The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1875-02-25

vanish from, her fathers face, q
placid spirit Of rast and contentment
touched biz. sightless, eyes; and she
knew, who had helped him. She
sighed often as she thought she read
the meaning Of somebody's: glancs,
Somebody's heart would ache and
throb painfully one day.. and she
was sorry to have it panied, knowing
it to be SO good and devoted.
Hepsy, in her faded calico gown,
thinking for everybody, went trip
ping about the housework, making
her odd, abrupt little speeches, and
finding time to dream dreams, when
fairy fingers wove their meshes
through the straw she plated so in
dustriously for those gay ladies on
the beach. There was little doubt in
Hepsy's mind now who the prince
was. Harry Anson strolled about
perpetually in the bright summer
weather, with a ishing-rod over bis
shoulder and his favorite place Of
angling appeared to be in at the little
shop-winddow, where Myra sat with a
rose in her hair. Mr.. Marsh was
there with him sometimes, and it
seemed to Hepsy's quick eyes that he
looked older and graver as the sum-
mer advanced; but when Sunday
morning came there was no cloud or
dimness visible. He delivered the
message from his heart SO that people
wept and were lifted up into a purer
air.
One day Fidella Goss, a gossiping
neighbor, ran in, with her apron over
her head, to borrow = sleeye-pattern,
and brought the news that Harry
Anson had fallen heir to thefortune Of
an uncle, who had died suddenly in a
distant town. Myra dropped little
over the news, but Hepsy kissed her
exultingly.
Il knew the fairy fingers would
change you into fine, rich lady, lit
tie sister,"
Il don't care for his riches" said
Myra.
She did not say what she did care
for; and some time passed, but Hen.
ry did not come. It rained four
days, with dogged, persistent drip
from the trees and the creeper at the
window and Myra left the little
shop and stayed up stairs, thinking
her own thoughts. On the fifth day
the sun broke out with a great burst
Of splendor over the gittering, wet
fields; and Harry came, looking a
little subdued and very happy. He
took possession Of Myra in the mos'
natural way; and Hepsy felt that he
was a true-hearted prince, indeed, =:
later she watched the two go up the
wood.path togeth Ter, looking as if they
were wandering into some place of en-
chantment, never to return to this
earth again.
Hepsy had to take her place be.
hind the vines at the little .shop-win.
dow; and, because she was a harden
ed girl, and a selfish girl, she couli
not feel quite as happy as she knew
she ought to feel. The fairy fingers
would not weave their olden charm
She was thinking of how somebody
heart must of necessity ache, ant
pitying him, when a shadow fel
across the window-sill. Perhap
Hepsy had been crying a little, softly
to. herself: She looked up in a start
led way, and saw the young minister
care you alone?" he inquired
and something in his voice or face, O.
both perplexed her..
"Yes," said Hepsy, quickly, turn
ing from the light. II am sorr,
=. Myra is gone. She is with Harr,
Anson." Here she paused. 'The,,
are engaged now !; and, of course,
lis natural they should be together
great deal" Hepsy could have bit
ten her tongue for breaking il SO alb
ruptly; but Mr.. Marsh did not ar
pear to have sustained a severe shock
II am glad they are happy" sal
, he, quietly enough. "Harry and
were schoolmates years back. kne'
him, and can trust him thoroughly.
l have foreseen how this, would enc
But thereis something else on m
mind. May I speak to you, Mi
Greenleaf? Why do you. alwaJ
avoid me? Am I so thoroughly diI
tasteful to you"
Hersy faltered out something quit
unintelligible.~
"You never guessed how dear 70
| are to me, did you p and somehow b
took her hands. II could not see 20
: here at home day after day, so unse
:: fish and brave, without loving you.
think I could help you to smoot
your fathers path through. his d.
} clining years !; at any rate, 1 woul
: Etry. I am a poor man, Hepsy, an
you know what minister's life is
? but do you think you could learn t
love mef'
Hepsy did not need to learn whs
she already knew by heart. THIS
: night they were all together; and th
}, old man, with his .sightless eyes an
D head all blossomed. for the gray,
, was;so happy hisjoy trembled on th
,; Everge. of tears. Now, in his helple.
> old age, God had given him two. son.
L and before he had not one. He t,lr1
:! ed most toward the young ministe
t1 and strained his ear most to- cstc
what MIR. Marsh said. :. 49, ..