Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1873-12-27

own great love had come to him.
There pretty Blossom he said, ris-
ing, 'let me go away awhile and think it
over" :.
"You are not angry, Uncle Abram," and
the soft lips touched his hand.
mo, dear, no why should be angry?'
he answered gravely; but as he turned
away his head was bent, his step slow
and heavy; those few moments had 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 every thread was dear to him.
He was not needed now, and, with 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 blush, ERNEST wants
to speak to you"
SO the two men sat down together. Mel
Their spoke for some minutes; both were
watching the graceful figure moving slow
~ along the shore one with the light OF
proud possession in his eyes, the other
with the look one gives his dead.
Presently rock hid her from their sight,
then Abram broke the silence, with quiet
dignity in his voice and manner.
..Alice tells me, sir,"-he would not call
her Blossom" then-"as how you're
wantin' to take her away from us here.
It's sudden news to me, sir, very sudden y
The young man smiles little. $50 it
is to us all, sir; but hope it is not unwel-
Gomez"
Abram looks up gravely. "Mebbe, sir,
I'm not goin' to be civil; but can't say as
it's WELCOME. You see. Blossom"-the
old name will out--"was ali had an
tho / 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 ele-
plant. and saw black people round her
'Ah! yes, in India. From what she
has told me, / fancy her father was an Of
fcer. She is lady, evidently. am 60
ing to try and find out her family when we
90 back"
"Well. sir, mebbe you're right; you're
q deal cleaver than me. But, as was
sayin', though knowed she want like us,
thought mebbe she'd stay, like the flow
ers stay, and the sun, to cheer us up bit
but It amt to be so. and amt goin' to
fret her by worritin', but I'd like to know
you won't take no offense-poor lamb,
she amt got no one else to stand up for
her-you amt deceivin' her no wayP 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 as ever
wave come back to shore. An you'll be
true to her, will youP There amt none to
help her when she's gone but Him as is
a Father to the fatherless.
The young man held out his hand-"Be-
lieve me, sir, honor you for your frank
ness, and may God do SO to me and more
also, If fail in love and duty to the dear
one given to my care"
Abram brushes his hand across his eyes
Thank We, sir, it's relief to my mind
to hear you; hope you'll both be happy.
This amt 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 wer're nothin' but plain folks
arter all, an not her kind. Well, there
amt no more TO say, SO I'll just be goin',' y
and with his hat pulled well over his eyes
Abram strobe down the beach signing
softly to himself. That night he told
Martha-
$50 ysur loves all wasted. Ell! You
amt goin' to try
He blushed like girl. "How did you
knowp'
know! It's as plain as the nose on
your face. Why didn't you try, though ?"
ut amt no use, Marthy, she couldn't
care for me that way. I've tried to larn
q little, thinkin' it might make it come
easier, but 'twon't do. Don't tell her
nothin', Marthy I'll get over it. only il
comes little hard, I'm old you see, an
/ s'pose ef you don't have it when you're
young it 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 a patient sigh
he went up to bed.
''Land sakes man, as eff hadn't been
thinkin' Of you all my life." said Martha,
with sort OF dull impotence as she
pushed back the chairs and swept in the
hearth Things 60 mighty Gurus any
way"
There was a good deal OF feeling in the
little hamlet against the stranger who had
come to rob them of their pet and pride,
but when one and another spoke to Abram
he had the same answer ready for all
Its the Lords doin', mates, and we
mustn't fight agin Him."
10 Martha none dared to speak-hold-
ing as she did the doctrine that "one' s
feelin's is their own; nobody hain't got NO
right to NEEDLE with them," but one
morning, "Ben Lawson's wife," her sis
ter, venturcd to ask her what she Thought
about it,"
faint my business to think. My work
10 keep things clean, SO, Jane Lawson, Ell
you'd just as leave set out doors as in
mebbe you'll move your cheer. I'm goin
to sweep"
Abram had refused to 60 to see them
sail.
"No, no, amt used to city ways, an,
sir" turning to Ernest, he speaks humbly
you'll let us keep her as long as you
can. an arter she's yourn / won't say
nothin'. Idon't want to interfere
So in the little church on the cliff, Alice
was married. ''For better. for worse,
till death us do part, she said the words
firmly; but when the service was over.
the blessing spoken, she turned from her
husband to throw herself into the arms
that trembled beneath her light weight.
"Bless you, my pretty Blossom" muir
murs the husky voice, fondly.
ut isn't for always, Uncle Abram, "
she says through her tears-"we'll sit un-
10, sho olI boat oo.sn IT,, an,,;cn In nj