Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes Co., O. [Ohio]) 1870-1895, 1873-10-30
Mission of a s Four-Leaf." :"
BY HESTER A. BENEDICT.

| BY HESTER A. BENEDICT.
Mrs. Sinclair was in a brown study
She was sauntering up the close-cul
way wipding from the orchard in thu
valley to the farm house on the hill
where her baby was being trundled tt
and fro by the stout little maid thai
minded him; and the green hills, ant
the shaded dwelling, and the baby boy,
made fair, sweet picture, a picture un-
seen, just then, by the mistress of them
all.
Every now and then she would come
to dead stand and look down thought
fully and long at something in her palm
Once she pressed it careless to her cheek
once to her lips, and then
"You carry me so very far away y
she said, $50 very, very far away"
1t was all very strange, very unac-
countable; the mere so for the reason
that Mrs. Sinclair had been for wo-
man, peculiarly equable, and not at all
given to sentiment or nerves. She was
usually CHEEKY, too; keeping a bright
face and happy voice. But there was
something widely removed from cheer
iness in her words and tone that morn
ing, and something like shadow on her
face, that was yet young and winsome.
The morning was beautiful. From
the harvest fields to the right of her
came the song of the reaper, song
whose burden was
81 am the savior of man and boy,
OF sinew, and blood and bone ~
She knew well whose hand was guild
ing the greys across the field; and she
knew well that he loved her. For five
years she had been his wife, and they
had been prosperous and measurably
happy together.
But something was in the heart and
Oh the face of Mrs. Sinclair, that was
not used to bsing in the one place or
the other, and--it was very strange.
She reached the door-yard at last.
went up to her baby and kissed him.
"Go in now, Mary, and tell Ellen to
let you prepare the vegetables for din
ner. Leave Harry with me-"
The baby was asleep. The morning
was wearing on, but still Mrs. Sinclair
sat under the maple with the something
yet i'm her hand, and the shadow over
her face.
Her husband came toward her
through the open gate, and setting him.
self down on the rustic sofa, startled
her little.
She was looking at something in her
hand. He was looking at it also.
sA four-leafed clover, by Jove!"
Mrs. Sinclair made no reply by word
or sign. One scarce could think she
had heard him.
"Well, well; if that isn't a good joke
on the mother of yearling!''
She looked up then, and he saw the
sorrow in her eyes.
Why, what is it, Lulie?" he asked
anxiously. "What troubles you?"
"A memory and fear"
"What?"
:sWell, in other words, Harry, found
this little ''four-leaf'' down in the or
chard, and it set me to thinking more
seriously than ! have thought for many
a day."
ssThinking of ,what?'' tE
"Have you time to listen?''
eyes; the horses are resting in the
shade, and guess it won't hurt me te
do the same thing. 1 came up for wa,
ter-and by the way, that young stupid
of yours put ginger enough in the jug
this morning, for whole barrel Of
drink! 1 do wish you'd look after hel
little, Lulie." ~
Mrs. Sinclair made 10 reply, and heI
husband added, presently:
aWell, am listening. What is it?"
"Why, Harry, it's only that-that''-
Mrs. Sinclair was evidently at loss to
know just how to begin--"that 1 feel az
if life for you and for me is not just
what it ought to be-not so good nor
so sweet for either Of u.s.
A panied look swept the mans face
and the woman saw it.
"Don't misunderstood me, DEAR" she
added quickly, laying her hand on his
'sYou mean to be good husband, ant
you are. 1 mean to be good wife
We have pleasant home and we low
each other
She stopped abruptly there, looking
far away with eyes that saw not clear
ly.
"What more do you want, Lulie?"
There was a world of wonder and oi
selfreproach in the tone and the wO-
mans face grew shade paler as sh'
realized upon what slippery ground sh'
was venturing.
"Well, Harry" she answered, after
little thoughtful silence, in which sh
seemed to have forgotten even the bab'
upon her bosom "yoa'll think it YER.
foolish no doubt, but this "four-leaf'
carried me back to a morning long ag'
morning just like this. / had beel
blackbcrrying across the creek, and Of
the way home, stopped to rest under al
old elm in the pasture, 1 found one lik
this"-holding up the clover--"and
took it home, and hung it over the from
door, saying the witch-charm over, an
thinking only of you--only of you
Harry"
eyes; and the sequel proves the pow
er of the charm, for 1 am your "tru