Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1879-11-13

ernor for arranging this delightful day
this day which made 30 many people
happy}which brought Phil home.
II was early. The melodeon was
playing low, droning voluntary; the
green curtains were half drawn-plenty
Of chance for the choir to peep and TO
whisper, q thing all choirs like to do.
Isay, Polly, where did you get that
featherP" asked her neighbor. II only
wish somebody would give me one. It's
just elegantp'
"Mother bought it," said Polly, her
eye on the door.
Who are you looking forP Your
map There she is now What good
looking woman James wife is, isn't
sheP"
81 suppose you've heard the news,
PollyP" broke in another whisper from
behind. "The news about Phil Raj
stonP"
"No. What do you mean" with
sudden interest.
"He came up last night, you know;
and what do you think he brought with
him but wifeI The old folks didn't
know a word aboutit. Wasn'tit fine
Thanksgiving surprised"
"How did you hearP' asked Polly,
f&intly.
"Steve saw them-our Steve, you
know. d. He came in the same train, and
there was Phil getting out with his wife,
and the old Squire meeting them, and
looking so surprised, and Phil, said he,
Father, I've got new daughter to in
troduee to you And then some more
in low voice, which Steve couldn't
hear; and the Squire he most cried,
and he shook hands, and said, You're
welcome, my dear That was all
Steve saw, for he had to come away;
but Uncle Reuben was up to the
'Squire's in the evening about load Of
hay, and Phil's wife came in, and the
tSGuire introduced her.'s FMy sons
wife, he said, and he looked real
pleased, for all he hadn't been told be-
forehand. Gracious! there they are!
Look, Polly, just coming in!" f 49,
For a moment all swan before Pol
ly's ewes. Then the mist cleared again,
and she saw Squire RalSton's white
head passing up the aisle, followed by
his sister, dear old woman who lived
with him and kept his house, then Phil,
and by his side a lady With unnatu-
ral fire in her blue eyes she scanned the
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 Phil's wife, the woman
he preferred to all others! And with
sudden power of hatred Polly felt that
she hated her. All the sweet, even
pulses of her nature seemed turned into
bitterness and fire.
"She looks oldfor Phil, doesn' t she|
whispered the other girl.
She did, but how beautiful! And
still, as the service went on, what a
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
ried!" 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
offever to returning health; little things
she was unconscious of noticing-a late
canker-worm walking up Mary Jane
Oaks bonnet-string; the scrap of news
paper left on Deacon Bunker's face
from his morning shaving, and on
which could be plainly read, Lost
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, cor 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 we're
red, and (taking advantage of the last
prayer, am sorry to say) inflicted up
on her cheeks 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, insulting-she oOo@5d
not seeI Leaning on James arm,
chatting, laughing, all bloom and ami
nation, she brushed past. "Polly,"
he half exclaimed, then paused. Backs
are sometimes expressive as faces.
Polly's said distinctly as back could:
''DOn't speak to me-" Phil looked
after them 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"
80, what a miserable day it was!
All the little, carefully prepared-fOr
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
TT1 T..aL Ho,,os, Tovo Ivitb bnV,