The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1873-02-21


en- heard of such things being done
So the trunk was dragged to thl
door to receive the benefit of tn,
fast fading light; and, kneeling OF
the stoop, Nellie and Maggie set dill
igently to work with nail, while
Ruth and aunt Hetty stood lookins
on with anxious faces. But thu
look resisted all their efforts, anC
Nellie had just exclaimed, in a de
spairing voice, "What shall we doY
when a deep, manly voice said:-
Ladies, can I be of any assis
tance?"
They sprang to their feet in alarm
but one glance at the frank fac,
above them, showed that the mos
timid maiden had nothing to fear
In few words matters were explain
ed. and, bounding lightly over tn,
balustrade, the young man exam
ined the obstinate lock.
"This is a spring lock-" said he
"we cannot pick it open, but I vii
take off the hinges"
No sooner said than done, and th,
hidden articles appeared to view
much to the satisfaction of all con
cerned.
Fora a while after the gentlemn haC
gone, they were too busy to make
any remarks; but when everything
was arranged for the night, and tht
tallow candle fickered and sputtereC
on a wooden stool compelled to de-
duty as table, and Ruth mounted Oh
one of the beds to be out of the way
was brushing her wonderfully beau
tiful hair, so like the strangers owl
that she might have been his sister
she suddenly exclaimed
"Wasn't he loUely?"
The girls laughed, and Nellie ans
wered,-
"There Ruthie, you know VIZ
were never going TO talk So"
81 know it." said Ruth, "but I re.
ally must express my feelings, and
repeat my question"
Certainly; charming" answered
Nellie.
"What do you think, Maggie2''
"He was very kind" answered
Maggie carelessly, "but [ don't know
that he was particularly lovely"
No sooner had the tired heads oi
Ruth and Nellie touched their pill
lows than they were asleep; but Mag
gle lay awake sometime thinking Of
the stranger. Naughty Maggie.
The next morning they were NJ
betimes, and armed with baskets
trowels and knives, went out into the
fragrant woods to search for MOSES
and ferns with which to fill theil
rustic baskets in front of their cot
tage door.
They were very successful in find
ing the MOSES, but not so success
full in bringing them unbroken tC
the ground. They were giving theil
united efforts to one piece, when s
pleasant voice behind them said,
"Good morning, girls;" and, looking
up from their loWly positions, they
beheld the well known form Of theiI
pastor, and by his side, the stranger
of the previous evening.
"Allow me to introduce to you
my young friend, Mr.. Ward"
Very soon.the minister was called
away, but Mr.. Ward remained anC
proved himself a valuable assistant
He could find the greenest moss, anG
his strong fingers brought it quick
ly from its place. The baskets in
front of aunt Hetty's door were a per
feet success; everybody said so.
That afternoon, Mr.. Willow, 1.-THE
superintendent of the grounds, J, and
his assistants, were busy measuring
offa small tract Of land opposite the
cottage, and before night, the mel
with shouting and laughter, raised {
large tent. 1t was a splendid tent
so thought and said the girls, as they
clustered together on the front stooI
to watch the raising. The top was
pointed and bound with red. 1
evidently had never been used before
and as the broad sunshine rested
softly on its white walls, it seemed
as though it might cover any amount
of romance.
"Wouldn't you rather live in ,
tent, girls" said Ruth.
e@Not in case of q thunder storm,
answered practical Nellie.
With a laugh at this Whit of com
mon sense, they answered aunt Het
ty's call, and fastened in to supper
Conjecture ran riot as to who
would or who would not be thei
neighbors across the way. But al
suppositions came quickly to al
end, for up the long avenue came
load of goods; and strolling aloni
beside it, the future occupants of tn
tent, accompanied by Mr.. Ward.
He brought them directly to tn
cottage, "for rest and refreshment,
he said. The introduction was, 9Th
Rev. Bernard Bunting and wife, o
l.; Mrs. Lee and Minnie, 'th
household pet"
Mrs. Lee was a widow, the girls de
cided at once by her mourning dress
But how strikingly lovely! One Q
these women with a "face like sno'
and hair like midnight" AS unlik
the sweet golden haired child sh
held by the hand, as an iceberg to
sunbeam.
After tea, all the girls except Mag
gle, went to spend the evening a
one of the cottages down the road
Maggie pleading fatigue, re
mained at home. But they were nj
sooner out of sight than she hearth,
! wished that she had accompanied
them. 1t was so lonely to sit ther,
alone, looking out in the darkness
listening to the chirping of insect
and the rus ling of leaves.
Just then the sound of many voiC
es, mellowed and softened by dis
tance, came floating in the cottage
An idea struck her; she had neve