The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1873-04-18


know he almost hated me for it: in
fact, I almost hated myself, for set
lthe whole class in giggle, and yor
couldn't go a dozen steps after that
any day in the week but you would
hear a boy rattling it over at the tor
of his lungs. Oh, I don't blame him
in the least for disliking me; I am
sure 1 have thoroughly despised my
self for it ever since. Why didn't he
come in?"
"He was in q hurry, my dear.
spoke of you, and he remembered
Iyou"-I could hardly speak fol
laughing-"in connection with Dea.
con Hides horse"
"Oh, my goodness! yes, of course
he remembered that" For a mo-
ment Blanche looked disconnected.
The soft flush mounted to her tenn
Iples, and she pulled her thread
Earnestly till it broke.
"That was the one thing didn't
lcare to have perpetuated in any
body's recollection" she said, in a
low voice. "I never like to think of
it nor of the look he gave me that
might. But it was so ridiculous! Old
Irattlebones in the moonlight, whisk-
ling his decorations as if delighted
with having brought retrobution up
on my devoted head. I, with that
Ihideous straw hat dangling over my
shoulder, my curls flying, and eY-
erybody in the house at the window
looking at me. 1 was in such a rage;
and old Grace, the cook, called me a
little heather. Annie, did you ever
hear of the old minister who was re-
lbuked for levity? He said he hoped
he loved the Lord; he thought he
did; but he was afraid that the fun
my part of his nature had never been
converted. That's my case, exact
lly. What 8 ridiculous time it was
and your uncle-well, no matter
what he said; 1 haven't forgotten,
though perhaps he has. However,
it settled me for a time, didn't it?"
81 think you were somewhat more
settled after that" 1 said, laughing
at her quaint portrayal; "but 1 have
an invitation for you, and from IN
Gle Dash, too"
Gan inVitationp
"Yes; you are to accompany me
to the parsonage; Aunt Hannah is
very sick"
"And why am / asked there?'
"Why, Aunt Hannah needs me,
and Pm not going to leave you
here"
81 go to the parsonage! Indeed l
will not; I'll stay and keep house by
myself"
"You shall do no such thing, that's
decided; you must go with me; 1 al
ways had my way with you, and Pm
not going to give up now; besides,
Uncle Dash bade me bring you, and
I have always obeyed him IS if he
were my father"
"Pd like to see myself obeyingw
she said, with a spice of the old
spirit; "It's no use, Anne-I won't
|go."
Her cheeks crimsoned, and she be-
gan to sew as if her life depended
upon the work in hand. As for me,
1 cuddled down beside her, and put
my arm about her neck, and coaxed
her till she gave reluctant consent;
and we went up stairs together to
put away the few things we needed
in travelling satchels.
1--WE can come over to the Daisy
Lodge easy enough when we need
anything more" / said, pressing
down the top of an old cedar chest |
where kept what little silver l had.
81 shall need something very soon,
then," said Blanche. "Pm not going
to stay at the parsonage to be haunt
ed by the ghost of old Deacon
Hides horse"
She laughed, but her checks were
afame, and her lips trembled. How
was l to know that, down deep in
her trunk, in a dainty crimson case,
smiled the Ineaments Of my hand
some uncle, and that the miniature
was painted from memory, she not
having seen him in all those ten
years?
At three we were ready, all but
hats and shawls. l could see that |
Blanche was i'll at ease as she sat
knitting on the fadded green lounge |
she was never idle.
"Its a ridiculous notion" she
said, half petulantly, "when ] could
take care of myself so well in this
sunshiny little place"
"But l want you for company"
pleaded. "Every moment of leisure
l get l fly to you. Uncle Dash is al |
ways head over ears in his books;
he loves that old study so well that
1 am persuaded he will never look
for a wife; and there are so many |
6ne women in the parish waiting and
ready"
"That's always the cry, so many |
waiting and ready" she answered,
her lips curling; sand just think Of
the gossips, what will they sayS
Anne Merrifeld, l won't go~
"Yes, you WILL" said I, quietly,
"because you have promised, and we
are ready-there's the carryall, and
only a quarter past three. Uncle
Dash is more than punctual."
Blanche rose and turned hastily
from me. She was putting her work
away when Uncle Dash opened the
front door, and, at that moment, with
her slender figure, brown eyes and
curls, she looked so like the girl Of
eighteen, as she met my glance, that
| was startled.
'For PHYS sake, Anne" The
sentence was never finished, for the
door opened, and there stood Uncle
Dash, as straight and handsome as
ever, with the same kind smile upon
his lips. His brown face flushed a
little.
81 hardly need be introduced" he
said, with alacrity, and his eyes lin
gered on her beautiful face.
ooh, no, you had cause enough to
remember me-" she answered, airly,
giving him her hand, her cheeks
like blush-roses, "and l have not
forgotten-your sermons"
His eyes danced for a moment,
and then he looked grave again.
fancied he thought Of the moonlight