Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1878-07-10

word between you and me!
listen because I'm not deaf. II
Strathley had your good at heart
"Take care, John, don't say any
thing about Mr.. Strathley. You
might be sorry for it some day
He knew my poor brother Ben
at school, or somewhere. 1t does
us good to hear him talk Of Ben !!
It was hard for Margaret to dis
semble, and she did it with a poor
grace.
BLESSINGS brighten as they take
their flight" thought Lorrimer
"knew your brother Ben, did he
and your grandfather listens! The
time had been when Ben's name
had been forbidden, and the old
farmer had sworn that Ben's
shadow should never darken his
door.
"People ought to be careful how
they speak of their own flesh and
blood" groaned the neighbors
when the Artcurus was cast away,
and the last chance of forgiving Ben
|
with it. But though grandfather
Bevis had aged since then, had be-
gun to have halt in his step and
a stoop in his shoulders, and to grow
fresh crop of wrinkles, yet even
grim death had failed TO obliterate
Ben's misdeeds-their impovished
condition was a constant reminder.
Mr.. Bevis saw his more fortunate
neighbors enjoying the fruits of
lands he had cleared with the horny
hand of toll, sitting down to bount-
eously supplied tables, wirh a great
balance in the bank for rainy
weather, while be and his Jared
scsntily, and hardly dared to look
tue future in the face. Ben had
been the apple of his eye, and to
have suffered from his selfishness
added another sting to poverty.
"When Mr.. Strathley first men
toned Ben, grandfather just
groancd and toddled out of the
room. The next time he shut his
eyes and made believe to sleep
but now, do you know, he hangs
upon Mr.. Strathley's words, John,
though he never asks question.
But the day will come when he will
pardon poor Ben, know he will"
"And Mr.. Strathley, having done
missionary work, will demand his
reward" said John bitterly.
Margaret, do you think he means
fairly by you' Isn't it just sea-
sons amusement to him ?"
II have no fears, she answered.
But in spite of what folks might
say, Mr.. Strathley was at the ford,
on and of, all summer.
"The mill needs a sight of look
AFTER" they shifted, "it might run
away he had taken a mighty
fancy to Meg Bevis, and p'raps she
expects to be a fine lady, anon, and
ride in her carriage and have SER
wants under her; but there was
many a hole in the skinner
'Twasn't likely but he had beer
used to women-folks as could play
the pianny, and wear the fashions a:
natural as their own skins. Old
Bevis ought to be ashamed to allow
such goings on under his eyes
High time o day too, for Mr.
Strathley to put Bevis in overseel
at the mill, over the heads o
younger and smarter men, with nj
end of wages and nothing to d.
but to watch the gang-saw! Tha
didn't look queer, did it! AnC
wasn't Strathlcy's team stabbed il
Bevis' barn and didn't Meg use i
when she pleased, and a might,
smart team, too, no one-hoss-shay
And who could tell why he'd Dough
the Dean mellow of Bevis, whel
it was such a barred waste that tn
grasshoppers avoided itl H
, hadn't no use for it, there wasn't
stick Of timber on it, but it pu
cash in old Bevis' pocket, wher
cash was a stranger, chr
Lorrimer was obliged 10 listen I
all this without the power of prov
ing it false, and it made his hear
ache as that organ had never ache
before; darkened the day and en-
Uttered life for him. He dreade
to meet friend or foe, for fear {
hearing opinions which he could nc
combat, and they all wondered tbs
: he did not join in the general cav
/, Had not Margaret thrown him owe
for that flashy fellow about whol
z nobody knew ANYTHING beyon