Smyrna times., 1880-04-21

straw hat with quiet grace that surprised
the city belle, and she said to herself, walk
ing homeward over the fslds-"I never.
thought haymakers were SO picturesque
locking"
"Good evening, aunt, good evening
ladies'
"Girls, this is my nephew, Ishmael
Brewster, my husbands brothers son.
Why have you not been over lately, Ish:
mael? Studying your eyes out, as usual,
suppose"
Nora was surveying the young man from
head to foot.
"The handsomest man ever saw, in spite
of his craft" was her mental comment,
and he is my cousiR-in-law, it seems ?"
AS usual Ned and Elsie wandered off
among the trees, and by.and-by Aunt Mary
went to supRrintend the tea. There was an
awkward silence of few moments, and
th0n Ishmael said,
You are reading Tennysen. Miss Nora?"
"Yes, Idyls of the King. You have read
it I hop hope"
"You admire Tennyson, of course"
need scarcely answer that question
it would be hard to fad any one who did
not. | like la Memorium best, though
that poem alone should have crowned him
| Laureate"
1t seemed as if their mutual admiration
for Tennyson broke down all the barriers
Of convOntonaliies, and till the tea bell
rang, their favorite authors were discussed,
their voices going pleasantly Through the
window to where Aunt Mary was laying the
table. lshmacl stayed to tea, and somehow,
watchin. h:A walking over the fields to his
home, Nora FELT sorry to see him 60.
Sunday morning dawned bright and
beautiful. The little village of D. was
startled INTO open-eyed wonder as our sty-
lish New Workers sailed into the quaint
little church. Nora and Elsie in their" loves
of bonnots,' and rich dresses, and Ned in
his cut-away coat and light gloves.
ishmarl Brewster sat in the pew before
them, Nora blushPd prettily at his grave bow.
The village youth and Inaidens heard little
of " Elder Aliens" discourse, they were
too busy watching the party from Deacon
Simon Brewsters. And Nora, too, heard
little of il; she was busy watching Ishmael's
splendid face light up as he followed the
reverend speakers words IshRael, with
his whole soul bent on the sermon, saw
nothing of this byplay. Even the beauti
ful face 81 Nora faded from his memory, as
ais mind took in the mighty truths tho
minister was laying before the people.
"Come home with us Ishmasl," ;" Ned said
as they met in the aisle after service.
81 cannot, TO day, Edward, | will 90
over tomorrow evening. | never leave
! home on the Sabbath
, Nora's lip cuElad, and she bowed haught
, lily in passing, never even thanking him a!
, he assisted her into the wagon.
= Evening after evening Ishmael cape t.
the farm bouse. Sometimes Nera was il
, the mood to cavil ut him, hut with all he
pride and hnugh'iness she did not dare t.
look down upon this workingman, thi
> young New Eng gand farmer. In intellec
!, tual attainments he was her peer, and sh
knew it. He was II man of great menta
strength, noble and brave. He was the sol
y Of 4 poor man, ard had climbed upward a
best he might His father had employed
i tenant to work the farm on shares, durin
the years lshmael had been away at schoo
p The tenants term expired in the spring
q when lshmael was to take the farm
n Meanwhile he was helping his uncle Simo
through the harvest, for the old man
!. strength had failed Of late.
n So through the Summer these two Wake
d on blindfolded, and knew not till the tim
.r of parting drew near that they were NOR
g to each other than COUSINS in.law, BU
70 there came a time of awakening when Nor
Q. asked herself whether she was indee
d learning to love this handsome farmer
,r this poor manP If not, what meant th
fluttering of her heart and strange conteT
" when he was by her side? She was treat
"a ing on dangerous ground-shs must
wary. But it was easier said than don
Y. There was a magnetic power in Ishmael
IA dark eyes that overpowered her, and VIC
her heart in spite Of her rsasen.
b, 1t was the night before they were to +
turn to the city. Elsie and Ned had riddle
ga over to the village for the mail, and No
lg was upstairs packing, when Ishmasl can
rs across the fields and sat down wearily c
n, the steps beside Aunt Mary.
Nora saw him, and her heart flutterC
e. strangely. She knelt by the window al
ID, laid her head upon it and listened to the
rs, talk.
:, "You are tired, Ishmaol; you work t.
at hard"
"0h, no, aunt, work never tires me-"
er "Yeu study too much, then, and wha
the use2 You are the smartest farmer
gh the country now. ana glad yeu are goi
on the farm you will have to give ID
he time to study"
ke "I love study, Aunt Mary, and VIII
Is, get nay farn well started, will find me
nd time to study"
me ITO what end?'
"My own qualification and improvsmei
elr Besides, who knows, Aunt Mary, but WI
ed l may yet be called upon to legislate for 1
ty- country, or, perhaps l may be a Senate
Us and he laughed gayly.
a "Now do you really enjoy those &
in studies, Ishmael2"
ne 81 really enjoy them Aunt Mary. Ii
the never so happy as whom l am tagging
OF Schiller and KlOpstock. Twill master th
red yet"
tly Ishmael was dear as an own sen to
'ar, childless woman, and she laid her ha
llle tenderly on his.
elf it gives yeu pleasure, Ishmael, i
nee all right dare say"
ere, Where is Nora? p
the Nora sprang to her feet in time to IA
any her name called.
she "Nora cems down, Ishmasl wants 20
the A white dress soon replaced the wrapF
and twisting some scarlet verbsna in
dark hair, Nora went swiftly down sta
lrly Aunt Mary had gone, and lshmasl sat tn
alone. Nora laid her hand lightly ON
tea, shoulder.
her 81 am glad to see you, Ishmael."
the For answer, he drew her dewh beside |
the on the steps.
"You are going away tomorrow, NJ
he l shall miss you more than l ever mis-
her any one in my life"
Nora's head lowered little, but she da
mes not trust herself to an answer.
y TO If thought y0u could ever be happ
nds, farmers wife would tell you how mu,
she love you, just how dear you are to me
IN not one word of not being her equal,
Iick. one word Of his poverty, he did not un
in stand the meaning Of such words. Ishn
rget- was never poor, men like him never
On and in his manhood and rich, aflr
fer nature, he felt himself equal to all n
'hsn bowing his spirit enly before his Maker
"TelI me first how much yeu love