The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1879-11-20
oo@"a-a WELLINGTON, o. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 1879.

in a low voice, which Steve couldn'
hear; and the Squire he most cried
and he shook hands, and said,. YOU r,
welcome, my DEAR That was al
Steve saw, for he had to come away
but Uncle Reuben was up to tn,
'Squire's in the evening about load o
hay, and Phirs wife came in, and tn,
Squire introduced her. My SOM
wife, he said, and he looked rea
pleased, for all he hadn't been told be
forehand. Gracious! there they are
Look. Polly, just coming inr'
For a moment all swan before Pol
ly's eyes. Then the mist cleared again
and she saw Squire Ralston's whit,
head passing up the aisle, followed By
his sister, dear old woman who livet
with him and kept his house; then Phil
and by his side a lady. With unnatu
raj fire in her blue eyes she scanned tn,
stranger, noting the clear olive cheek
the graceful undulating walk, the gait
which, even to her inexperienced vision
seemed something rich and foreign
That, then, was Phir wife, the woman
he preferred to all others! And will
sudden power of hatred Polly felt thai
she hated her. All the sweet, ever
pulses of her nature seemed turned into
bitterness and fire.
"She looks old for Phil, doesn't sheP''
whispered the other girl.
She did, but how beautiful! And
still, as the service went on, what q
mockery it all seemed-the prayer in
which she did not join, the sermon
which spoke of people as thankful and
happy! She rose with the others, she
bent her head, and all the time some.
thing tangled in her ears the one
phrase, "Phil is married! Phil is mar.
riedr' till it seemed as if she could not
bear it Long afterward, when she
was happy again, that wretched morn.
ing would come back to her as visions
she was unconscious of noticing-a late
eanker-worm walking up Mary Jane
Oaks bonnet-string; the scrap of news
from his morning shaving. and on
and Strays," with the after clue OF
'' heifer" just below. She remembered
the exact position in which Phil stood
as he held the hymn-book open for his
wife! Once he half turned and
glanced at the gallery. That was too
much; Polly drew tight the green cur
tain, and looked no more.
YOU'RE pale to-day" whispered the
friendly gossip in the rear, "or else
your hat isn't becoming"
This reused her pride. Bad as it was
to be miserable, it was worse to be
pitied. She bit her lips till they were
rcd, and (taking advantage of the last
prayer, 1 am sorry to say) inflicted up
on her cheeks a series of furtive
pinches, which restored their bloom.
Coming down stairs with the rest, she
saw, she was sure, Phil fingered as if
to speak. Cruel, insultingSshe s0o,4li
not see! Leaning on James arm,
chatting, laughing, all bloom and ami
nation, she brushed past. "Polly,"
he half exclaimed, then paused. Backs
are sometimes expressive IS faces.
Polly's said distinctly as back could:
Don't speak to me-" Phil looked
after them a moment; then, suppressing
low whistle, he plunged his hands in
to his pockets, and took the opposite
direction. But soon, relenting, he was
sorry to have done so. "She didn't
see me-" he said to himself; &" that was
it. Well, I'll go over this evening, at
all events, and find out what it means"
so, what a miserable day it was!
All the little, carefully preparation
pleasures were as so many goads and
stings to poor Polly The turnkey
choked, the children's merriment
stunned her. And there was all the re-
lations to be seen to-Aunt Elmira and
Uncle Jacob. Cousin Jane with her
family, and the new baby. But for all
her heartache the little maid was true
to herself. Only Mrs. Pursall, with
mothers instinct, OWNED that some
thing was the matter. To the rest
Polly was her usual self, prettier than
usual, if anything gayer, with that deep
flush on her cheeks, and the saucy
tongue which barbed with inward mis-
cry, had a smart answer ready for all
and each.
At last the long dinner ended, amidst
praises loud and high. Tie fire was
replenished, the candles lit, evening
and a general romp set in. Amidst the
hustle Polly could slip away for mo-
ment unperceived. She has found a
thing to do" as Mr.. Browning says.
Climbing chair in the dark pantry,
she felt about. Yes, there it was. Just
so she had meant to come and lift it
down for Phil! With tight-set lips she
carried the dish through the hall to the
back door, where Jowler, a faithful
beast of nondescript breed, was wont to
lie on a convenient door mat.
"Jowler, Jowler-poor fellow" she
said, "here's something for you," and
she held out to him Phirs pie!
Never was dog awakened by daintier
morsel! 1t was not a very heroic ven-
geance that, but somehow it suited
Polly's feelings, and there was a GER
tain tragic quality in her manner as
she stood looking on at the demolish-
ment which would have struck an I'M
spectator as infinitely comic
AS the last crumb vanished, however
the last twirl of the PA different
mood asserted itself. She put her head
in childish fashion against the door,
and. with the empty pie-plate in her
hand, began to cry-a silent, miserable
crying, with little dumb moan run
ming through it like child's. 9
1t was just then that somebody pass
ing up the walk came upon her-some-
body who, in his haste, had come
" cross corners" and leaped the gar
den fence in his way. A tall, brown
hauC GU ioiioW, Will iucTTys hluu cy Us, III
which wonderment shone as he took in
this astonishing spectacle.
Halloo" he began; "why it's
bless my soul! Polly! Why, Polly
what is the matter, dear?"
At the sound of the voice Polly
started, as if stung. She gave little
then, recollecting herself,
would have dashed past him into the
house. but strong hand held her back.
"WhLt is the meaning of this?" said
Phil. "You here, and crying, on
Thanksgiving night-the nig ght when
we were going to be SO happy! Tell
me what it is, Polly darlinge Can't I
help you? Aren't you glad to see me?"
- Philip Ralstonr' said Polly, too
furious to weigh her words, "you ought
to be ashamed of yourself"
"WhyP"