The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1880-03-25
An Unexpected Meeting.

1t was a small, one-story frame struc-
ture, presenting some of the character
istics of cabin and cottage, built only
little way in from the road, and ap-
preached from it by narrow wooden
bridge, under which meandered, in
temperate seasons, a gentle stream, but
which, in the fervid vigor of the sum-
mcr and the rigor of the winter, was
dry and silent.
Away down in meadow behind this
little sentry-box was large farmhouse,
with n colony of smaller buildings
springing up about it, and back of those
was wood, rising precipitouslyl to the
brow of protecting hill.
IN summertime this homestead of
Farmer Gilman was a smiling, shady
place to look upon, as was, indeed, all
the country in which nestled the ham,
miles away; but now that the iron iet-
tiers of winter were on everything, it
looked cold, cheerless and uninviting.
1t had been showing all day-snow
was everywhere. 1t was on the rich
pasture lands, on the closely-shaven
meadows, on last years tiIlage; it
crowned fences, and maintained pre-
carious existence on the roofs of houses
it rendered sightless gaps in broken
roads, and lent a treacherous expansion
to highways; it, in short, blotted ou
the ordin ary landmarks, and was on
great, white, staring eyesore on the face
of the landscape.
Night had come on. and with it in
creased activity on the part of the storm.
1t was bitterly cold, too, and there was
an edge on the air like a knife.
1t was a night to enjoy a grateful
meal and a comfortable fireside, and
this was what May Seton was prepar-
ing for her fathers return in the little
cottage by the roadside.
The ample stove was aglow with the
cracking wood-tire; the bright lamp
kitchen; the old easy-chair wore look
of expectation as it stood by the table
that awaited the burden of the substaE-
tial supper, and the blue-eyed rose bud
herself was blithely singing snatches OF
ditty, as if in defiance of the gloom
and storm without.
For dozen years and upward May
Seton had occupied this same abode
with her father, and had been his sole
companion and housekeeper.
About that time George Seton had
made his first appearance in FAN bank,
bringing with him little else than fair
sweet child of four or five years old,
and carrying about him an air of sup
pressed suffering that silenced in
quiries, albeit that il somewhat excited
curiosity. But this curiosity was sat
istied and turned to sympathy when il
was learned that the stranger had re.
Gently buried his partner, anr that the
golden-haired child he so tenderly cher.
lshed was motherless.
George Seton had not furn ished Fair.
bank with this information in so many
words. From the day of his arrival
TO the itllne whereof we write, he haC
never opened has lips on the subject O.
his antecedents.
Abraham Gilman, or old Al @. as h,
was more universally called, I, distin
guish him from a younger , be, hat
once asked George, when they wei
working in the fields together, if he wa
not widower like himself, wherea
Abe's new employee had bent his head
and then maintained a silence SO impres
sive that the tact was taken for granted
and never after discussed. :.
AS for May, If questioned on the sui
iect, she could only tell of a big tow
and large house, and a fine lady ths
used sometimes to kiss her, and wht
one night, she was told by her fathel
had died and was buried away for ever
moer.
six O'clock" cries May, stoppiu
her warbling to laugh up in the face {
the old clock that chimed the houl
six o'clock" she laughs, ,as she turr
the. fragrant rashers in the oven, an
casts searching glance at the table [
see that 1t contains all her own hom
made dainties. Father will be hel
presently. l wonder if Abe will
Hush, You naughty thing,n she add
under her breath, and pressing IL
hands to her rosy mouth, as she hears
srunching sound drawing nigh.