, 1875-02-06
sorry" commented Rockybeach, with


fnrtv-fiyc yearSof age, and not altogether
4 GGd-fearing man; for in his maturity
he carried out a boast of early youth not
to go to meeting three times on Sunday,
and 10 sail chip boats in the cove instead
If he chose The village confessed all
this with many shakes of the head: but
then the Captain was rich, and returning
from his last voyage had built the large
house on the hill, with cupOla and green
house Gossip dwclt rapturOuSly on the
velvet carpets, curtains and china there
in contained, wondering who would be
mistress of the new mansion. Lo! the
CAPTAIN cast favorable eye on Abby
Fowler, and in his choice evinced excel
lent judgment, n RockybeaCn hOasted
not OF her superior.
u would rather work my fingers to
| the bone, or be a galley-Slavc,' sine SAID,
Indignantly, y woman can always 90
out 10 service ii everything else fails,
suppose"
Then the rich man in his wrath woocd
and Won pretty Deborah, the milliners
daughter. Belle Of the dry-goods clerks
was Deborah, fond of tinery, and impa-
tirnt of the snubs OF older girls, who
never lost an opportunity of putting her
down. Might she not hold crbead high
"a, Mrs. CrOckrr, instead of measuring of
ribbons for other people 10 wear behind
her mothers C0unteT2
Mrs Scrid'S parlOr over the shop was
opened for the grand occasion, and thIth-
or fucked the guests. The room smellcd
| of varnish, being used only for funerals
and weddings. \ portrait OF the late
Mr Scmd seemed la stare down i'll
round-eycd surprise at the unusual pro
cc6dinGS from the wall, and little stove
erected for the day biaZed SDitetully,
| bluShing red on one side and emitting Il
strong odor of backing from the other.
| Flowcr-pUtS from the Captains con
servalory were disposed about gilt
looking glass Mrs. ScrId and the neigh
bors who assisted her skurricd about with
flushed faces, and whispered nervouSly
| together in corners.
The minister came with hiS book; then
the bride, conscious of her blue silk
gown; then the bridegroom in white
waiSlcoat. Talk about the WOrldlIncSs
Of city life, Condemn the European
indriGgC dc c0urcuGUccl Verify, trlile OF
the lcaycn must have Crcpt into our
country homes when young Deborah
stood there in her blue gown willing to
wed bottlc-noscd Capt. Crockcr for the
house on the hill The minister made
them man and wife, and Deacon bangs
overturned one Oft tlOwerPots by way
of conclusion to the ceremony. Perhaps
the roses of Dchorah'S girlhood were
then crushed forever She enjoyed her
hour of triumph. RoCkybeach was very
respectful to Mrs. Abraham Croker
Uncle Asa cracked his Joke with the hap
nv couple. Cake was served, and lumpy
icc-cream, congcaled 10y Mrs. SCrid in a
reluctant freezer RoCkYbeach did not
taste -icc-cream every day. Returning
home. the walk of the would-he spinster
Abby WAS cnliyrncd by doIeful sigbs On
the part of her mother and occasional
Sniffs from Uncle Asa, more eloquent
than words.
Grandmother pipcd over the dough
She was kncading. d" So Dcbora:'s gone,
4 eh2 and we've got our Abby agin.'
You don't seem very grateful for the
blessing" said Abby, grimly. And in
deed it is small wonder if the poor spul
,cJs grim by that time
She sought her own chamber, and
took a band-boN from ihc cupboard y
faded dagucrrcotypc and packet of let
ters were enshriued in this homely rc
cepiaclc An me, little consolation even
here. These relics belonged 10 Albert
Marshall, lover of her youth, who had
Tilted her. At least she could be faith
ful 10 the memory of her dead love
II is unpleasant 70 he no longer young,
and S.ill more unpleasant 10 he sharply
reminded of the fact While the Cap
tain and his bridc were jaunting away in
the Stagc-cuach on their wedding Jour
ncy Abby Fowler was fighting her own
battle in her lulc room. She sat with
her elbows on the sill of the window,
| through which her longing eyes mad
searched hungrily for a wider horizon
many years. She was tryinStO face he"
future hravcly; hut strive rs she would
10 paint il in vivid colorS she could find
only pale neutral tintS on the palette Of
her Imagination II looked blank enough,
r certainly. the first bloom of youth,
which gIorificS the plaincSt face, had
vanished forever. The Captain, in all
his rcpulSiyc uglincSs, was her last
/ chance of having home and family ot
her own. She was to join the army OF
old girls Tears came to her eyes as she
pictured herself the unwilling recruit to
r swell the ranks
God help us air. cried she. why
r could there not be war for women, to
restore the balance? | suppose there's
the heart of a robbed mate bleeding
somewhere for every soldier sleeping on
our battlc-ficldS" If there was work
for her tn do in the world SHE was will
ing To do il. the puzzle Was to discover
in which direction it lay. Her spirit re-
belled against believing that the path OF
duty led only 10 the brick SchOol-house.
She longed for wider sphere; there was
all the dormant energy in her nature
p which had carried her brothers to sea 10
perish in its storms.
They died like brave men, said
Abby, proudly.
Jane White could teach the academy
But she-whut could she net do II she
tried, with enthusiasm enough 10 learn
Here She made mistake. No school
marin taught the young idea OF Rocky
beach rs well as herself. especially IN the
matter of geography This was the Key
of her ambition. She wished 20 see the
world. and so described countries geo
graphically 10 the children IN way that
could not fail TO interest them. 10 De
principal Of the academy had once heen
her highest ann
At the age Of four her small feet had
carried her up the hill TO the fountain
held sacred in all New England homes
the SChOol-houSe-tO receive her lnltla-
ton into the mysteries of the alphabet
In those days master relgned over the
:. bows and girlS-a master of the dry,
reticent, learned type, wearing Wig
and addicted To snuff.
Later a glrl of twelve, tail, thin and
freckled. with limp sun bonnet under
bar arm stood before his table to hear