Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1879-09-15
best advantage. For there seemed to be
something wonderfully attractive to him

In her race.
How the minutes few!
It was noon before Miss Payne knew
it. But then they had talked so busily
that they could keep no note of time.
Susan from the kitchen door, far
enough back to be out of sight of John,
aroused her by making all sorts of mys-
terious Signals, pointing first at the min
lister and then at the road, to which she
added series of appalling performances
by opening and shutting her mouth,
which was ascertained to be represent
alton in pantomime of the way that
young woman supposed horses ate.
Unable to understand what she want
"a Az.-- D-~z-~~ g~-enAu 10
find out about it,. q
''There's his poor old horse a-standin
at the gate the whole mornin'." asserted
Susan, with indignation, "an' he asset
tin here an laughing. If he was
horse now"
But Miss Payne didn't stop to hear
the metaphysical argument Susan was
about to announce.
"Why, John |" she said, coming back
into the kitchen; "don't you know
you've got horse out there? I'd forgot
ten all about it till Susan spoke of it
Just you take it round and turn it out
in the pasture. and I'll have dinner
ready by the time you're back"
She watched him as he went down
the path, with soft light in her eyes
and strange happiness in her heart
She didn't know why.
She couldn't have told if she had
tried to analyze it.
1t must be that she felt the gladness
near at hand as the trees know when
Spring is coming.
"I'd like to know if that mans goin'
to stay here forever ?" said Susan to the
old brindle cow that night. as she drove
her up from the pasture. "I should
s'pose he'd feel it his duty to visit other
folks. Std o. that he's settin' round
here, an Aunt Hester an he's a.talkin'
the whole endurin' time, an he aint said
word about any of them things all the
other ministers used to, as I've heard"
But old brindle didn't seem to be
able to enlighten Susan at any point,
and that young person went to bed feel
ing that ministers weren't what they
used to be.
The minister and Miss Payne sat and
talked quietly in the still twilight.
He told her all about his life since
she had known him fifteen years ago,
and how the change had come into it
which had transformed him into min
lister.
And then there fell little silence
about them which neither broke for a
long time.
By and by he spoke.
81 don't know why came here first,
Hester. suppose | ought to have gone
to Sawyer's. but l couldn't get by here
From the time knew was going to be
stationed over this part I've been think.
ing of you and longing to talk over old
times with you as have done to-day,
And some way it seemed to me as il
God had plan to carry out in station.
ing me over here. I don't know what
you'll think about it Hester, but be-
lieve l could do better work in The
world if you would help me. We've
been parted for good many years, bu
I've never loved any one else and new
er shall and it seemed to me to-day
that took up life just where we left i
fifteen years ago-in this old kitchen
I've always blamed myself for wha
happened afterwards, and / want t
confess it to you now whether you thinl
as do about what have told you o
whether you don't.
"No, John, l was the one to blame,
she said. al was telling myself tina
this morning, not half an hour befor
you came. I saw it all afterwards"
sis it yes or no. Hester ?" he aske
tenderly. "We're old enough to kno'
ourselves better than we did then. Ca
you help me In my life-work without re
; gret for what you must give up ?"
II will help you r she cried. he
whole face aglow. 81 shall give u
. nothing but loneliness, and shall gai
, You !"
7 What a speech to make to minister
. If Susan could have heard it 81
would have become an immediate col
!, vert to the theory of total depravit,
And to come from Miss Payne, too!
"God bless you, Hester, and may yc
!, never be sorry for this" he said. ar
T kissed her with long. lingering kis
while the moonlight fell about the
> like benediction from heaven.
7. FAITH AND FEELING.-Emotion is,
/; the nature Of the case, transient. Y
!. find yourself in high state of feelin