Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-12-03
fCoucluded from first page.


tumnal crimson The moonlight was
falling still and White on the stubble heids
and belts Of woods 1t blanched Nancy
face-not patient or submissive face
der eyes might have read poem IN ihat
lovely evening, but they were iull OF
trouble. She wanted to crush out the core
of constancy and devotion in her heart ;
Int abe knew not how to do it. She was
too restless to stay within door; so she
wranped her head in q shawl, and glided
ont into the shadow of the trees along the
roadside, until she came nearly opposite
TO Uncle Dorset's house, where she could
see the lights from the barn and eaten the
sounds of fun and frolic from the huskers.
She was haunted by an irrational desire
TO spy upon Enoch and Lucy, and confirm
what she 80 much dreaded to find true.
Mr.. Allen arrived early, and with his
white hands, his want of chin. black
moustache, and city-made clothes. quite
captivated the rustic beauties of Stockburn.
But Nellie Blake, a blue-eyed little blonde,
received a much larger share OF his atten-
ton than Lucy Malcolm did; although Luz
cy. in her scarlet spencer and black skirt,
below which peeped the trimmest and
tidiest of buckskin shoes, was certain
" very charming. She was always with
Eooch. laughing and sparring, and fling
ing back her bright saucy wit Enoch
had Just whispered to her that If he found
the red ear she would have to suffer,
when some one screamed that Mr.. Allen
had found it. The dove.cot was ruffled,
and the girls scampered over the piles OF
corn and hid in the horse. stalls trying to
avoid the penalty of kiss. At last the
IN IL offor and tho
light-iooted little mink gave him chase
round the barn, and then dashed away
through the door into the moonlight, he
after her, and the ring of her silver laugh
was the last that was heard of little Lucy.
In the confusion. nobody missed them.
The whole company went to supper
pretty soon, and more than half an hour
had passed when Enoch came and took
hold OF Jobs coat-sleeve. They stepped
outside the kitchen door together, and then
Enoch said, in an agitated Whisper
'For Heavens sake, where is cousin
Lucy? That fellow Allen has disappeared,
too? Can it be she is playing one OF her
pranks? Father has gone to bed. Don't
speak to mother yet. Get light and
come up to to her room with me-.
The two brothers slipped noiselessly up
the staircase into Lucy's chamber, where
the moonlight was lying quietly upon the
carpet. Everything seemed just as usual,
only note lay on the bureau, addressed
to Uncle Dorset, in Lucy's pretty girlish
handwriting. Enoch snatched it and tore
it open. 1t ran as follows:
Don't be cross and scold me; that : a
dear. am going to marry Charlie Farms
worth. He isn't Mr. Allen at all, think
pa has been very cruel toward Charlie.
He wouldn't let him come to the house,
because he was little wild once. But
now Charlie has reformed and don't drink
drop; and if he couldn't get into bust
ness, / am sure it wasn't his fault, poor
fellow. The only business he had in
Middleton was seeing me. Maybe you
will think am to blame; but | do love
Charlie to distraction. and we mean TO
get married this very night Nobody need
follow us. for it will be too late.
Perhaps Enoch uttered an oath at any
rate, he crushed the note in his hand.
60 down stairs, job said he, and try
and keep the folks agong Get up il
dance if YOU can, Don't tell mother quite
vet. will put Zeke on one OF the farm
horses, and we can bring the crazy girl to
her senses. The fellow looked to me like
a sneak, and dare say he is after Uncle
Horace's money. won't the old gentle
man fume, though
Enoch ten minutes later was squirting
along the moonlit road when he caught
sight of futtering garment along the
trees by the way.
'WhO is there 81 he called out sharply
As no answer came, he alighted, took the
bride over his arm. and pushed into the
shadows
sits me, Nancy Raynor," said faint
voice.
"YOu, Nancy, out alone this time of
night! Did you see anybody pass here
half an hour back ~ he asked hurriedly.
"rm afraid my cousin, Lucy Malcolm, has
made fool Of herself, and gone off with
graceless scamp who has been hanging
round here ever since she came
Nancy had often thought in just what
scorniul tones she would speak to Enoch
Dorset, if he ever Glanced to be humiiat
ed in her presence but now the opporlu-
nifty had come, and all her yindictveness
had vanished
"And do you care so very much about
her p she asked in a faltering voice.
II don't care in the way you think | do,
Nancy" And Enoch's better nature sud-
denly asserted itself. The only girl
ever really cared for was you; and when
| wanted to come back, you were like ice
toward me. OF course, | deserved that
you should never speak to me again.
''Oh, E1och How miserable | have
been," sObbed Nancy, as her head went
down. Enoch found Il moment in which
to comfort her before he leaped again on
his horse and darted away after the fugi-
tives. But they were not found that night
The next day Lucy came, with her grace
less husband. and threw herself at Uncle
Dorsets feet and begged him to intercede
with her father. He could not help prom
Using anything when Lucy had her arms
around his neck; and so he did intercede,
and the old man relented in few months,
and Lucy was taken into favor. The lit
tie cherub that sits aloit has never desert
ed her, and Charlie has turned out better
than could have been expected. lie takes
care of the babies. and is good TO his fly
away Mife, and mah.-- lohe~ how he won
her with the rod cai in that oil husking-
bee
When Nancy married Enpch. i'ikS said
she was too good fr him. And - she