The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1878-03-14
now / will gather my roses
And Irvine in my long braided hair,
ttrttt;n mill a.,pa In the evening

blusl-rOSe placed IL aIllohS lho
of polden-brown hair that framed lhe
oval of her sweet, fiower-llke laoe
with its creamy complexion, lehuei
woman's mouth and great auohlei-
Iovino ewes. Wondrously fair she
Looked standing i'm the old garden with
tho diving light of the June sunset
lingering about her. The click OF the
latch made her turn suddenly, and
gathering the dainty folds of her blue
dress about her she ran swiftly down
the walk.
Why pdter. what brings you home
So" she stopped suddenly, startled
NV the wan. haggard face her father
tnrned toward her. She never re-
membered seeing him look like this
INT once before, and that was ten long
wears ago when he had taken her, u
child scarcely eight years old, III his
arms and carried her to press her last
kiss upon the ~death-cold lips of her
dead mother. -.
FEATHER, father, what is the matter:
He took her upturned face between
his hands and gaZed sadly and tenderly
at her for a moment, then letting his
hands fall at his side, he turned away
with a bitter groan.
Father, speak to me: are you Ill:
"Yes. sick at heart! Oh my poor
child. my poor child, that L should
have. lived to see this day. You whom
have guarded SO from care or want,
that YOU should be brought this! |
could have borne it for myself, but for
you-oh my Cod" and sinking on a
rustic seat the man covered his face
with his hands.
Father. what is it: Tell me what
it is you dread for me l can bear 1T
if YOU can" and her arm fell lovingly
upon his shoulder. Slowly he raised
his head
We're, l am ruined! You know l
was security for Il friend for Il large
amount, the money Is due and L am
unable to pay it-everything Will be
sold and we will be pennlless."
For a moment h girl stood still
dazed and mortified it seemed like a
dream. she, the heiress of thousands
this mornings beggar at sunset: But
n glance at her father told her 1T
was no dream. In a moment self was
forgotten. and winding her arms about
him. she drew the gray head to her
shoulder saying softly, My poor
father.
The pent up emotions of the mans
heart broke forth and throwing his
arms about her, he burst into hoarse
passionate sobs. Gently, as If he were
= little child she Soothed him till the
storm of grief was over then sitting
beside him in the last beams which had
risen upon her IN heiress, We're heard
her fathers story and how at its setting
that sun left her penniless.
And 10 We're, how shall l ever
toll my wife: =" and his hands clutched
nervously.
Il will break it to her come, the
sooner it is done the better"
NV noble girl, how bravely you
hear it - He kissed her tenderly and
drawing her arm through his, they
walked slowly up the broad gravel
walk leading to what was but yester-
dav their beautiful home. A peal of
childish laughter broke upon the air
and two children, aged ten II twelve
sprang down the steps and bounded
away across the lawn. Mr.. Herbert
looked after them mournfully.
..They, at least are safe, We're, your
step-mother's property is settled on
her and your step-sisters so the credl-
tors cannot touch that; you and l are
the only sufferers"
THANK God!' answered the girl fer
vently.
IN lounge in the library they found
Mrs. Herbert, a delicate worldly wo-
man whose great redeeming virtue
was her love for her mdulgent hus-
band and her two children by a for
mer marriage. Placing her father in
q chair, We're went and kneeling down
at her step-mother's side, broke to her,
as gently as her own aching heart
u ~,;t NIa noy-c Of Nor fotIa,-e
failure. then leaving them together she
went back to the garden to be alone
with her own sad thoughts. She gazed
at all the dear familiar objects, touch.
ed into new beauty by the rising moon,
and tried to realize she might no long
er claim them for her own. Oh, II
seemed too hard to be true that she
who had been reared in the very lap Of
luxury and shielded from even a breath
of sorrows blast must in one shor1
hour lose all that had made life beau
tiful. No. not all, amid her darl
thoughts one ray of comfort stole like
a heaven SEM messenger. Come
what may" she unused, Il have still
the greatest treasure left; after al
what is wealth weighed against a tru,
manly heart? The law may take al
else from me, but it cannot take h
love-" and the girl almost smiled a
she paced UP and down the moon-li
walks, rejoicing, not over her loss, bu
that she at last had a test to try tn
much vaunted love of Willie Grey, he
old playfellow and whose bride she wa
to be in the autumn.
..Of course l shall offer to releas
him, but-"a step on the gravel be
hind her and she turned to find tn
subject Of her thoughts before her.
"Wandering about like q restles
little spirit as usual. l wonder if yo
were ever still a moment in your lif,
queenie? cried the young man gail,
taking her hands, then noting the sa
face and quivering lip, he drew he
toward him, asking the cause Of ht
trouble.
For a moment she was silent,
seemed as if she could not tell hin
but with an effort she regained Ii,
composure and having once begun 81
gathered courage. and looking into N