The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1878-12-18

hemently, And to think how yoI
toiled all those hot summer days to picl
and dry those black ox-hearts."
"There's no help for it, dear" sait
Polly, gently. sect your hat on quicl
there's no time to lose"
"But it isn't fair" protested Lisbeth
"Why should all the travelling preach
ers and book agents and mission collec
tors come here and eat us out of house
and homea Why don't they go to MIR
Orocus ?"
Polly smiled. "Because Mr.. Crocui
doesn't make them welcome, and paps
does" said she.
81 do wonder" cried Lisbeth. i'm
petuously, "if there is any other race
OF men imposed upon as country min
listers are9 Mark my words, Polly,
never, never, will marry a.
But by this time Polly had tied or
her sisters straw fiat, and twisted 6
muslin scarf across her shoulders.
"Do make haste, DEAR" said she, in
accents of gentle entreaty, as she point
ed upward to the clock.
Scarcely fifteen minutes had elapsed
when Lisbeth came flying back, with
yellow tresses streaming behind, and
market basket in her hand.
"There, Polly" cried she, in the
clear, light voice of girlhood, as she de-
posted plump chicken on the table,
''there's your new hat f; and there" as
she laid down a packet of groceries,
"are your gloves; ; and here" rattline
out the potatoes, "is my last chance fol
q new blue neck.tie! And I do hope,
Polly, that they'll give the missionary
the worst kind of dyspepsia.
"Lisbeth !"
"Well, but I do," saucily retorted
the girl, as she turned to put away he,
hat. s"And- Oh, Pol.ly!"
Polly turned around with q start, al
the changed tenor of her sisters voice.
"What is it, Lisbeth? You're not
in?"
Lisbeth, with glowing face. pointed
to the little wooden cupboard in the
wall, which, extending through from
parlor to kitchen, in butler's- pantry
fashion, was used as general repository
for books and papers. And then, for
the first time, Polly perceived that both
doors were slightly aiar.
"Polly," muttered the girl, hoarsely,
"he has heard every word He couldn't
help it." And finging her hat in one
direction, and her scarf in another, Lis
beth fed up the narrow wooden stairs
to her own room, and threw herself,
sobbing hysterically, upon the bed.
"It's my tongue" sobbed Lisbeth,
"my wretched, chattering tongue. Papa
always warned me against giving loose
to it Polly always told me it would get
me into trouble. Oh, dear, dear, what
must he think how can I ever look him
in the face?" And with this doleful
resume, Lisbeth buried her hot face in
the pillows, and cried harder than ever.
It seemed an age to her, but it was in
reality little more than half an hour,
before Polly came futtering up the
stairs, like a sweet.browed guardian
angel.
"Lisbeth," said she, "darling, don't
fret-you meant no harm. Get up and
braid your hair, and come down stairs.
Dinner will be on the table directly,
and papa is asking for you"
Lisbeth sat up and pushed the damp
fringe of yellow hair out of her eyes.
ct shall not come down, Polly"
"But you must, dear papa would be
very much ve1ed."
"Never [" cried Lisbeth, with fresh
burst of tears "never |"
But the country parson himself
presently came to the rescue, with mild
eyes and firm, gentle voice.
"No member of my family must be
lacking in courtesy to guest, said he,
taking Lisbeth gently by the hand ;
and the poor child was led shamefaced-
" into the kitchen, where the table was
spread, aud Polly stood smiling at its
head.
"Mr. Vincent" said the parson to
the tall stranger, this is my youngest
child"
"I am the black sheep of the family, u
said Lisbeth, hanging her head, "and
I'm very sorry, sir, and I beg your
pardon"
"Pray don't mention it," said Mr..
Vincent, in genuine distress at the sight
of the modification of this yellow-hair-
ed lassie with the deep hazel eyes and
the red, sensitive mouth.
And when dinner was overland here
let us mention that Mr.. Vincent ate and
drank with an excellent appetite, as il
no lurking shadow of the Threatened
dyspepsia disturbed his digestion-and
the country parson had taken his guest
into the study, Polly put her arm
around Lisbeth's waist, and drew hel
out under the morning glory vines,
where, by this time, the blue and rose-
tinted cups had all folded themselves
into tight little parasolettes, and hidden
behind the leaves.
Lisbeth," said she, I've got good
news for you"
Nothing can be good news any
MORE" said Lisbeth, with fresh burst
of tears.
"Oh, but listen," soothed Polly,
"Do you know who this MIR. Vincent
is?"
"A-missionary, 1 suppose. Ane
poor Lisbeth spoke the word as if it wal
a dose of quinine.
"No, dear, he's the bishops secre
tary. And he has heard of papa's learn
ing and zeal and talent, and he has come
to offer him a parish near New York
with twelve hundred dollars-only thinl
of it, Lisbeth Twelve hundred dollar
year and an assistant. We shall b.
rich, darling, and dear, dear papa vii
have a little rest and ease in his olt
age."
"It cant be true," said Lisbeth
vaguely.
"But it is" said Polly; and then tn
two sisters began to cry and sob, witt
happy incoherence, in each others arms
"Is it possible" cried Polly Fem
"that it is whole year since We cam
to Moreham rectory?"
It was a year. Once more the will
grapes were seeming all the woods; ono
more the golden.rod held up its torche
of flame along the course of babblinl
brooks, and Polly shaded her eyes wit
one hand, as she stood in the doorwa
and watched Lisbeth come lightly alon
the garden path, with the yellow sun
shine tangled in her hair, and an un
wonted moisture in her deep eyes.
| C. What bouo 1,oI, ,3ona with Mr. Win