gone but Him as is Father to the fatherless.''
 The young man held out his hand Believe me, sir, honor you for youl frankness, and may God do so to me and more also,' if I fail in love and duty tc the dear one given to my care.''
 Abram brushes his hand across his eyes l-, Thank ye, sir, it. relief to my mind to hear you, I hope you'll both be happy. This ain't no place for her, see it now we've never let nothin' noways rough come nigh her, but she's lady, sir, as you say, an we're nothin' but plain folks arter all, an not her kind We'll, there aint no more to say, so I'll just be goin, , and with his hat pulled we'll over his eyes Abram strode down the beach, signing softly to himself. That night he told Martha
 ''So your love's all wasted, eh You ain't goin' to try
 He blushed like girl. ''How did you know?"
 "Know? It's as plain as the nose or your face. Why didn't you try, though?'
 ''It ain't no use, Marthy, she couldn't care for me that way. I've tried to larn z little, thinkin' it might make it come ca sier, but twon't do. Don't tell her noth in, Marthy. I'll get over it, only il comes little hard. I'm old you see, an s'pose eff you don't have 1t when you're young 1t comes mighty hard after. Bios som sets great store by her Uncle Abram but she couldn't think of me that way nobody couldn't" and with patient sigl ] he went mp to bed.
 Gland sakes man, as ef I hadn't beer thinkin' of you all my life, " said Martha with sort of dull impatience as sh pushed back the chairs and swept in tn hearth. Things go mighty curus any | way.