The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1875-12-30
No matter, Jim. Do you know

|
Presently she got mp and put NOR
coal on the fire took up a stick c
wood as If she would add that to tn
flame, and then laid it down again b.
the side of the stove.
tBessie.d you know the woed is al
most out?'
yes, Jim,' with a happy sound il
her voice, as if, in some mysteriou
manner the fact was pleasant enc.
"We1l have to buy some more, ant
hire somebody to cut and put it in
Perhaps so. Do you know you
lesson now?'
Yes. Will you hear me?'
She took the book, and asked th'
questions printed there in a mechanic
al way, as if she was not thinking .
them, and the sound of the boys yoic,
in swering seemed not his, but thu
outspeaking of her thoughts. So tina
to her the lesson was something in thi'
fashion:
Question. 'How many States ar.
there in the United States?'
Ans,cer. Il have cut and piled WOOD
enough to last you until come bacl
again, dear Heart .ea+a-.
Q. into how many sections are they
divided?' u
Il. and you'll know when I'm com
ing, dear, by the woods being out"
Q. What States form the Eastern ei
New England sectieh2'
a. 50, dear John! Two whole
years How can let you go3 Isshal
be twenty-five years old when you
come 5ack!' $50. .Hi,gs4.
You'll be my little wife, dear, when
| come back 3it.3 ~ =
That's our secret, John. Yeu hav.
emit told anybody p sara 's.il= ssss.
No, not even my neither &.H
Here Bessie saw tall figure in the
doorway of the wood-house, against q
gray winter sky and bare branches o.
the elm trees. His arm held her close.
ly, ana he looked into her eyes.
1T will be a pleasant thought to me,
Bessie, that my work is helping you
here while am working for our fu
ture so far away t
Bessie was dragged back into the
present out of her dream by Jim's
voice: ~ G-.tif of
'Why, Bessie, I've answered long
ago. Why don't you ask me another p
And Bessie blushed, and gave her.
self little shake. and began with
much apparent interest:
Q. which are the Northern or Mid
die States 2
n. New York. New Jersey, Della
ware and Pennsylvania
Q. 'What States comprise the South
arn section of the Union?'
Il. 'Maryland-'
And here Bessie drifted back into
aer retrospective dream. She and the
all man were walking away from the
woodhouse, up the little garden walk
nto the back door, into the little par
or; there they sat building air-castles,
.nd confidently Planning the life two
whole years of, until they had almost
forgotten the pain of parting and alb
'ence that lay between.
Presently boy shouting in the viii
age steet made them start made Bes-
'ie say: Now, you must GO, darling'
And with a hurried embrace, and
God bless you, little girl = the tall man
walked away, and Bessie went into
ler kitchen, where the shouting boy
soon found her cooking his dinner,
but not too busy to kiss his rosy
cheeks and bring him to the fire to
" arm his fingers and ask him interest
ing questions about his school.
A sudden consciousness of q pause
in Jim's voice made Bessie again be-
como school mistrees, and, earnestly
hoping she hadn't missed any ques-
lions, she guessed at her place, and
went on:
Q. (which have seacoast on the
A tlantic ?
And then she was lost again in her
dream. Some one knocked at the
door in the evening when the lamp
was lighted, and Bessie was at the pi-
ano singing, while Jim studied and
listened i'll the intervals, again, in her
lream> the tall man entered the little
parlor, and Bessie had two for audi
ence apparently, though in truth she
but one, and sang to him.
The tall man picked up music-book
Of her mothers. and turned the pages.
until he found one song he liked best,
and then asked Bessie to sing it. 1t
was week day, but the song he had
selected was sacred music:
''Trust in the Lord; wait patiently
for Him, and He shall give thee thy
hearts desires ,t.ai.5 ..F 3,
Bessie remembered how she. had
sung ii with the tears rising in her
eyes, and then had closed the piano !;
how the tall man talked to Jim the
rest Of the evening. or at least until
Jim went to bed aud lett them there
alone. ,5--rl-.-.....
well, BessieP this from Jim, wait
ing patiently for the next question.
Q. sWhat States comprise the Vest
ern section Of the Union?' I-rsaf -.
And Bessie was dreaming again.
She aud the tall man sat i'm silence
when Jim had closed the door behind
him-sat, iii utter silence, side by side,
seeking courage in each
others eyes, or strength from the
touch of each others hands, the village
clock tolled out tent was their usu-
al hour for goodnight. :,-zs.s.5
q can't go now, Bessie, my last
night! ssas