The Republican journal., 1877-09-06


Vet after all he had done Jake an un-
conscious service, for Mary Ann was fully
and fairly brought to ask herself if what
she had Just now said in her sudden an
ger Was really the truth. Suppose Hosy
told Jake what she did say, and he took
it for granted that she really did not care
for him at all ? 1t was a small point to
rankle in Mary AIMS mind, but it was
the point of a wedge. She cooked the
big blue-fsh for supper with her usual
skill, and while its crisp brown surface
and creamy fakes of flesh We're being
disposed Of with sundry tlattering re
marks both to fisherman and cook, she
tretted inWardiy a little, while she was
pleased enough with the concentrations
But Mary Ann was not metaphysical -
there are some benefits after all in a want
OF education ; if you do not want to ana
lYZe your emotions and take your Gin
Wardness' to pieces as Il botanist does q
flower, you are spared much futile spec
ulatlOn into protitless subjects, much soul
Wearylng and unhappy consciousness, and
may live and die even as a blossom in
simple trust and peace. Mary Ann went
about her work with no special self-tor-
mcnt after tie first uneasy idea Of Jake
and his possibilities had entered her mind.
If she thought of him a little oftcner and
remembered what Uncle Ryal had said
about ''them Hazards" us a family, and
how Aunt Semanthy had echoed, ''l-is !;
they're dreadful reliable folks, alters was );
Gran'thcr Hazard was one of the smart
est men ever We see Good for tshin
bout to ninety years Old; spry as acrick-
ct: didn't hey no sickness 50 to speak
durin his lifetime, an died of a shocka-
mum palsy to the last" Why all this
was what she knew before, so she thought
no more about it the next day, but hur-
ried her work over, and putting On her
hat took a basket and set her face in
land toward hill where wild straw ber-
ries grew thick and sweet There was Il
long walk before her across the fields, and
the sandy lanes were too heavy to choose
as path when the short turf lay crisply
in the lots, so she stepped over the low
wall OF loose stone, and thereby came
within range Of Jalle's vision Just as he
dragged his boat up the beach, having
been across the bay to the light house.
He overlook her soon with his long
strides, and Mary Ann was glad enough
TO have his company. With certain
native tact, Jake torcbOre to intrude his
passion on her notice till the basket was
filled with fragrant berries, and they sat
down for Il moment to rest on a fallen
tree Neither Of them consciously ad-
mired nature, but Yet they felt serene
calm that hung over the view spread be
fore them-the gently heaving, blue sea,
the still blue heaven, the distant and in
ceSSant murmur of white waves tapping
the shore, the dull green fields bordered
with taWny sand, and far away the light
house tower and the sailing ships that
drlted to or from the horizon, all these
stole into their senses and kept them 81
lent for 4 while, but Jake's heart burned
within him. IL was not his way to put
Of q crisis, to mlncc matters ; he was full
OF curt courage and resolve, and now he
had business Of mortal Importance to him
to settle with Mary Ann he neither could
nor would delay it, so he broke the 81
lence somewhat abruptly.
"Mary Ann" said he, II suppose YOU
have seen quite Il spell that | like you
tuSt rate. I've spoke it loud enough in
actions, but know folks has cot to use
words sometimes Ct they want answers,
and | do want one the Wllst way. VIII
You marry me, Mary Ann !''
The hot color rushed up to the girls
face. She was startled and q traitorous
echo in her own heart startled her more
than Jake's words. She had bunch Of
sweet fern in her hand, and began to pull
the olorous leaves off one by one, as an
excuse for keeping her eyes cast down
''Will You? Say repeated Jake
"We-ell, don'o, Jake hain't
thought o such a thing
The coqucttish nature was uppcrmost
now. Her lips curled at the corners with
wicked little smile, her eyes sparkled
and her voice grew arch.
'.Time y0u did" retorted Jake. "Tvc
been hangin' round We this two year, y
though the sun rose nd sot III your face,
md can't stan it no longer want to
know suthin' for sartin' Mary Ann
"Well-you see" slowly pulling the
fern leaves, ~ know haven't
made mp my mind yet about marryin"
.sMake it up now, then"
'Mercy to me, Jake Hazard, What
an idea no, sir amt Il goin' to hurry
for nobody. can live 'thout getting
married, guess, eli you can't"
~ didn't say couldn't, groWled Jake.
II don't calkcrlate to die for nobody; but
shan't marry nobody but you, Mary Ann
Tucker and | want to know if I'm gon'
to do that"
Mary Ann gave little laugh 1t was
not heartless, though it seemed so to
Jake, who was in dead earnest. 1t was
merely an outlet Of the inner excitement
she really felt, and she followed it up
with the truth, though she spoke with a
certain leyity. 'I don't see how ye're
going to know when told We | hadn't
made up my mind"
"Wcll, how long is it goin' to take We
to do it ~ yentured the Wrathful lover,
who wanted to shake her soundlv for her
naughtmess, thoroughly misunderstand-
ing her, us men will misunderstood Wo-
men till the day Of Judgment, especially
if they are in love with them.
''I don't know that she answered
Jake controlled his rage mantulv.
'NWell, them" said he, rising and looking
down at her, II give ye notice, Mary
Ann, shall keep asllin' till | find out ;
onless I'm onlucky enough to b'lieve You
don't want to know yourself"
She laughed again, but made no an
swer. They walked silently down the
hill together, and parted at the door,
She meant to have asked him to tea, for
she was about to prepare that barbarous
dainty, a strawberry shortcake for supper,
Aunt Semanthy having brought down
from her farm Il pail of cream the day be
fore. But Jake had unwittingly depriv-
ed himself of the feast and even if Mary
Ann had not been too disturbed to ask
him, both luscious berries and unctuous
shortcake would have been gall and bit
terness to his lips, for he was terribly dis
appointed. Perhaps he would not have
been so miserable if she had said "No,"
finally There are some natures to whom
suspence is worse than despair, and his
was one.
Mary Ann, fortunately for herself had
an absorbing object in view, besides her
houseWork. There was to be a clambakc
at Point Peter on the Fourth Of July, at
which all the village of Sandy Creek,
even to the babies in arms expected to
bn Il ,l, H., Il