Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1877-05-10
Don't know. | never heard him

Clara bent lower over the socks she
was darning for Ben, and shook down
her curls to hide her tell-tale bushes.
81 did think Miss PAMELA con
tinued, 'he was keepin' company wi
Clary q re--leastways folks said so;
but pears like he's turned to Jemima
Jnkins now mems so changin'
there's no dependin' on 'em. | was
| by Jemima's this mornin', and she's
terrible pat out cause Ben's goin'.
She showed me his pictur he give her
twas the very spite O. Ben, and In
a locket wi gold chain; it cost
pretty smart, | guess Everybody
thinks he and JemIma will make a
match of it when he comes back
Go up stairs, Clarie, and stone
them reasons. | want to make some
cake tomorrow said Mrs. Slater;
and Clarie obeyed, just in time to
hide the tears that all her struggles
could not keep back.
'Clarie's in the dumps-what's the
matter with her, mother?' Ben said,
as he was getting ready to start.
I'm sure | don't know; 'spose you
ask her?' replied his mother, little
stiffly.
Ben took her at her word.
What is it, Clarie p he asked,
standing by her side in the kitchen
door-'what makes you SO shy2'
'Nothipgn
oh! | know better; something's
out What is it, Clarie
Clarie did not answer. Ben looked
at her moment, his brown eyes
growing tender and humid.
you're nos sorry I'm going, Clarie?'
he said at last.
Not so sorry as | might have been,
| Ben
What have | done? Tell me please,
Clarie!'
Nothing at all. Good bye Ben 2
SO you won't go down to the gate
with me, Clarle?'
No Ben
'I've got birth day gift for YOU
Il don't want it, Ben
You don't. Well, good bye then
His voice choked a little, and Claire
felt the hot tears coming as she gave
MIN her hand.
She remembered it all, picking out
the golden pippens, and listening to
the winds bowling round the cottage
gables The year had been long
one, and very dreary. She missed
Ben sadly; and when she went TO
singing school, and saw Jemima jim
kins with her gold chain around her
neck, the little singing thorn in her
heart ranked deeper than ever. Ben
was coming back now; she scarcely
knew whether to be glad or sorry.
But her foolish little heart would fut-
ter when she thought of his honest
brown eyes, and clear, kindly voice
it would be SO pleasant to have him
back again. But he would go to see
Jemima, and bring her second gift,
no doubt. He should not see that she
cared, howeyer-Clarie was too proud
| for that; so she dried her eyes, aud
ran down with the golden pippins.
| One o'clock on Clarie's birthday
found everything in trim order and
dinner steaming on the stove, and the
old walnut table laid with the whltest
damask, and best china. Mrs. Slater,
in her Sunday gown, stood in the
doorway, looking out with anxious
eyes into the fast-failing snow.
'What can keep 'em, | wonder p
she said for the twentieth time. 4
told Reuben to make an early start;
and now the dinner will all Spite an
Benjamin never did like cold vittles.
they can't travel fast on account
of the snow, MOTHER Clarie said re-
assuringly; bat at the same time her
blue eyes wore troubled look.
Two o'clock came-tbree-still they
did not come! The poultry baked
dry, and the gravies burned to the
pans Mrs. Slater's dinner was in
perilous danger of spelling. Just be-
fore the clock struck four, Miss Pa
melia appeared, blowing through the
snow, raped in her gray serge cloak
4 knowed you'd be waitin', Miss
Slater she said stamping the snow
from her feet, and seating herself be-
fore the fire that Clarie had just re-
plenished, and I've come to tell you
the news-though I've been down full
a dozen times in gittin' here. Squire
Stebbins beerd it down to Browns
and he was just up from the station !;
and says to mother, I'm going right
up to tell Miss Slater. b'leve it's
my duty
Mrs. Slater withdrew her eyes from
the winding, snowy lane, and said
with evident unconcern:
'Well, Miss Pamely, what is it p
But Clarie, who was listening in
tently, sprang forward with clasped
hands and paling cheeks.
ooh, Miss PAMELA! she whispered,
SIS it about Ben p
sWhy, yes,' continued Miss PAMELA:
but / didn't think as you'd keer so
much, knowing as he had hankerin'
after Jemima; but | may as well tell
you, you've got to know-its about
the train. There was 'lison, or
| Wh0bSFCi JON OhiA Tvs Wills -
and the down train from the West
was jest smashed right up, and every
soul killed. IF Ben was aboard
'spose he was-why, God help We,
Miss Slater, that is all | can say
Charity uttered not word; but
her face took on a stern, rigid express
sion, that reminded one of the cheer
less sky without.
TT mayn't be so,' Miss PAMELA
continued. I hope it amt; but
thought it was my duty to come and
tell We an sein' as Ben may be dead
Clary,' she went on, turning to the
poor girl, who stood white and
stunned, with her hopeless eyes fixed
on the dreary, snowy lane, 4 may as
well tell ye that it was mistake
about that piotur O. Terminals. Ben
didn't give it to her, as she said on
ly let her keep it that night TO show
round, and tux it back next mornin' !;
/ and they do say Jemima's engaged to