Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-04-04
AFTER MANY DAYS.
An English Romance.
~ - II : AnETNSnNr

~ ". II. : ATKINSON.
Away on the dear old Yorkshire wolds
In merry England, just at the foot of the
bold hill known as the Beacon Top, rest
ing there secure from all but the south
winds, is the pretty and QUART village OF
BeacOndale.
You ought to see Beacondale, for it is
the very sweetest Of English rural vii
lagos, whether you look at 1t from the
Top or from the low-lying south, or
walk up its one street. Its church is
worth a long walk or drive, whether you
see it inside or out, or both-such pref
ty house was never erected elsewhere for
the worship of God 1t is small and ola,
but most handsomely fitted and furnish
ed through the generosity of the Squire,
who owns all the surrounding property,
and 1t is plenty large enough to hold the
rustic congregation which assemblies
there Sabbath by Sabbath. Adjoining
the church is the vicarage, where dwells
the good man, who, Notwithstanding his
weakness IN favor of tapers and vest
ments, faithfully tells these simple villag-
ers the story Of Gods love. No, but what
heresy In the shape of dissent has plant
ed its fort in this void village. For on
one side Of the street is a little square
box, capable of holding perhaps forty
people, known as the Primitive Metho-
dist Chapel; while opposite, and on the
same side OF the street as the church,
stands similar brick box-only that
this Wesleyan Methodist stronghold can
look down somewhat upon its neighbor
across the way for has it not porch al
most as large as the chapel itself? How
everchurch and dissent get along pretty
amciably together on the whole.
Methodist farmers and Church-of-Eng
land farmers meet and are the best OF
friends every Saturday at st. Olaves Mar
ket, and their laborers, following their
example in an humber way, drink a
glass together at the village tavern every
payday, without discussing their theo-
logical opinions and principles. But to
90 on with our village. There is, as
hlnted, tavern, postoftice and a couple
of general stores leach Of which displays
its stock-ln-trade in a small, four-paned
cottage window, and these, with two or
three farm houses, q small foundry and
forge, and about a score Of cottages,
ranged on either side broad road and
stream running alongside each other,
make up as pretty village as could be
discovered in life's travel.
About two miles from Beacondale to-
ward the south, stood lonely home
stead. The house was ancient and in
bad repair, but was nevertheless a real
l,,o old oH
together, with large farm Of several
hundred acres, by hale old bachelor OF
60, and the mistress of the house was his
widowed sister, who lived there with hel
daughter. John Fielding and his sister
Mrs. Mitchell, were fair specimens Of
Yorkshire folk-hearty, honest, lively
keeping open house for any one and tol
every one. Among the occasional wei
come visitors to this hospitable home wa;
young fellow named Ferguson, who a
first invariably came with his particular
friend, George Mitchell, Mrs. Mitchell'
son. Alter while, however, he took to
visiting more frequently, and for some
months every other Saturday saw Fergu
son at the Thorpe farm, where he staiC
until Monday.
VIII Ferguson was confidential clerl
at an extensive engineering establishment
at Milton, some fifteen miles, over thu
wolds, from Beacondale. His position
was good one, and although barely %
and scarce two years connected with thu
firm, his employers implicitly trusted
him with their financial affairs and tn
management OF their business. Their
was nothing particularly attractive abou
Ferguson. Tall and plain-featured-
rather ugly than handsome pleasan
companion, generally kind and thought
full to all whom he knew, attentive t.
business, he was perhaps as well liked a
any other young fellow in Milton.
Will Ferguson had often visited ThQrp
farm, because his chosen friends were rela
tives of old John Fielding, and lie, there
fore, accompanied them frequently; be
sides he liked the drive and was fond o
the Thorpe folk, and he also liked on Sun
days to attend service in the Beacondal
church.
One bright Sunday morning in October
Ferguson and George Mitchell drove owe