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

woods. She would go. So, rising
hastily, she threw q white knitted
shawl around her; then, taking her
camp-chair upon her arm, she start
ed.
The tents and cottages were most
ly deserted. The lamps, placed here
land there, served only to render the
darkness visible; but she reached the
Tabernacle without mishap. The
lights we're more plentiful here, and
CLEANED down from the tree-trunks
upon the expectant faces ola great
multitude.
eff I cannot listen to the minister,
1 can, at least, watch the people,
and that is always interesting
So, placing her chair on the out
side of the circle, she made one of
the waiting assembly.
A large toad hoped to her feet,
and eyed them suspiciously wita his
brilliant optics, but, as she was not
timid young lady, she neither
screamed nor tainted. Glancing up
through the tall tree-tops, she saw
that the "for-get-me-nots of the ang-
els were in full bloom. But the
voice Of the speaker called back her
wandering thoughts.
Surely she had heard that voice
before. Whose could it be? Lean
ing forward to catch a view of the
speaker she beheld Ernest Ward
standing at the preachers desk. She
caught her breath in surprise.
"Who would have supposed that
he was q minister?' she exclaimed
softly to herself.
But Maggie soon forgot her sur
prise, and all her surroundings, in
listening to the glowing words that
fell from his lips. He spoke as one
traveller would to another of nation
ality, should they meet in. foreign
land full of dangers and foes. he
took such an exalted view Of our
everyday joys and sorrows, and
cheered on his hearers to life's bat
tie, like a general cheering his army.
After a few words of low, impass-
siond prayer, the assembly broke up
without the usual hustle, and melted
away into the darkness.
Maggie regsined the cottage q
moment before the others, so none
knew of her adventure.
The next afternoon, Ruth and
Nellie went after milk, thus taking
long walk, and Maggie was left to
"keep the house." But, finally, as
the aforenamed dwelling showed no
disposition to leave its foundations,
she left it to keep itself, and, cross
ing the road, climbed the high hill,
and waded out among the golden
rod, Solomon's-seal, and nodding
grasses, to watch the sun go down.
She had reached the old apple-tree
her usual stopping place, and, shad.
ing her eyes with her hand, stood
gazing out into the West A lowell
er picture a painter never looked up
on. At least so thought Ernest
Ward, from his secluded seat among
the branches Of the apple-tree.
'Miss RaymonP' he called softly.
She started, and the sweet face
raised toward him was as rosy as
the west.
Springing lightly from branch to
branch he was soon at her side.
Excuse me for intruding," said
he, "but this is a favorite resort OF
NINE"
"And of mine" she answered
simply.
AS they wandered back together
through the rosy twilight, down the
steep hill, they had to go very slow
ly, of course, and they found they
had many favorites in common.
Just as they reached the cottagt
door, Ruth and Mile arrived witt
their brImming pail; and, at the same
moment, Mrs. Lee stepped out from
her tent.
30 Ernest!' cried she. SIS ii
your Lam so glad! 1 have been
wishing that you would come. Mr.
and Mrs. Bunting have gone to
L., and 1 am lonesome. Come
and take tea with me; it will seem
like old times. Coax him to come
girls"
81 shall need no coaxing," answer
ed he, pleasantly. at will give me
great pleasure. So he went.
The tent curtains were looped
back, and it certainly made q most
lovely tableaux. Minnie was nest
led in his strong arms, her golden
head laid close against his; and, on
the opposite side of the table, lean
ed the beautiful woman, smiling up
into his face.
Every one was enchanted with the
picture except Maggie. She was SO
quiet and pale that Aunt Hetty de-
clared she would never climb that
hill again, to tire herself out.
The girls had found one place
which they particularly liked. No
one else had discovered it. It was
their sanctun saactoTum. They went
down one road, across another, then
over a rail fence, half hidden by
trees and bushes. This effort
brought them to a large tract of roll
ling meadow-land, one part Of which
was nearly covered with huge boul-
ders, half sunk in the ground, as
though ages ago, the giants might
have had a battle there. But by
the side of one of these boulders
they had built rough, stout steps,
and by dint Of much effort, raised
lsome fat stones to the top. Here,
upon the rocky throne, the three
friends had spent many happy hours
llazily gazing upon the beautiful land
scape, chatting, OF building air cast
les. But the last afternoon of theil
stay had come, and, as they arose
somewhat sadly, to leave their ia
vorite resort, Nellie suddenly ex-
claimed:
go girls! Tonight there will be 8
full moon. How lovely it would bt
to see it rise above that mountain =
"Delightful' exclaimed Ruth and
Maggie In a breath. "But we can
not come alone"
"Well, let US ask all the other to
come; it is the last nigh"
/ Quite crowd collected at the cot
tage that night Yielding to the