The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1878-11-15

the tan and freckles. A singular change
had come to the farmer. He was cleaner,
he was quieter, he was wonderfully hu-
manized. There was sort of pathos in
the broken smile with which he listened
to Violet's conversation.
We had reached the top of the sleep
hill that overlooked the stage road.
Violet looked eagerly for the yellow
numbering wheels of the coach that was
to speed us on our way. / was some-
what charmed and terrified with the
grandeur of the ravinei on either side Of
us. One false tug of the reins aud we
we're done for; in Farmer Hiegins's
hands WAS our destiny, aud his hands
had been very unsteady. At this pre-
carious part of our journey he turned and
looked at Violet, who shrauk for mo-
ment from his side; and | confess | wss
glad, when he leaned over her and spoke
very low was glad to see her bow her
head and get back steadily in her seat
again. 1t was no time for a display OF
eirlish vanity Of any sort /; we might all
have been tumbled to the bottom of the
ravfne in the twinkling oil an eye. When
think of it now ! shpsder, Az vel /
4
Violet was subdued and gentle, and
heaven forgave her when she bade tue
farmer goodbye, her voice trembled and
the color fed from her face. As for
poor Higgins, there was 50 sore strug-
gle in his rugged features one could not
tell the emotion that had the mastery.
Violet gained her color and her spirits at
the first sweep of the steamboats, wheel
city-ward and upon our arrival, who
should be there to meet us but our prin-
cipal. Mr.. Baxterl We were hurried
into a cab, and Mr.. Baxter's peculiar air
of ownership with violet was soon ex-
planned by mis- .remark that L might
SIS well give my consent to his happiness
and Violet's, that she had sent for him
to be there, and wouldn't kindly make
the best of it?
Ibowed graveIy without word, and
that IT Violet aud | had serious
talk together.
"I think had bette. he married at
once, Lide," said Violet. "My ~ndeav-
ors to cultivate the human race are, like
all missions of this kind, sometimes
fraught with danger. Oh, Lide," said
Violet, with a sudden tremor OF terror,
" we might have been thrown off that
horrible rock, and horses, Higgins, trunks
and all come to sudden and awful grief,
had | lost presence of mind in thai dine
extremity"
al was afraid So" l replied, and
took long breath when 1 saw you sit
close TO Higgins again. Now, vi, for
give you ON one conditiOn-that this is
your very last offer of marriage"
My very last, Lide, l promise you"
But it happened that; some months
later on, Violet and were sewing away
at the wedding fnery that Uttered our
room, when there was ring at the
boarding house bell, and presently the
maid knocked at our door with the mes
sage that visitor was waiting for Miss
Violet in the parlor We both thought |
it WIS Mr.. Baxter, and Violot, running |
to the glass, pulled her curls down over |
her forehead, smoothed out her dress, |
put some roses in her hair, and nOdding |
to me with pretty blush, fled lightly |
down stairs.
Ten minutes later she came back TO me |
pale and trembling; the roses had fallen |
from her hair ard hed from her cheek; |
size ciasped her hands with an air OF dis |
traction.
"Go down. Lide." she faltered-"de |
Don't stop a moment. There is a person /
here, old perhaps he had |
better hear OF Ely engagement from you"
Is it another offer of marriage
Violet?"
Eyes, yes, Pm afaid So" she replied,
Do go down, Lide. You know Mr..
Baxter may be here any moment"
/ went down, running over the six re-
ected lovers in my mind, and upon en-
.ering the parlor saw Mr.. Higgins lean
ng against the mantiepiece, with his hat
n his hand He was we'll brushed and
haven, and | saw at once that the gray
material had been made up for the boys,
md that Providence had ordered the
of Mr.. Higgins's black panta~
oons. l also saw that he was of re-
narkable pallor, and that the muscles of
lis face were twitching in au alarming
manner.
g How DE dc, Miss Eliza ?" he said.
Where's your sister-Where's VIlet 4?
hope l didn't frighten her; she looked
20 like them little things in the woods
hey call after her, 50 sweet and fresh
ike when the sap's beginnin' TO start in
he arliest spring, 50 meltin' with F."
" How's your wife, Mr.. Higgins ?"
aid abruptly, to bring him 70 his senses.
But it only precipitated matters
She's dead and buried, ma a'am, this
tx weeks aud more, and Betsy she's 3
yeepin' house for me; AMI bain' quite
wha- with night watchin' and
worry with one thing and t'other, il
eemed to ne L had to come, whether or
10; a says to Betsy, says |, "Mpusht
go and she says to me, says she, You
nought, aud the sooner it's over with,
he better and Betsy Il sensible woman,
Miss Eliza, as you will allow"
ga very sensible woman, Mr.. Higgins;
nd now may inquire the nature OF your
business with me?''
'f The natur' of my business p he re-
,eated, sinking into chair, twirling his
lat between his knees, and looking at
he carpet. "Why, hasn't Vi'let told
you? 1 hope to the Almighty nothin's
,oin' to upset me now. I've been soreIy
tricken, and my head feels dreadfully
kittish. | thought she'd told you-she
aid she would. There amt no manner
; use shilly sbaIlying. Vilet kin hev
tacks of money; she needn't raise hand.
You kin come and make it your home
rear in and year out; and as for me, I'll
5e her bounden slave"
q Mr. Higgins" / began sternly; but
he raised his head and looked
1t me and | saw something in his face
that paralyzed the indignant words upon
NY lips. The pupils of his eyes were
strangely dilated; from pale he bad be-
come livid. One rash word from me at
that moment might have cost untold in-
and trouble.
q hope to th' Almighty nothin's goin'
to upset me now" he repeated piteously.
Mr.. Higgins" | said, gently you
are not well, and Violet is startled and
surprised. You want to be gentle with
her, don't you?"
Surely, ma'sm, surely"
Well, give you my word, Mr.. Hig-
gins, that il you go quietly home sgain,
everything shsli 90 right. and YOU shall
hear from Violet without delay"
Thank you," ma'sm. be said, but
made no effort to move "Why, here's
the very posy that fell out OF her hair"
he said, taking it tenderiy in his band.
You can take that with you," | said
We must go now.'' He was scarcely
fl to 20 alone. I'VE must 80 now" |
repeated, not without some misgiving
but he got upon his feet aud went with
me out of the room. His steps were
shaken. / called q hack that was pass
ing, and catching my hat and water
proof from the rack in the hall, we rat
tied away just as ] SAW the tall form of
Mr.. Baxter appear in the distance.
7 rackad nv brain all the vav tn the