The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1874-01-08
FAITH MURRAY'S VOW.
BY WM. O SrODDARD.

By wM. 0 sroDDARD.
Not an ungenerous girl was Faith MUIR
ray, by any manner OF means, and her
honest blue eyes We're very pleasant and
kindly to look into. A part, nevertheless.
of Faiths Inheritance from her high
headed Scotch ancestry had been some
what hasty and Jealous disposition, and a
goodlv share OF their own unyielding OBJ.
s!inacv. As her mother was apt to remark
at times: Faith is = dear girl, but she
needs management, and it isn't everybody
that knows how"
Not every body," indeed: and assured
" not such a bluff, frank, straighttor-
warIly up,anddowu fellow as Curtis
Rowland.
Tall, oad-shouldered, curly. headed,
dark-eyed, was Curt, and his white teeth
were perpetualiy cleaning, through his
heavy mustachc, III smile that betokened
goodwill 10 every soul he met, male or
female.
That was very much the way in which
he came ST. utterly to grief in his ''man-
agemen,'' of Faith Murray. He was as
universal popularity had shaped itself,
strangely enough, into one Of her pet
grievances, and this she had nursed into
forth, at last, just al the wrong time and
place.
Openly, angrilv, and in the hearing of
others even, had Faith told Curt, on their
return from the last picnic and boating
party Of the season, that she would never
put her foot into Ii boat OF lis again"
Curt had replied, with Il laugh, Then
I'll always have to borrow one tor you OF
somebody else" but Faith learned after
ward that, from that day forth, the square
nosed, but light built and almost hand
some skitf, which had carried SD merry a
party 10 the picnic, had never, since that
day, been loosei from its Chain at the
head of the little cove where the How
land farm came down to the river.
When winter approached the boat had
been taken out, Of course, and carefully
cartcd to lis customary shed near the
great barns: but Faith felt very sure that
no other female foot since her own had
been permitted to step within it..
As week had followed week, and month
after month went 10y, Curt Howland's
broad and merry face had seemed to grow
a trite sraver and more, thoushtful; but
his thoughts, however serious they may
have been, had taught him little addition
al wisdom. If they had, he would have
Faith when ne made his first out-and out
effort at reconciliation.
He had refused all along to be on any
other than speaking terms" and had
LEFT Faith to do her own quarreling" in
away that was exceeding lmpolitic and
cXasperating.
She had fairly longed to see him show
some signs of temper or sentiment, and
she had derived no small degree of salts
faction from the manner in which he had
treated his boat. She had fairly warmed
toward him, one day, when she learned of
his borrowing skitf to go duck-hunting,
and vet she had mu;tered:
"He said he would borrow a boat to
take me out in, but Iii teach him a lesson
yet'
Perhaps Curt thought he had learned
all the lesson that was necessary, but, at
all events, one fine December day. he de:
Ciucu 10 Call Tor Falln Murray and ask
her to 90 with him on the grand sleigh.
ing parry to the quilting bee' across tue
river There would be such a magnificent
drive on the ice, and such a splendid op.
por.unity to make up, and Curt had laid
the matter very close, indeed, to his heart
and hopes.
And yet, even when he went after her,
very beginning. Instead of dashing up
in his gay light cutter, with "just room
fer two" the sleigh he drove was the big
gest Of all the haif.dozen or so that were
hitchsd in front Of Squire Murray's am.
pie doorway, and Faith had said to her.
self, dis sine looked at it from the window
Looks as if he was going to carry all
the girls in the neighborhood!" and her
blue eyes had darkened, and her fair
cheeks had flushed with fresh vexation.
Sac was, every bit, ready to take fire,
therefore, few minutes later, when her
too open-hearted admirer asked:
You'll step into my sleigh, won't you,
Faith, even if you won't put your foot in
my boat:"
And she answered, sharply:
mo, indeed, sir; l don't care to ride in
an omnibus. You will, doubtless, have
plenty of company without me.
Ii Curt Rowland had seemed to make
light OF his rebuff at the summer picnic
it was very different now, and there was
something in the panied hurt, disappoint-
ed expression of his manly and really
handsome face that would have carried
the day in his favor under any circum.
stances. Every girl in the room wa. on
his side in q moment-but Faiths rosy
cheeks burned only the hotter for her con.
seriousness of that fact-and the only per
son present who felt any real satisfaction
was Sile Herring, the village lawyer, who
was now sure OF his good fortune to offic
late as Faith Murray's escort to and from
the quilting.
As for Curt himself, not word said he
but turned steadily and dignifedly towart
the door, and in another minute til,
quick, sharp jingle Of bells told Fai,l
that his sleigh was, like his boat, doomed
to 90 empty of lady passengers until he
own feet came back to it.
Up to that moment Curtis mind hat
been occupied only with joyous anticipa
tions of reconciliation with Faith, and o
the fun he would have on the sleigh ride
going and coming, as well as at the quilt
ing. Now, however, as his fleet team
drew him swiftly along the river road OF
his lonely way homeward, his eyes wan
dered up and down the river, predisposeG
to discover anything that might appear II
suggest an interference with the cOntem
plated merry-making.
1t is very strange how different tn,
world will look to man in one frame o
sun had been CHEEKY, the sleighing hat
been extraordinarily good, aud Curt
merry eyes had discovered no flaws in tn
prospect; but now, as if his wits wer
sharpencd by Faith Murray's rough re
ply, he began to discern that the snow
was remarkably soft and "sOggy;" tina,
although the first "freeze" OF the winte
haa been severe one, and the ice hat
formed thick and strong, there had now
for several days, been altogether to'