The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1873-01-23
From Hearth and Home.)
The Hoosier School Master
nv EDWARD EGoLEsroN.
CHAPTER NIX.
FACE TO FACE.

CHAPTER NIX.
FACE TO FACE.
In the lane, in the dark, under the
shadow Of the barn. Ralph met Han
nah carrying her .ucket Of milk they
have no pals in Jndians). He could
see the white foam on the milk, and
Hani,ah's white face. Perhaps II was
well ebat he could not see how white
HannasIs face was ut that moment
when sudden trembling made her
set down the heavy bucket. At first
neither spoke. The recollection of oil
the joy of that walk together in the
night came upon them both. Aud a
great sense of lnss made the night
seem supernaturallv dark to Ralph.
Nor was IL any lighter in the hopeless
heart Of the hound girl. The presence
Of Ralph did not now, M b-fore, make
the darkness of her life light.
"Hannsl,- said Rslph present
ly, and stopped. For hs ,s,uid not
finish the sentence. With rush
there came upon him consciousness
of the suspicious that tilied Hannah's
mind. And with IL there came q feel
Ing Of guilt. He ssw himself from her
standpoint, and felt y rsmorse almost
- keen - II could have been had he
been . criminal. And this sudden and
morbib senss OF his guilt ss II appear
"a 10 Hannah paraiyzed him. But
when Hannah lifted her bucket with
her hand, and the world with her
heavy heart. aud %sssyed to pass him,
Ralph rallied and said:
You don't believe all these lies that
are told about me-"
II don't believe anything. Mr.. Hart
sock that is. don't want to believe
anything against you. And wouIda't
mind any thing they say II It wasn't
for two things-" here che stam-
mered and l0Oked down.
m.SW,v-wssagS-s-vusO rsuSpu
with a~Ptcs ~ iadissssss dsnssi IN HE
voice.
Hannah hesitatei, but Ralph press
ed the question with eagerDe.s.
II saw sou cross the bluegrass pas.
ture the night the night that you
walked home with me-" She would
have said the night Of the robbery, but
her heart smots her, and she adopted
the more kindly form Of tue sentence.
Ralph would have explained, but
bow:
"I did cross the pasture" he began,
''but-o
Jost here 1t occurred to Ralph that
thees was no reason for his night ex
cursion across the pasture. Hannah
agaia took up her bucket, but he said
''Tell nle what else you have asa!ns.
me-"
II haven't anything against you.
Only I aua poor and friendless, and
you oughtn't 10 make my life amy
heavier. They say that you have
paid attention to great many girls.
l don't know Why you should want to
tribe with me-"
Ralph answered her this time. He
spoke low. He spoke as though he
were speaking to Gud. "If any man
says that ever trihed with any wo-
man, he lies. have never loved but
Que, aud you know who that 10. And
God knows"
II don't know what to say, Mr..
Hxrtsook. HAnnah's voice was bro
ken. These solemn words Of love
were like river in the desert, aud
she was like y wAndeTer dying Of
thirst. II don't know, Mr.. Hsrtsook.
II / was alone, it wouldn't matter.
But I've gormy blind mother and my
poor Ehocky to look after. Aud l
don't want u mistakes. Aud the
world 10 SO full OF lies 1 don't know
what 10 believe. Somehow can't
help believing what you say. You
sssm to speak % true. But"
"But what ?" said Ralph.
But you know how saw you just
O. kink to Martha Hawkins Oh sun
day as-as--"
"Han-ner!' II was the melodiou=
voice Of the angry Mrs. Mesns, and
Hannah lifted her pail and disap-
psarei.
Standing in thS shadow Of his own
despair, Ralph felt how dark y night
could be when it had no promise Of
morning.
Aud DR.. Small, who had been sta
bling his horse just inside the barn,
came out and moved quietly into the
house, just NJ though he had not list
ened intently to every word Of the
Gun versatiOn.
A. Ralph walked away he tried to
comfort himself by calling to his aid
the bull dog In hia character. But
some 1t did mot do him any good.
For what is . bulldog but stole phi
losopher? Stoicism has It's value, but
Ralph had come to place where sto
icisns was Of no account. Tho memo
ry Of tie Helper. Of His sorrow, His
brave and victorious endurance, came
when stoicism failed. Happiness
might 60 out Of life, but In the light OF
Chri.t's life happiness seemed but Z
email elenept anyhow. The love oi
woman might b denied him, bu,
there still remained what was infinite-
" more precious and holy, the love
ofyGod. There still remained the pns
ability Of heroic living. Working
suffering. and<nsturing still! rcnsined
And he who caa work for God and
endure for God, surely has the best q
life left. Aud, like the knights who
could only find the Holy Grail In los
| ing themselves, Hsrtsook. In throwing
his happiness ous Of the county, found
the purest happiness, . sense Of th'
victory Of the soul over the tribute
1 tiOeAa NJ liRn Tksa man whO knnwI