The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1874-02-02

AAtIAEAA LlapAuGE hA4AGl
life one long torture to her.
Hugh brought the best medicine that
torture could admit-his presence and
his love; and under that gentle balm
Mary Garston fingered two years, rest.
ing from her labors in peace and happi.
ness, while the young oxonion kept
school and house fer her, and tended
her like nurse, servant, and son, in
one.
Naturally, now she was gone, ] urged
him TO give up this wretched life, and
begin a better in England, with my aid.
He thanked me, and declined. He liked
teaching. The school had increased,
and was n blessing TO those outlying
farms and cabins, whose young fry
would otherwise have grown up mere
heathens and sayages. II he gave II
up, no other would take 1t, the pay was
so poor, and the situation SO lonely.
Besides, he was now,bent on the Inde-
pendent ministry, and found this q
capital place for perfecting his studies
in quiet, and practising their lessons in
freedom. These were his Arguments,
and combated them with case. Then
he turned on me, and told mel have
grown to care for o girl in the village
yonder, Malya Keith. She is not q lady,
and am not o gentleman-after my
fathers pattern, at least. This state Of
life suits her better than any other;
therefore, il ! marry her, 1t and no 9th.
or shall suit me-"
had used reason against arguments,
and turned them into smoke. To use
reason against love would have been
folly; and was not fool. We shook
hands heartily, bade each other "God-
speed, and parted the best Of friends,
never to meet again in this world. The
rest Of Hugh's story I give from his
letters and Malva's lips.
She was practiced coquette, honest
enough in her way, and beautiful be.
yond measure, with the full, upright
figure, 1.-the, round limbs, and rich col.
oring Of o prairie Hebe-well aware Of
her beauty, too, both from the glass
and the moro audible homage Of at
least o score OF rough and ready admir-
ers, trappers, timber.fellers, railway
employees, loaiers, and the like, who
all We'd in paying court TO the flower Of
White Waters. Hugh came in among
these like star from another system;
and straightway A1alva cast of her suit
ors, and hauled down tho flag OF free
dom to lay 1t at the schoolmaster's feet.
So far, so well but, unfortunately,
surrender was easier than subsection to
this young lady. Hugh lived nearly
three miles of, and was at his work all
day. Malva lived Just outside the vii
lage-her father was a timber con-
tractor, and q well.to.do man Of the
roughest class-and the house was
always full OF those OF her swains, rs
did not care for work, and found making
love q pleasant pastime; and Malya
was too partial TO this incense TO re-
linquish II OF once, and for the sake Of
grave, stern young man, who had
other work than hanging on her apron
strings all day. The end Of all this
was that Hugh grew anxious, then
jealous, then angry took to reproying
instead Of worshiping, and SO irritated
Malya's pride; all OF which eliminated
in o desperate quarrel respecting a cer-
tain Miles Pearson, whose oyer.familiar
worship Of the flower Of White Waters
had for some time been arousing Mas
ter Hugh's wrath. fear that latter
gentleman had inherited his fathers
pride at any rate, he bore himself so
sternly on this occasion, that Malya,
who was on the point Of yielding and
asking pardon, suddenly nailed her
colors TO the mast, and said she "wasn't
going to be bullied. Miles was as good
as some folk, and better. He didn't
get riley and tyrannical; and for her
part she preferred Americans to half.
bred foreigners" &C., &C., blue eyes
flashing and pomegranate cheeksahame.
Hugh looked her full in the face, and
answered her, very white and cold
dThat is your choice, then? Very
we'll. The half-bred foreigner will re-
sign you until such time as you change
your mind, and ask him TO come back.
Good.morning, Miss Keith"
And 80 walked back to his school,
and came no more TO the Keith home
stead.
The weather was cold enough then
but the real heavy snow did not set in
much before January. 1t had been
falling of and on for several days, and
was 50 deep in places that Hugh's
school benches had grown very empty,
many from the more distant clearings
not being able to come. Still, the mas.
ter was q great fayorite with children,
and these in Iowa and Minnesota are o
tough and hardy little race SO, on the
9th Of January, 1877, though the sky
was an ominous color, and the barome:
ter falling fast, about nine boys pnd
girls arrived as usual, and, after o good
Warming at thefre, began their studies.
One Of them, Seth Halkett, broughta
bit Of news.
"AIiles Parsons gwine to splice
with old Keith's gal. Guess therell be
grand fixings down to her place. Air
You gwine 70 the marryin', teacher ?"
You shut up, Seth,' cried his sis
ter, o sharp girl Of twelve, who, with
precocious womanhood, had got hold Of
Hueh's feelings in that quarter. "Hes
always talkinf when he knows nuthin',
teacher; an he aren't done one fgger OF
his reck'nin' yet"
Seth stuck his hands dehantly in the
ragged bands Of his corduroys, and
mnttered-" Darn the reck'nin';" but
Hugh spoke to him mildly, and bade
me girl mind her own work. II was
NOT with children that his sternness
came out.