The Canton advocate. [volume] (Canton, D.T. [S.D.]) 1877-1897, 1878-05-21

ing;;" and here Sam heaved deep re-
luctant sigh.
"Well, Samwel, it don't never do TO
force providence. The Bible says, ye
know. lit is good that man should
both hope and quietly wait and | ex,
pect that holds true about all good
gifts. I have no doubt It'll a Judgment,
Samwel, and / hope it will be blessed to
ye." ),
1T don't feel none too blessed now"
murmured Sam, under his breath. lit
does seem heap more as if l was
t'other- thinged."
Luckily his mother did net overhear
poor Sans amendment OF her tlnal
opinion, but busted herself as temderly
and carefully about his wants and wishes
as if she meant at least to modify the
visitation, while she acknowledged his
deserving it. But Mrs. Peters could
not be spared long for SANS service,
and though she took every opportunity
during her short stay to impress upon
him her belief that he was being pun
ished for his hard feeling and unfriend-
ly acts toward Henry, and read to him
punctually and pointedly all the Scrip
lures she could sift out Of the Bible to
that same end, it was doubtful even to
her hopeful soul if Sam accepted the sit
uation with proper submission. Still
she had to leave him, for he could not
be moved yet over that rough mountain
road, and Mrs. Calkins and Miry both
declared it was not to be thought of at
any time. The bed room "dreadful
handy" opening into the kitchen and
shed BOTH and now all the blowing and
planting were over, there was not the
same pressing need of his services that
there had been. Even Henry, seeing
the field was clear for his courtship, be-
came sulkily amiable to his rival, and
helped to care for him unasked, which
in time softened Sans feeling toward
him so much that one bright Sunday
afternoon, when Henry had gone to
church with the rest, leaving Miry to
look after hen that would come off on
Sunday in spite Of the tithing-man, Sam
improved the occasion to confess his sin
to Miry; that is, so far as concerned his
hiding of the COW and leading Henry
astray, and his profound conviction that
the broken leg was Judgment.
Now Almira was at heart real woman,
for all her cool head and strong will. To
have Sam on her hands, helpless and APP
pealing, for the last few weeks, had soft
ened her nightly toward him. The
handsome dark eyes, languid with pain
and WEAKNESS, had their share in this in
huence, no doubt; and the courageous
patience with pain, the grateful look and
word which always met any little service
done for him, the cheerful endurance of
helplessness and weary days-all these
bent Mira more and more toward her
undeclared lover for Sam had never yet
said the first word of love to her, yet by
some wonderful perception this acute
young person was as well aware Of his
passion as if it had been blazoned in a
thousand word. ....... .
i Sam did himself good service unawares
on that Sunday, for Henry took heart
the same night to declare himself on the
way home from singing-school, prefacing
his offer with full, true, and particular
account OF Sans threats and hard words.
OF course Mira understood at once why
Sam had misled Henry on that eventful
night when he broke his own leg, and she
could scarce help smiling at the piteous
tone Of her present adorer as he recounted
, Sans fierce menaces.
"Well. I want afraid, Miry, now
tell ye; but thinks /, I'll be even with
him, sure as shootin', for I'll tell 'Miry
ont next time l get chance, an eff thai
don't show her what sort O Teller he is
dono nothin'."
"And l s'pose," retorted Mira, "yor
never thought you was a-showin' wha
, sort of a Teller you was, now did ye
: Look-a-here, Henry Pine! l always die
: despise tell-tale from the time wa!
knee-high to hop-toad; and a grown
up tell-tale is worst of ALL"
ooh, Lordy! Almiry Calkins wha
dew you mean? Why, l want ye t.
marry me! Hain't said it out plain? p
GU needn't never say it no more,
put in Almira, with noble disregard o.
grammar in behalf of impressiveness
; ~ wouldn't marry you eff you was the
king O Siam"
! Well /! well well r. blubbered
! Henry. ~ never'd ha' thought you'c
ha' gin me the mitten, SEEM what {
farm our folks has got, an money in tbs
J bank, an stock an crops I don't know
how to b'lieve it,"
! "Don't make me give we pair O nit
, tens" said his enraged goddess; $50
, wish we good night and better manners .
for here they were at the door; anc
Almira slipped up stairs to bed, fillec
with loathing and rage, and thinking il
her secret soul that Sam never, never
could have made such fool of himself
No indeed! Sam was no fool He be
came aware that Henry was in drea
and sore frame of mind the next day
and seeing that Mira was more thar
usually snappy and alert, and went abou
with hot color in her cheeks, our bedric
, philosopher drew his own conclusions
and when 'Miry came in after tea t,
"visit with him." he contrived to Goa,
the story out of her. IT was abominabl
in Mira to tell her discarded lovers Sc
cret; but let us forgive her, for she hat
her own reasons. Sans face grew brigh
as she recounted with unaffected scorl
Henry's surprise at her contempt of hi
money. aa aGE @
Giles a BRUTE" said Sam, CURLY, an,
then his voice softened. "Oh, Miry, i
should ask you, with no sort Of temp
tation, only jest that I'd like to kiss tn
tip of your shoe, ] love you so, should
get a mitten, too?"
Miry looked down in her lap yer,
hard, and turning her face toward tn
door'as ii she heard somebody coming
said, slowly, g dono as 'twould hurt y
to try"
There was amightily expressivesilenc
for minute, and Miry's pretty hea
bent SO low that Sam could lift himsel
! to meet it before he spoke again, to say
: with a queer, half laugh, Mother sal