Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1881-12-07

they all came out, some one whispered
that the newcomer was 'Mahlon
Stacy's hired man,. and the sensation
died out.
| Absalom Browning was waiting in
bis buggy.
Shall l drive thee home, Rachel?' he
asked,
Thank thee, no Absalom. / came
10 the carrY-all with uncle aud aunt land
they'll stop for me at the corner
Absalom walked alongside, however,
leading his horse and talking to Rachel,
and John fell behind. When they
came to the corner, Mahlon and his
wife were already there, aud Absalom
renewed bis request. Rachel made no
demur, for Naomi said il would relieve
their horse with one less in. john
smiled to himself. The aunt favored
the courting.
The summer months came and went.
Absalom Browning came and went
once a week, and sometimes twice. and
John Paul remained on the farm. He
grew to be favoritc, and his activity
and physical strength, with his great
good-nature, made him popular with
the young men around. Absalom did
not like him, however. With Rachel
lie got along famiously. She had been
his friend from the first, never forget
ting his opportune championship. Then
he read so beautifully and WAS full of
tales Of adventure, for, according to bis
own account, he had travelled q great
deal. In his wanderings he bad picked
out deal of knowledge too, as leaked
out bit By bit, and he bade lair 10 make
q good farmer, so the farmer liked hun
too. But Mablon, whose spirits had
been getting lower and lower, at length
grew quite gloomy, aud his gloom was
shared By his wife and even infected
Rachel.
The cause OF this trouble JOHN Pa aul
learned one day from the talkatve clerk
at the store where the Sacys dealt, and
with it he got some OF the family his
tory. Ii appeared that Rachel Taylor,
the younger sister Of MablOn's wife,
had eloped and married with Gordon
Forsyth, a gay and wealthy young
gentleman from New York, who had
accidentally met aud fallen in love
! with her. Rachel had been 'disowned'
for marrying out of neeting,' but
worse followed. Forsyth, who was on
| the doN inward course, soon got tired of
his pretty wife, resumed his dissipation
and was drow ned while drunk twol
years aiterward, leaving his widow with
uo-year-old Child. Rachel Forsyth
did not long survive her husband, who
proved to have been at bis death,
bankrupt. He had managed 10 get
Mahlon Stacy, who believed IN him, TO
become bondsman in n case inv diving
it aiterwGrd turned out, questionable
transaction. Mahlon paid the judg- |
ment, but was Obliged 10 mortgage the
-. ,..i,ob bo1 lorr IN fha Stacy |
family for four generations. He adopted
the little Rachel, sent her to the West
Town school to be educated, aud bit by
bit accumulated money sufficient to dis
charge the mortgage. The bank in |
which he kept his savings broke, and
he not ouly lost bis store, but was un'
able too meet the interest for year.
The mortgage was in other hands-a
rich New Yorker held it-and proceed |
incs to foreclose had been begun. If
Rachel married Absatom Browning, |
who was rich himself aud q rich mans
son, there would be no difficulty
They say that Rachel hangs back,
con cludcd tho clerk. That's the way
Mahon II pull through, in my judg-
ment
Johu came homo after hearing all |
This. and found Absalan Browning
there. The young Quaker was got up
quite smarlly-in plain clothes, 10 be
sure, but hia shad-bellied coat was OF
the finest olive colored broadcloth, and
his broad .brmmed hat of the very best
beaver. He remained TO supper, and
was treated with marked consideration
by The farmer and his wife. Rachel
seemed to be a little embarrassed. John
glanced at her little curiously, but she
avoided his eye. The hired man went
out after he had eaten his supper, at
tended to the horse. 1t was usual Tor
the family to sit together for an hour or
two after supper before retiring TO rest.
It was their main recreation from daily
labor. But the old couple had retired,
and John retired also, leaving the
younger couple together.
John sat at the window in the dark,
looking out on the night, aud thinking.
In n little while Absalom Browning
left. and he heard the wheels OF his
wagon driven after the fashion of Jehu'
the son Of Nimshi. Then he heard The
light step of Rachel on the stairs on her
way to rest,
The next morning John went out
carly TO see to the hourses and CATTLE
when he returned TO breakfast he OBJ
served that Mablon was curt and mo-
uosyllabic Of speech, Naomi gloomy,
and Rachel distressed. John ate his
meal silently, and then went TO the
seh witlyMahlon. Bat he soon made
an exc4c to return TO the house. Ra'
chel Sas alone there, seated with her
fa1 uurlcd in her hands, and so intent