Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1873-04-17
got lots Of chores to do, and Aunt

"You may bet your life on that, -
answered Jim, sententiously. "She's
one of the ireg'lars, she is, tell you p
and Jim wound up this pleasing infor-
nation with long, low, whistle OF
indefinite applause.
Keeping the boy in sight, Mr.. David
presently came in front of a quiet,
cozy little shop with a great tree be-
fore it. In the miniature show-window
hung a bright array of ribbons, over
which the swaying leaves cast flicker
ing shadows; a pot of geranium with
scarlet blossoms glittered against the
snowy curtain within. A wholesome,
well-swept, CHEEKY looking place. Da-
vid did not want any ribbons. He
couldn't decorate himself with MILL.
merry but as he looked within the door.
way and saw quiet, shaded sitting
room just back of the shop, and a
quiet, little figure in pink dress and
black silk apron, sewing busily, his
heart gave great leap. He wanted to
kiss that little woman, who, all un.
conscious Of being seen, threaded her
needle and hummed a blithe song to
herself.
A beautiful inner picture, as though
he we're looking through the depths Of
a camera at some chaste image, ideal
shining, out of his reach altogether
She seemed to him lady in dream,
apart from the dusty ways of common
life. Yet she kept the little shop
under the tree.
did not think Mr.. David would
have had courage to break the spell
that seemed to separate him from his
old friend, had not Jim, bursting in,
announced his presence.
\ quiet little woman, David had
said this did not seem very quies.
cent parsonage, however, this flushed
and tremulous somebody, like and yet
not like the old Hannah, who came to-
ward him with eloquent eyes and hands
outstretched, crying "Dave!" like a
note of old pathetic music
All. that was a welcome. At that
moment David thought it cheaply
bought with eight years of absence.
Hannah hustled about to get supper !;
she set out her little round tea table
she laid the snowy cloth; she spread
her little store of daintics she pour
cd him out fragrant cup of tea, she
hovered about him like bird chirping
joyously.
"A snug little place, Hannah" said
Mr.. David at last, speaking out Of his
fullness of content; but your sisters
feel sore about it they don't like your
living here alone. The fact is, they
think You have lowered yourself, and
all that. What put it into your head 2
IAN angel, perhaps" said Hannah,
solemnly, wiping her glowing. fearful
eyes, as she looked at him. david,
after father and mother died, and had
r,r..~d ..-ay my soul caring IoI ,i.o..
and trudging about with Betsey's ba-
bies, l grew weary and sick-oh, very
weary and sick /. and there came to me
an inexpressible desire to own myself,
just as l would have felt for any other
poor slave with slavery in prospect for
life. longed to keep myself high
and pure. | shuddered at the thought
of my degradation as a dependent
drudge to other peoples households. :
"And you did not want TO marry"
David did not know what imp prompt
ed the words which burned his lips as
they dropped from them. He mended
them praisworthily by adding, "Jasper
Hendricks, for instance:"
But Hannah answered calmly: ''No,
David, that would not have helped me.
So | took the dear little shop and
worked and waited"
'.For what" said David bluntly.
Hannah blushed, STOPPING low over
her tea cup.
"For customers" she said, as Jim
came clustering in on one of his in
Vulnerable "chores.'
That night Mr.. David Dunham could
not sleep. Hannah's face, her pleas
ant voice, her sunny little shop, haunt
ed him. Such a woman would be like
sunrise in mans life. But Hannah
did not want to marry; Hannah hug
ged her independence or she was wait
ing-waiting as she had said, for some
body. Somehow Mr.. David did not
find his way to the little shop where
Hannah dwelt in maidenly serenity
quite as soon as he had anticipated.
He fingered about the village he took
Miss Simmons out for drive now and
then and one Sunday he responded
to Mrs. Johnson's piOus interest in him
by taking seat in her pew. 1t was a
hot, sunshiny day, and all the windows
of the old meeting house were open,
the big trees waving close to the high,
old fashioned windows, the swallows
twittering, the breeze wandering in
from the near clover field, just as in old
times when Dave sat, in Sunday rig
doing in the gallery.
Looking about, he saw Hannah seat
ed in the choir in a pretty pink-lined
bonnet her eyes were intent on her
notebook she did not return his
glance. At that moment there was q
turning about of heads, rustic up the
aisle, and Miss Simmons came sweep
ing up the centre in her flowing silks.
"a magnificent womanw Mr.. David
thought, as he opened the pew door
for her. "a tall woman is queenly,
whereas Hannah always was q little
thing" He glanced up toward the
rose-lined bonnet in the choir. "I'll
speak to her after meeting," he said.
But after meeting Mr.. David was the
centre of general hand-shaking, and
as they. walked out of the meeting
house, and up the leafy street, Miss
Simmons lustrous raiment swept close
beside him, and Hannah, walking on
the opposite side, did not look at the
two, not even when they met face to
face at the crossing.
He spent the evening at the squire's
Mrs. johnson, having done her pious
duty for the day. reclined upon a sofa