The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1877-05-09

Hiram, desr," !" and then sac took of
her glasses and wiped them, and
wiped her eyes. and went shout
the hoase at word. snd Becky sss
sohbing and moaning in her room.
! At night-fsll / heard voices around
by the garden gate, and thinking
perhaps il as my father and moth.
er, l ran out and had got nearly
there when heard Becky's voice:
"You must promise you win no,
tell. then. Joseph, l beg you not to
tell. Promise me-swear TO me that
you win never .ell, so help you
God!r
The poor girl said all this 10 q
wild way that made mo shivcr. and she
took hold of his hand and be finally
stammered out.
Becky, l know You are q good
girl and 1 don't think you have been
to blame. II you will marry me. |
will marry you. and take good care
of you, snd-and--it-r
"Oh, don't, Joseph" said she pite-
ously, Il couldn't. I love him, you
know. Bot Joseph promise me you
will not tell who"
Il promise it. Becky
Under no circumstances ?"
Never if you wish it So" I went
in and left them still there l was
frightened, and crept to my corner
in silence.
That night grandfather and grand
mother hesitated ct 6rst about put
ting me to sleep. ss usual, with
Becky and perhaps it was well they
did; perhaps not. For when 1
woke up in the night 10 alright at
missing Becky, and raised up in bed,
looked out the window aud there,
flying over the meadow in her night
gown, toward the poad that shivered
and shone in the broad moonlight,
was poor Becky. Her frantic mo-
tions, or something made me feel
sure that she was going to throw
herself in the pond, and 1 screamed
wildly and soon brought my grand
parents in alarm 70 my side. | could
only point to the pond and say ::
Becky
An hour later, g cold, insensible
form, with dripping hair, lay before
the kitchen Ere. and they were fore
ing stimulsnts between the closed
teeth, and after . while, with a long.
sobbing sigh, life returned to the rig
id form, and Strength enough TO
weep.
Then for ms1y days this poor girl,
not yet sixteen, lay in burning, fever
and tossed, restlessly, TO and fro
until il seemed as if she could never
be still, and she grew weaker and
weaker, bat she did not die; not
then
One day when they thought she
surely must die, the minister drove
up aad alighssa and. tfrn s stern
face, mapped on the door. Grand
mother opened il, and they vere
eloseted for long time, in the dim.
old parlor that was held too good for
ordinary sisitors, and then grand
mother came and asked Becky if she
would like to see the minister. "No,n
said Becky, Il don't want to see
him. Which minister is ir?" she
added.
"Mr. Ovens. our own preacher
said my grandmother.
NO, no. l don't van. to see
him" bat grandmother went out snd
brough; him ia.
Becky reselutely turned her face
away from the minister, and be took
occasion to say every scsthing thing
be could think Of to condemn her sin,
and her because Of it; and 6nalIy,
seeing that she stiIl lxy win white,
set lips, be grew angry snd demand
ed the name of the partner Of her
wrong doing.
A cash came into her eyes for oue
moment and . fash 10 her cbeekz.
bot they died away, fnd she was as
impressive as before. He asked
again, but she would not speak, and
finally be rose angrily and said:
Young woman, Am grieved to
had you are 30 coHtumscioas.
shall now be compelled TO deaounee
you from my puIpi. for your sin, snd
1 fain would know your partner in
iniquity. You are benceforth be-
yond the pale Of the church. Good
bye May God forgive yosr sin I
hope you wiz change your mind be-
fore the Ssbbsah.u And then be
stalked out Of the room.
No one must think him hard nor
unjust, this minister cf the gospel, for
in those little villages these things
we're wont to be lodged severely, snd
they happened seldom, and 30 &C.
cording to the usages Of the church
the Rev. M. Ouens rose the pext
Sunday in his pulpit and exconnuni-
Gated poor Becky from church, and
warned all bis congregation, psr,icu-
larry the youthful. against The con-
,smiaation o: hs- society. He
thooght be was doing righs, bot be
only preached bis sermons from terts
from the Old Testament He never
read bow Jesus spate to her who
bsthed his feet with tears. He cid
not preach like the Nszsrioe. Ia The
mesuume . thin. white face was
turned toward the tGrn-pike road, Up
., grandfsrhef's farm aad two shin
hands we're eissped 10 . lap. lis,.essIy,
- II there Was no more work for them
to do.
One dsy, . few weeks after Beeky's
recovery, my grsndnosher rode down
10 the village, and when she came
back she crsoghs iato the room aod
un-oiled several parcels. taking
therefrom white dssssy esnbrics,
lsces snd asnneis sad giving them 10
Becky, said.
WOW ,bese must be made ap aad
you must do l., Becky 1 win cut
them ou. for yoa"
Thea Becky gave way sgaia tooae
OF her ucconsroiAble sts Of sobbing,
and grandmother took the ckiid's
bead upon ber lap a1d seesaed Der as
vel - she could. Tbes for . few
weeks she busted herssif fashioniog the
dainty little garments wbict we're
often hede~ed vish teara They