The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-12-24

'Twere better should retire at once and
leave her to herself" and the young man
slowly rctreatcd toward the door.
But at this moment there were alarming
symptoms of distress in the window cur
tain, AMI the Major paused rs n voice from
Its dimity depths said plnlntivcly " And
pOu are going without forgiving mel
Forgive gou Mistress Thankf ul," said
the Major stridius To the curtain, and
SEEING II Lite han | tuat was ohtrudcd
from IFS folds, Forgive You. rather can
you forgive me-for the fOliy-the cruel
ty Of mistakug-of-of- " and here
the Major. hitherto famous for facile
compliments, utterly broke down. But
the hand he held was no longer cold. but
warm aud intelligent, and in default of CO.
hcrent speech he held fast by that as tho
thread OF his discourse. until Mistress
Thankful quietly Withdrew II, thanked
him for his forgiveness. and retired deeper
behind the curtain.
When he had gone, she threw herself in
q char and again gave way to a passionate
flood OF tears. In the last tweuty-four
hours her pride had been utterly hum
bled; the independent spirit ot4lis self
willcd lttlo beauty. had mot for the FIRST
time with defeat. Wncn she had got over
hrr wUmanly shock AT the news of the sham
Bdron's death, she had, fear, only "A sell
fish regret at his taking Off-beleving that
If living he would IN some way show the
wnrld-which just then consisted of the
Headquarters and Major Van Zandt-thnt
he had really made lovl to her. aud pos
eihly did honordbly love her still. and
might yet give her an opportunity to re-
ject him. And now he was dead. and she
WAS held up TO the world H. the conccited
plaything OF IL tue gentleman masquerade
ing sport That her fathers cupidity ant
ambition made hun sanction the imposture
In her bitterness sh, never doubted. Mo-
Lover, friend, father all had been false to
her aud the only kindne-s she had re-
ceived was from the men she had wantou-
ly lnsulted. Poor little Blossom Indeed,
most premature Blossom; fear most
inthankful Blossom, stung there. shivcr-
ing in the first chill wind of adversely,
rocking backward aud forward with the
skirt OF Ter dimiiy short gown over her
shoulders. md her little buckled shoes
and clicked stockings patheucally crossed
before her
But healthy youth is reactive, aud in an
hour or two Thankful was down at the
az her favorte heifer, to whom she poured
out much OF her woes, and from whom She
won an intelligent SORE of soldering SYM
pathy. Aud then she sharply seeded
Cau.ar for nothing ut all aud Il moment
after returned TO the house with the air
and face of "A deeply injured angel. who
had been disappointed IN some celes-
iihl idea of setting tins world right. BAT
a.
Ia le that sunk Major Van Zlndt Into the
dark depths of rcmorse, AM eventually
sent him to smoke pipe of VII gina with
his men in the roadside camp. Seeing
which. Thankful went early to bed and
cried herself to sleep. And Nature posi-
bly. followed her example, for a. sunset
great thaw set in. and by midniEht the
freed rivers aud brooks were gurging me-
lodously, aud tree aud shrub. and fence
were moist and dripping.
The red dawn AZ last struggled through
the vaporous veil that hid the llnisc1pe.
Then occurred one OF those magical
changes peculiar to the climate. vet per-
haps prominently notable dining that
historic winter and spring. BY ten o'clock
on that 81 of May, 1880. ferveut June-hke
sun had rent this vaporou' vel, AMI
poured is direct RAYS upon the gaunt and
Ia gard profile of the Jersey hills The
chilled soil responded but fe,hlv 10 that
kiss; perhaps a few Of tne willows that
yelowed the river balks took on deeper
color. But the country folk were cert ain
that spring had come al last, and even the
correct and self-sustained Mljor Van
Zandt came running IN to announce to
Mistress Thankful that one of his IN IN had
seen violet in the meadow. In an other
moment Mistress Thankful hat donuel
her cloak and pntteus to view this drstlng
OF the laggard summer. 1t wa quite nat
ural that Major Van Zaudt should accom-
pany her n she tripped on. and 50 without
thought of their past differences. they
ran ike very children down the MOST and
rocky slope that led 10 the quaggy
meadow. Such was the Influence of the
vernal season.
But the violets were hidden. Mistress
Thankful, REGARDLESS, Of the wet leaves and
her new gown, gropeI with her fingers
among the witheIrd grasses. Major Y AN
Znndt leaned against boulder and
watched her with admring ewes.
"Youll never mud flowers that way
she said AT last. lno',ing M 10 him inna
tienuy. "Go down on your knee. Ike an
honest man. There are some things III hi,
world worth STOPPING tor.
The Major instantly dropped on his knee
bc~idc her. Bat nj that moment Mistress
Thankful found her po-ies and rose to hel
feet stay where YOU are she SAID. m -
chievou-ly. rs she stopped down M piac ID
flower "a the lapel of his coat That T.
20 make amends for my Iudcncss. Now
get
But the Major ala NOT rse. lie caught
the two little hands that had seemed L
nutter like birds against his breast, and
looking mp into the laughing face above
him. SAID Dear Mistress Thankful; dare
| remind YOU OF your own words tina
there he some things worth STOPPING for.
Think II my love, NJ stress Thankful, a
flower -mayhap, not as gracious 20 You IA
your yiolets butas honest and-lnd and
--as-
Ready 10 spring up IN single night,
laughed Thankful. But, no; get up, Ma