The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1874-07-09
So OH took her on her face, Sister Hunt


as II she'd been one of my own girls. These
quiet still folks have wonderful way o
edging themselves into the feelings, anC
even now | won't believe word of harm
OF the poor child, as I'm a Christian. Bu
it did give me start to hear there haC
been difficulty a year ago up at Edge
comb
The girls had gone their several ways
Janet to feed her poultry, Huldah to at
tend to the kitchen. Edwin. perceivine
his mother was getting into the neighbor-
hood ofwhat children call ''bloody bones.
let his knife fall, and, STOPPING down
touched her foot.
Mrs, Huntly coughed. and hemmed anc
coored.
sOh, Sister Camp she said, suddenly
changing the subject, ''haven't yol
brought along some good religious read
ing for Edwin that will wake him up tc
his lmpenitent condition p
TO be sure Sister Camp was always
primed with religious reading, carried il
in company with her catarrh snuff and va
lious specifies. for the cold that continual
ly hung about her. ''Somewhcre or other
in my ridicule or my pocket. I've got a
powerful tract. called the Carnal Heart.
that will exactly meet his ease
"No. thank you,' grunted Edwin; I'll
make tracts myself and with that he
seized his hat and bolted out Of the door
The sun shone with soft carcssing
touch, sprinkling kisses on grass and dan
delions, while round downy clouds sailed
through the wonderfully blue sky Edwin
did not feel bit like business that morn
ing, which was strange. as business was
generally the breath OF his nostris He
thought ina vague way that he would like
10 wander through the woods with Rachel
mill field he strobe beside hedge he HIM
self had planted. AT the end We're 2 few
Young plum trees. all covered with whit G
flowers. rs if waiting for the bridegroom.
A bench stood in that spot, bnt it was
partly hidden from view. Edwin paused
in his walk; he thought he heard low
sob on the other side of the hedge. 1t was
Rachel, under a large brown garden hat,
aS miserable and detected As a broken
winged bird. She was crying. but il did
not reddcn her nose, or h!otch her cheeks
Tears only added to the exquisite sottness
of her face She was like pale flower
dipped in dew.
Edwin gave Il gasp--blg, strong fellow
that he was. Il am so sorry YOU are un-
happy" he stammered, appearing before
her, and not knowing what he was saving.
81 am very unfortunate. e" sobhcd Rachel,
with the look of 4 lost child utterly unable
10 cope with its troubles. which went di-
rcctly to Edwin's heart shall never,
never prosper; why cannot tell AS soon
&c | fnl n L. L.,
something is sure to happen which brings
down diStruSt and suspicion on my head.
have been lonely and sad Il great deal of
my lie. and lonely and sad | must ever
be-
"Dont say that and there was trc-
NOR in the manly voice But tell me,
did this thing ever happen TO You before
Rachel"
YES" she answered, in 4 faint, heart
sick way. 'Gou ought to know the whole
story. Two Years ago father died. Before
that we had wandered about q great deal
and was very weary. My little brother,
YOU know | told You, died too; and after
he went | grew spiritless and dull. and
could eat nothing. and could only sit list
less all day with my hands folded: and |
think | should have let myself sit quietly
to death. But there were friends who
helped and encouraged me. Father was
q sort of artist, and he had taught me to
draw in water colors. They got me this
work, by which have supported myself
ever since, and it interested me and woke
me up in life again. I was happy, until Il
year ago, had low fever and after that
mysterious things happened Strange
St,,riac ,vara yxrbi ,bo1t Manly al
my clothes disappeared. 1t was limited
that | was playing tricks, and that whis-
per hurt me very cruelty. / could not
bear TO stay there any longer, so | came
away
''And did you never suspect any one
trying to inure you ?"
s'Oh no. said she, wonderingly, look
ing up through her tears. "Who could
harm lonely girl like me? 1t seemed
as though l could explain it all if could
only remember what had happened some
time somewhere. | had confused recol-
lections of 4 dream that came to me night
after night, and my little brother was al
ways with me. My heart was unspeakably
heavy, | often woke up crying, but it
was all like a mist; | could not grasp it,
though | tried. Do you suppose people
ever live two lives. one which they re-
member, while the other is all Il blank ?n
Il don't know what you mean," said
Edwin, as he took seat beside her on the
bench.
''And don't know myself Oh how |
wish | did. | am pursued by cruel fate
which | cannot understand. l must get
away from here. for in time you will all
turn against me-and have been so hap
py. | would rather die than have you
think any harm She could not finish
the sentence.
Don't cry so" said Edwin, slipping his
arm round her waist in an almost uncon-
scious attempt to give comfort. "You
ought to know, Rachel | could never
think evil Of you. This business will be
cleared up some day, and you viii come
out as bright as the sun, But whatever
happens l shall always believe in You and
trust You like my own heart and if know
myself, Rachel, ii is all yours the same
through evil and good report" This was
not said very glibly. but stammered oyer
in way that attested its sincerity.
Rachel trembled The little hand that
lay upon her lap was by some means clasp
was still conyulsed with sohs, damp
handkerchief was pressed to her eyes but
there was little tract of cheek uncovered,
down which strayed small silky cml.
The supreme moment had come Ed
wins lips were approaching this enchant-
ing spot, but had not won the perfect
ecstacy OF first kiss, when pair of feet
came skipping down the path. Rachel
pulled the broad hrimmed hat over her
face. and darted like a frightened bird in
the opposite direction among some trees.
In an instant Janet the irrepressible, who
always appeared where she was not want
ed had turned the corner. She wore 4
tapping, starchless slll-bonnct over her
fuzzy hair, that had habit Of arranging
itself every which way, and was carrying
a basin OF chicken feed down to the barn
yard. Edwin stalked off to the mill in
tensely Disguised nj the ending of his ad-
venture.
Things had come to a crisis that morn
ing most unexpectedly, For some weeks
the tall young miller had looked forward
+l,o t;,,o ,ubo,, In n,.rbt b;r,calf ,,,ol-1