The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1874-02-27

! The young woman would, as far as she
was able, uphold him against the rough
sarcasm of John. He disliked him ::
but, good and honest as he was, he
never imagined that his prize could be
won and carried off by a stranger.
Day succeeded day, bringing new
duties and responsibilities. John was
growing stronger and better, for so
much work had been opened up to
him that his labor made his love 4
truer and a nobler one.
Changes, however, come to us, and
so unexpected, too, that we are almost
overwhelmed by them. Our hero felt
this, one evening, when he visited at
Mr.. Bede's. The family and Angus
tus were seated together, and Johns
entrance was scarcely noticed He
saw something was wrong. especially
with her whom he loved, for her face
wore a sickly paleness. What could
it mean? Was she I'll? What then
ooh, nothing" she replied. But there
was, and he knew it as well as she did
The evening wore on with such dread
ful languOr that John soon arose and
went home.
l wonder what thoughts crowded
upon him that night? Let us not an
ticipate but follow him few evenings
later 1t was beautiful night, and,
as he walked across the fields and
through the wOods-the same that
had become so dear to him-he pic
tured to himself the sunshine that was
70 - l.,
what fearful that trouble was ut hand
He was going to Mr. Bede's, and as
he neared the house, and just..as his ex-
pectations were at the highest, he was
startled by voices not far awav Fol
lowing the direction of the sounds, he
saw, in the starlight, underneath thc
old oak that told of his lOve-would
you like to know what 2-onlv Angus
tus and Sarah standing together, her
hand in his. Was the mystery solved?
Drawing quietly nearer, John listened
to the conversation. *.
But, Pm only . country girI-you
can't care for me 2"
"Can not? All, if you only knew
Of the love that is yours, you would
not answer me in that way! Consid-
er all that [ offer you-position, wealth,
everything that you wish. Can you
refuse?
ell, butts it right2'' She
was faltering.
fright? Everything is right where
love is master. And will you live here,
when | offer YOU such a future All
this Beulah will one day be mine, and
You my wife. You must; / cannot
give you up"
Il am afraid you will only use me
for the present. viii you always love
me ?'
Il swear!"
"But what will John say?" She
was rejecting.
$50 you care more for that uncOuth
countryman than you do for me? Ha,
ha, the idea !" But, seeing a tender
chord had been touched, he added,
hastily: However, you need never
know what he does or says. We will
go to the city, and you will never
hear of him, Oh, why not leave the
past and look into the future ?"-and,
leaning down, he kissed her. Then
they started home, arm in arm but
they had not gone far when they were
startled by sound as of one III dis
tress. Like truant children, they only
walked the faster, not stopping to see
what might be the cause, and the house
was soon reached, where both were
kindly received.
We may be surprised when we know
it, but it's nevertheless true, that the
parents, until long after midnight,
made for their daughter happy fu-
tue
Leaning against a tree, his hands in
pockets, and his face whittier than the
whitest snow, was John Morris His
eyes were turned upward toward the
stars, and the wind, as 1t moaned thro'
the forest, famed his cheeks and played
with his long hair. He had stood
there for hours, and it was near morn
ing when his reverie was ended, and he
turned his steps homeward. One
glance back at the cotthge, with its sa-
cred memories, was had but there
was no light i'll the window, and the
seemed to make a mock
cry of every part of the house they
played with. Back over the same |
path, across the same fields, through |
he same woods, and into the same old |
nome he went
Maybe, during his walk, to himself
ne murmured something like this: Il
never thought as how weak hearts was
md how wicked some men be. All,
ne | could kill him! No, she takes
we'll to him; but the poor critter only
saw the rose-she didn't feel the thOrns
Is was prickin' her. Does God know
his? Wal, the good Book does say
Is how He chasteneth whom He low
,th,' or somethin' like that air; but
lere's home !"-and the good mother
hat had been waiting for him well
,omed him in His changed appear
lnce was noticed, but inquiries in re-
sard to it only elected such vague re-
olies that the subject was soon passed
~, and both mother and son, bidding
.ach other good night, retired to their
ooms.
On the morning following the events
Il LII ho !