Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1879-09-23
MIS- csLLAHEo US.
HESTER's LOVE STORY.

sssISS PAYNE vas thirty>fve If day.
~ but she had managed far better than
many of those who were girls with her to
keep some of the old freshness in the roses
OF her checks aud the old brightness and
luxuriance in her brown hair.
She was thinking of old times this morn
ing as she rolled out her l,kY crnsts. Fif,
teen years ago she had been getting ready for
picnic, just as she was doing now. But
there was another in the kitchen theu-a
young man with a handsome face and laugh.
ing eyes, and she remembered how saucily
be interfered with her work. and how she
threatened to shower him with the contents
Of the four-bowI if he didn't behave him
self; and he had dared her to put her threat
into execution and she had kept her word
She could see him now he stood that morn
ing looking like vcritabe miller with his
eyes full of mischief as he begged so humbly
for her to dust it off And she remembered,
as if it happened yesterday. how, when she
had undertaken the jbb all OF n sudden he
took her in his arms aud kissed her and
when she shook herself away from him sho
WAS such sight to see. with powdered hair
and snowy eyebrows and cheeks as white as
any ghosts And just then her father had
come in and stopped in surprise on the thres-
hold, looking from her to John with twin
kle in his eye. And all he had said was
"Seems to me you forget to powder spot
on your cheek. Hester" and then he went
away chuckling. and Hester had proceeded
to brush herself up with sundry threats Of
diro retrihution directed at the laughing cuI.
prit, who had retreated to position outside,
where he felt himself safc from feminine
wrath.
And the next day the quarrel came which
had set his feet in paths far away frcm that
in which she had trod for fifteen years, snd
in which she had expected to tread until the
eud. And she thought it all over this morn,
ing. with a little sigh here and there.
Her romance not forgotten if it vas
kept out of sight of curious eyes.
Yesterday she had heard that new
preacher was coming to the picuic. He was
to preach his first sermon on Sunday. and
everybody said he was 'powerful preach
er." And his name was Ashley
"But of course it can't be him." she said
to herself, as she clipped the edges of her
pies; ''fOr he one of the widest, most
rattle Drained feIIows ever knew, and I'm
sure there wasn't anything about him that
could be made into minister. But he had
one of the kindest hearts in the world, and
the one to blame"
Some coming here" called out
HuSaO, ucE uleCeJ lEon tOe peC-IOOm uP>
steirs.
Everything wac in baking day confusion.
and the room wasn't swept out yet, and she
couldn't attend to visitors until her cake was
out of the oven.
Click went the gate. Miss Payne busted
off her hands, smoothed her shining hair,
gave hor collar witch. and was ready to
answer the visitors knock.
Something in the laughing eyes which met
hers she opened the door made her start
and turn pale.
"HestOr Payne. I'm pretty cure, be said,
crossing the threshold
'Yes. sir" she answered. with little
catch in her voice, "and you"
Don't you know De?" he cried. I'm
John Ashley. l didn't suppose I'd change
SO much that an old friend wouldn't discover
some familiar look about me. l should know
you anywhere.
"I'm glad to see you John" she said Civ
ing him her hand, with very suspicious
moisture in her eyes. I've been thinking
of you, for they said the new ministers name
was Ashley. It can't be that you're the one,
can i:?"
I'm the man." he answered, with twins
kle of humor in his eye. II don't suppose
it seems possible to you. or any one else who
used to know me, that have become min
ister, but il is SO. 1t seems as strange tn me
as any one else, but honestly believe God
had work for me TO do, and I'm trying to
do it as best can" he added earnestly.
"I'm glad of it." she answered az al
ways said you'd steady down, bat I never