The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1873-07-24

lngi out 1t has been observed that the
same team was never seen there twice
and even the most uncharitable gOssips in
town have always exonerated Say from
any lmputatlon OF coquetry But of late,
people have begun to shake their heads
knowingly whenever certain grave.
handsome, middle-aged gentleman, in
garments of Enthusiastically city make, has
made his appearance at the depot in the
village, is received and entertained by
the squire with his usual hearty hosptali
ty, and introduced to friends and neigh
5ors as, ''Mr West, friend of ours,
from the city" ga city lawyer" the
gossips say, while ''rich and wdowerr
is added, with sundry significant mods
and winks, when the said 'widower,"
accompanying Say Strong and her parents
to church, hands her to her seat in the
choir with an air of grave, old-fashoned
courtesy before seating himself with the
old couple in their pew below
1t has been noticed, too, OF late, that
Says cheerful face has grown strangely
thoughtful, not sad, exactly but unde-
clded and doubtful, as though her heart
and brain We're refusing to agree upon
some point more than usual interest to
their owner.
- " 90 a plCetStLl, SitlSHln} StDDdIn,
the first in April, and as Say Strong took
her seat in the choir, she noticed that the
singers were in clusters together, peering
curiously at something or somebody in
the body of the church-what, she had no
time to ask or see, for at the moment of
her entrance the leader gave the signal,
and every one dropped into his or her
seat with the habitual promptness that a
system of careful training had made easv
and natural.
AS they rose to sing the opening hymn,
Says eyes wandered for an instant, to
the dear old faces that always looked up
at her with that little touch of prideful
tenderness that she alone saw and felt,
and that warmed her heart and mellowed
her voice as'by some magic power. But
to-day, q quick rush of emotion choked
down the halt-uttered notes, and her head
grew giddy with whir of surprise, ioy,
paln-for there, in the very seat next their
own, was tall, well-knit figure, only too
familiar to her strained gaze, although the
boylsh red and white OF his complexion
had given place to the sun and beard
darkened hue of ripened manhood, and
the closely curling hair had lost some
thing OF its old-time gold; but the clear.
blue eyes looked up Just as OF yore; in
deed, she tancied for q moment, that
there was halt-smile of tender recogni-
ton in them, as, with a mighty effort, she
put aside the throng of bewlderlng mem
ories, and her sweet voice rose, full and
clear, in the first line OF the old familiar
hymn:
"Return ye wandering sinners home"
The service was over at last and as
| SaytS cd tha 1or H.
ed up to meet that same frank smile and
outstretched hand that had so often greet
ed her years ago, while voice that was
music to to her ear exclaimed, eagerly
'Will you welcome me home, Say ?"
How are ye? How are ye, Ben Glad
ter see We agint'' and Deacon Sparmint
crowded himself between the two, in the
heartiness of his greeting, which was now
re-echoed by old and Young, who crowd
ed joyously about their old tavorite, with
a perfect chorus OF subdued welcomes,
questions and comments, while Say quiet
ly accepting Mr.. Vests offered escort,
walked silently away, her heart full to
Overlooking with its bitter-sweet memo
ries-trtles, perhaps, in their day, but
now to her rimeawakened vision, things
of what infinite Importance to her future
peace.
The next morning Mr. West took a
dignifed leave OF his host and family,
with the ain of one who had no intention
of returning at present, and Say. with a
! lightened brow, bul with a little air of
/ nervous expectation. that she tried hard
to hide, busted herself with her usual
tasks, that as the day waned, seemed
| gradually to lose their interest for her,
and, as the twilight began to tall she re
marked in a wearied tone
II believe III 90 down to the sugar
orchard, and carry father his supper; per
haps the walk in the open air will help
my headache And following up her
own suggestion, she was soon picking her
way through the old familiar path that,
five years ago, she had threaded upon the
same errand, with a step as firm, an eve
as clear, a heart (she smiled sadly, Won
derng to herself as she recalled that
time) not wise enough to know itself
| The lunch was gratefully received and
enjoyed, and Say stood watching with a
dreamy, halt-absent eye, the form of her
father, as he passed briskly from fire to
fire, stirring, testing. and dscoursing
with pleasant volubility upon the quality,
quantity, etc, of this years sugar crop
| "lt's the best, take it altogether, that
we've had for five years. You remem-
Der Say, that year that Ben Worth
| went"
His voice died away in the distance, as
he hurried off TO replenish a decaying
| fire; and Say stood looking thoughtfnlly
down upon the blazing brands, while her
slender fingers played nervously with
twig OF soft, silky catkins that she had
plncked on her way through the woods,
| and there was an unconscious pathos in
her tones as she softly repeated her ia
theirs words
Five years OF patient waiting, of un-
complaining silence, Of"
"Sugaring off,
1t was Ben Worth's voice that spoke
the words, and Ben Worth's hand that
clasped her own, as he whispered, with a
tender, yet roguish Significance:
"Will you accept the sugar as it is now
Sayp 1t may not be of the first quality,
to be sure; but if you will only try it,
promise that it will do its best toward
sweetening awav whatever drops of bit
terness fate may mingle in your cup of
life"
Says face was turned away, but Il lov-
ing hand gently drew the dropping head
into the tull light of the shameless tire,
and pair OF tender, yet masterful eyes
looked searchingly into her own. She
tried to laugh, but the tears would come
instead, and, dropping her head upon his
broad shoulders beside her, she sobbed
out a few broken words of loving ac-
acknowledgement that made her listeners
heart bound with grateful Joy
''But where did you get that idea of
the ssuga1ing off?'" she asked. a little lat |
er, as they sat, side by side, before the
cheerful fire, and Ben answered with a
slightly embarrassed air
Thereby hangs a confession. On the
night that we parted here, came back
tor my sap-ladle, that in the angry ex-
citement Of my leaving ! had forgotten,
and which l knew would be needed by |
my father the next day. came just in
time to hear your conversation with your
father about me, and | stole away in a
perfect agony of grief and modification.
1t was that that sealed my lips on the eve
ming of my departure for California.