The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1875-02-04

touch on many chords, and there wa
growing distrust and anger. A youn.
woman may not journey to the ia
West to ask her lover what is separat
ing them, SO Abby waited. He
healthy nature could not bear thi
ordeal. She fell ill, and the busy lifi
became q blank. When convalescen
a letter was placed in her feeble hant
Ia harsh, unjust letter, taxing he
in1idlelity to her absent loYer, an(
stating that if she did not immediate
ly reply, clearing herself, all was ovel
betw cen them. The letter was already
old, mother having laid it away in the
family Bible. Abby resumed hel
tasks, we'll aware that the crystal COB
let of happiness had slipped from hel
grasp, and lay shivered to atoms OF
the ground. Clear herself from false
charges, forsooth! If Albert Marshal
did not know her nature better, le
him take his course. She never wrote
again, and the next thunderbolt was
Alberts marriage-a measure so has
ty as to suggest revenge. This wai
all, and the years rolled on. -ai" F
"Come right home along of me-
dear. Do! Squire Scudder's sent me
a mince-pie," urged Desire.
Grandmother looked after them
with scorn. "There go them two
creeturs, comfortin' each other. !
don't suppose Desire ever flew in the
face of Providence as our Abby has,
though"
Abby returned from the visit much
strengthened in spirit, and retired to
read book from the Rockybeach cir
culating library by the light ofa pri-
vate candle.
Down in ber little house the dress
maker, most timid and shrinking OF
women, was guilty of a bold decd.
She wrote to SenatorAlbert Marshall
Her courage oozed, and she left the
missive anonymous from sheer terror.
1t read thus: a.1 e rii
'If Mr.. Marshall will visit his ma
tive place again, after SO many years
of absence, he will never regret it,"
The little seed bore fruit in this
wise: a stranger came by the morn
ing boat to Rockybeach, tall, digni-
fed man, who gazed about him like
one in trance. How old he felt
among the scenes of his childhood He
might have been asleep, instead of a
prosperous man in his prime, who had
worked his way up with new State.
The school mistress rang her bell
sharply, and in respose to the sum-
mons the tramp of small boots echoed
through the building. Shrill voices
subsidized to nurmurs, which made the
academy seem like hive of busy in
sects. And, indeed, were not the
braincells stored with honey there?
A pretty squirrel leaped on the Aoor,
looking drolly around. Fun cleaned
in chubby faces ; one boy hid his head
behind his slate. Never had this lad
evinced such indua,ry before. The
little animal whisked its tail, ran nim-
bly, up the school mistress's chair (who
screamed) then capered of,and nestled
in the jacket OF the Industrious boy.
Laughter bubbled forth to see their
schoolmarm SCARED" was altogether
too much for the gravity of the little
people.
"Jean, come here"
The boy advanced slowly, with the
squirrels head peering out of his
pocket. There he stosd, unlike all
his companions, even to the instinct of
tanning wild animals. A short, square
ly built lad, with narrow head, black
hair, and bronzed skin. One day the
selectman had brought two writhing
victims to school-Jean and his sister
VictoIre. The children were shy, the
blood of Indian and French, voyageur
coursed in their veins. The family
a hut on the edge OF the wood. The
father. perished in snow-drift.
Rocky beach brought the widow into
town, the selectman pounced on the
children. School was a strait jacket.
The girl Victoire submitted; the boy
Jean remained savage. In vain-h hid
in the woods, in barns, and cellers
the pursuer hunted him out. Jean
could no more escape from the select
man than from destiny. 1t was the
salec,man's duty to have every child
learn to read and write. Rock beach
was poor, worked hard for living,
but set the school house on the hip-top,
like a light house tower, and proclaim
ed to the world universal education.
The course Of Justice was interrupt
ed by Victoire, who tripped in breath
less with excitement. .t.,I
GA gentleman is coming here" she
cried, L@,U
He already stood in the door, and
shaded his eyes with an expression OF
doubt aud astonishment. There was
a sound of surging waters in Abby's
ears, the windows waved, the great
stove reeled.
"You here, Abby3 l thought you
had married Captain Crocker." He
stepped forward eagerly, glad recog-
milton in his smile, 81.
But she meyer answered, The school
marin had tainted. After that there
was a holiday. The academy rejoiced
All the pupils saw was the meeting OF
two sober persons, long separated-s
tall, grave man, and a cemely, robust
woman, with that beauty of true in.
tegrity which outlives time. No,
knowing what to make of it, young
Rocky beach trooped of, with jubilan
! shouts, to tell the news.