Ellsworth American., 1875-12-09

across the little portico. and the ve2etabl
garden beyond looked dry and parchcd
but altar oil were green hills. cool an,
shadowy. and her glance turned towar,
them longingy. III she were only there
and could press her flushed face to the coo
moss. aud. closing her eyes. think quictll
for little while, But instead the tail ole
clock IN the corner struck eleven. and i
was time TO be making preparations fo
dinner
Presently came a sound of quick steps
and Aunt Rachel hustled in. dcpnsting hei
armtul of bundles. and sinking into a chair
beside them.
Dear me but do say fort this j. q
warm day. Coin a tradin' tires me clean
out; does seem aS lfthe shop-keepers de.
lighted in maxim body look mt every
thing they have got in their stores afore
they'll show 'em jest what they ask for
! Quarter past 'leyen Well. didn't think
Id been gone so long, Have YOU got the
potatoes on, an the dinner goin' Ke-
! zia?"
"ke1zie." said dreary little voice in the
doorway. 81 don't know what I'd better do
ncxt.''
Dear a me! what in the world have you
! been don'la>t!" exclaimed Aunt Rachel.
IN astonishment. jest look a, the child.
! keZia -
! kczia did look. and Jaw face hands.
and apron woefuly Soilcd
I've been diggin' up the backyard
| With this ere shinglc. .tryin' to lind Captain
kidd's moncy.what he buried; bu, ddn t
mud none, said Josev .discon soIately, '.au'
now don't know nothin' more u do
Something in the wi>tiul voice touched
the sisters heart. Poor little Josey! he
was restless and dissatisfied. too, wanting
he did not know what. She coaxcd him
int" having his face aud hands washed.
and lying down tor nap.
Then her father came IN from the field
Just 10 eat h> dinner. aud hurry back To
the same drcary work again. How could
h" be conteuicd with such lfe;" kezlic
wondered. watching hi, cheerful face.
But eontented he seemed. grateful. too. a.
hc bowed his head ut table. aud feryentIy.
though IA few worls and plain. asked
blessing upon 'this portion OF Gods com
mon bounty. Common indeed" said
kezLie's rebclliou> heart; then. shocked n
the thought. she tried To crush Ii.
The carly dinner cleared away Aunt
Rachel began 10 display her purcha>es and
comment upon them.
That's for Jo,cys aprons, FAINT very
fine. bat he does tear 'rm Ia pieces SO
thought / Il Try to get something 'twould
wear well An here's the calico for our
dresses. not very pretty. neither OF EN-;
but We only want en- Tor common. an
thc~e'il wash well. and on here's tn.
stun To Jne that quilt when H., done"
oh dear. wish IT were nnt.hcd NOW
said kclA'e; I'm 80 tired oft"
Why. thousht you liked TO make
patchwork" said Aunt Rachel. looking
over her >prctlci.s in surprise. I'm .ure
It J. easy enough"
But 10 i such common work"
~ ell. : pose 10 j.. .dld Aunt Rachel
roh"ctiEr.y ''but the most thing. has 10
BE- done la this world j. common thugs
t"iAs lives most ioikS'.au hoW-i~ about
Ike that patchwork quilt. made up ora
little piece OF this, an ll,tle piece OF that.
an aIi OF II common goods
Tie -ifl looked up at the peaceful face.
aud the good, honest eyes tha; we're peer
ins over the -pectacle-.
y GU don't look as il you cared in the
least" she said
Aunt Rachel laughed. a little CHEEKY
laugh.
Why should care: The common thing.
has got 10 be- done ju.t a. much Cd, the un-
common. au' Il don't make any difference,
which body does, a. know OF"
But some people eau DO 80 much good.
Aunt Rachel; founding hospitals. and"
Where did they nnd 'em:' interpo,ed
Master Jo>cy. Did they dig for 'em:"
NO. that they didn't" answered Aunt
Rachel enphaiically; mind YOU don't get
another apron dirty tryin' 10 dig up one IN
our backyard. tell you what it i kezlic.
more'n halt the folk, that gives away great
sums To that Kind of thing Is them that ha>
held tisht on To their money, an kept il all
10 themselves while they lived; an when
they - IIi an sa,s.'f
they viii Il 10 some great charity concern.
Its leetle too much like the man in tb,.
parable that had the one talent. lie COW
cred II up an kept it all to himself, an
"ouldn I let II DO nobody no good a. long
a. hc could help il; an then, when his
lord come, an he knew hc couldn't keep IL
any longer. he lay II down, an SAYS,
Take that which /, thine"
kczLe fitted her thimble to her finger.
took up her sewing. and began 10 stifcl,
away re>olutely. She did not feel Ike
talking much, but she tried by steady. hur-
ned wOrAin. to drown the tormcntin.,
question that Kept .pcring Itself over
aud over again. She was no more ready
10 answer II then than she had been ia th,.
morning, aud She longed 10 forget il tor Il
little while. Vain effort Ii would not be-,
put aside. kezzte gave it up at last. and
when the sun had dropped lower IA the sky
and the niaple-tree AT the door Wa ling-
ing n lOEg shadow over the "ra,- ,hr
threw down her work and went ont. wan
derins down through the garden and be-
yonI II into the orchard until She reached
iivorlte seat under nn old apple-trec
Should she be Robert ken>ett's wife;
They had known each othe- from child
hood, and his kindness. care and love had
made much OF the sunshine of her life.
Everybody liked him-her father, Aunt
Rachel, aud even little Jo>eY, and shelves
She liked him too. dear Rob, But then
hezZie paused there. world Of ambitious
thought was IN that 9iriish head. She had
, dreamed vague, grand dreams OF "A brilliant
future that was possible Tor her some
where: OF a life-she scarcely knew what
but something entirely different from the
steady. commonplace existence OF this gui-
ct little village. Her lite had been stupid
ly peaceful and even - tar; She wanted
change. She was not willing To bind her
| self here; TO settle down TO the old weary
round, not even for Robert kensett's sake ;
and he could offer her nothing else. she
| knew.
How those dark eyes would look when
She told him. How could she ever bear 10
meet them with such words on her lips
She covered hei face with her hands, and
| leaned her head against the trunk of the
old tree. as If already she saw the glance
she so dreaded
She did not know how long she had been
sitting there when she caught the sound OF
| little feet, and voice called "Kezzier'
| 'Oh dear. can | never be left alone -
were her first impatient words.
"Oh kezier! repeated Josey, in d
strange. breathless tone that made her
drop her hands and look up quickly.
What is it,? she asked, in sudden alarm
at the child's startled face.
Its caved in, kezier, il has. that new
well they was diggin' down at the mill
It's all tumbled in on the man that wa.
maxim it an. Robert kensett. too; he's all
buried up, All can't get out! They cam
see him at all, an Bill Jones says he dom
spect he'll ever get OUT"
"Oh Josey, DON'T" she cried. in a quick
sharp way her face growing very white
That Is not so; It can't be! Some on,
has told you wrong. dear"
NO. they didn't neither" said Josey