Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-02-05
Eyes, yes, an III ~ sad.
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lsuccs eded in satisfying him on THIS point.
and LEFT him searching with great zeal. Wills
/ crt pit forloruly into the house TO do M my
work An hour passed away, and sam ao-
peerei without the ring.
''Thars m place TO look for ANYTHING" he
remarked. The ground is so sDf; rgouli
sink right into It, lift dropped"
felt the wisdom o. his remarks and could
not help bursting into tears. Toe ring was
gone forever, should never dnd it, a what
would Tom say TO see my finger Dare to-
night? There was no way that coulf make
him acquainted with the loss before had: |
bad no idea where he could be- found and 1t
was very unlikely should fini a chance ID
speak 10 him at the social. Cousin Mary
Ann, who was visiting at our house suck
TO my side continually when she wasn't al
meeting, and there was no getting rid ofSam
either al home or abroad. Then Tom was
such quick, sensitive fellow. He wouldn't
wait for word of explanation if be found
that did not honor his gift. but be of before
/ could give him an imploring glance /
wondered if it wouldn't be best not 10 90 To
the social at all. 1 could have a heaiache
and go to bed and cry to my hearts conteat
all the whole, wretched evening. But no.
could not miss seeing Tom, when he was go-
Ing away to morrow, and l might never see
him again; would go and brave the worst
with what courage / might. But IL seemed
as If night would never come, thou IN cool
ness knows / was Obliged To be busy ennugb
to make the moments fly fast; and w1at a
supper the com pany had set befOr. them "a
account of my grief The toast was burned
TO a cinder, the tea was boiled until il was
as black as ink and tasted like herbs the
custards were thin like whey. and Tom
Hoods "endless meal of brickp that our
schOOlmaster used To read about last " n
ter, was light diet compared to the biscuits.
! The ministers faces were longer than they
ever were in vestryime citing; Aunt Jane
cOughed ominOusly, Cousin Mary Ana q! =
gled. Sam INDUCED In uncomplimcutary re-
marks, and mother looked just on tna verge
of despair. But what did l care If all the
Suppers III ChriStendOm were spoiled? had
lost Toms ring, and life was spoiled as well.
But at last the gaudy, babbling aud re-
inOrseful DAY crept INTO the bosom Of the
sea, and at O'Clock undd nv crimnS
and went with the rest over to Uncle Ethans
didn't expect to have q very good time
there at best, for few young people cared to
go where there were so many ministers, and
there would be nothing TO do but sit round
the room and say TO the person next to you.
what delightful weather we are having?v
or What interesting meetings." If Tom
hadn't been going To be there should have
stayed away, but flattered myself that ne
would have stayed away also but for the
pleasure of seeing me, though Uncle Ethan
wife was his aunt.
But when / entered the best room. whore
the company was assembled, the first person
saw was this lover of mine, who looking
into my face with "a half confident, half anx-
ious expression, then glanced eagerly toward
my hand, which / kept hidden on purpose
Mr.. Hlbbard sat down by my side, and adj
dressed me with an air of solemn devotion.
Tom commenced TO be very sweet to Lucy
Shelby, who was always hanging about him
with her little airs ana graces.
Il
lost ring, and unconSciously held nv left
hand up TO my face, as if in ostentatious dis
play of Its baroness. Tom grew pale To the
lips, but was more devoted to Lucy than
ever. | hardly heard what Mr.. Hubbard was
saying, but LAT very quietly and smiled
III on that gentleman as l had never smiled
b' fore. Refreshments in the shape of cakes
and homemade wine were handed round
-lnging was proposed, and l sang soprano to
Mr.. Hibbard'S doleful shrill- toned tenor
Tom refused 10 lend the music of his voice
HsAp N IL ri inn 4,
and Old Mrs. Jones whispered i'm my ear
glanctDg meaDingly In the direction Of the
absorbed couple, who hadn't moved from
their corner for the evening, How is this,
Ruth, used to think twas you that Tom
was going To marry; now it seems thai YOU
have changed your minds; both OF YOU"
TIE ministers ard deacOns got into theo-
logical discussion. TIE matrOns slid from
housekeeping talk into little confidential
gossip; the moments dragged frarfuiiy. Tom
LETT early, he was going 20 sail by daylight
and had some errands 10 perform before that
time, Ire said. lie came and shook hands
with me In the most careless manner, and
could only say goodbye, for there was Lucy
watching ne with such a provoking. tTiuni-
phant smile on her silly little face though
c0uIi hardly keep from crying out from
sheer agony.
1 could not follow him out OF doors aud
Tell him why had not worn the ring, Lucy
was hanging on his arm; | could not send
word TO him In any way, he was going to
leave SO early; l could only go home and
weep, and be the wretchedeSt girl in all
PIumfield. 1 had no idea of closing INV
eyes that night; l doubted If sleep would
ever come 10 me again in the old pleasant
way, when my last happy thought OF Tom
grew into rosy dream and lasted until day-
light. But at last, worn out with grief, |
sank INTO q troubled sleep, from which the
luSty voice OF Sam aroused me. saving that
Seth had built the fire, and that 1t was time
10 get up and get breakfast.
felt weak and dizzy, and faint the rain
was beating against the windows, the sky
was dull and gray, n doleful east wind was
crying.in the dripping trees. | was glad To
lave 1t so, and thought only the su n woDIt
never shine again 1 could bear my grief
much better. All happiness was over yes
terday tins re could be no happiness In life
me to marry him before he left our house,
but told him 1 wasn't half good enough for
n ministers wife, and besides that didn't
love him, though I felt highly honored by
bis preference.
Mother and father were both very much
displeased with me, that 1 should have de-
cided in this way, and both declared that
they thought me actually insane. 1t wasn't
every day that girl got the chance to marry
minister, and there wasn't another girl In
Town VINO would have stood so in her own
light. was sorry / could not crafty Them
but could never marry any one but Tom;
he might marry Lucy Shelby, but 1 should
remain single all my life.
Summer wore drearily away, and heard
lOthing from Tom. Lucy Shelby was visit
Ing up In the country. his mother had gone
TO stay with married sister in Scarboro, SO
As for me both lOnged for and dreaded
his coming, for / believed that he was al
ready engaged 10 Lucy, and 1t would be too
late Tor any explanation. / had not given
up my search for the ring, but explored the
cornneld every day or so until the stalks were
cut, and not only the cOrnfeld, bat every
inch OF ground between IL and the house; but
IL YVES all of no avail, and all hope of finding
Ii YVES lost.
1t was late in October. The sky was soft
and hay over the blue, blue sea. The ma
pies in the dOOryard were red as blood the
afternoons were warm and mellow, but the
evenings were frosty under the beautiful
harvest moon. We had not harvested such
a large crop of corn for years, and father de-
clared that be would have an old fashioned
nuSking and invite all the young people
nom far and near TO join in the festivities
SO great preparations were made for the
harvest supper. The great barn was swept
clean and adorned with wreaths of Autumn
leaves and evergreenS, and hung with red
lanterns, and JiIo Burrage, the fidler over al
the ionr corners, was engaged to play for the
uanclng. Father said IL made him feel
young again TO look forward TO such party
so he worked with a Will until the whole
place had holiday brightness, aud the
Whole village was full OF excitement over
the good time TO be.
IL was as lovely an evening as ever hung
us silver moon over Plumfield when the
great event came off at last, and certainly