The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1881-06-23


looked down to meet the surprised
gaze of q horseman who was making
the ford. For a moment Joicey shrank
back as If vainly seeking to hide herself
behind the open. leafless screen, and
crimsoning with confusion at being
discovered in an attempt, that to an on
locker must have seemed SO foolhardy,
waited till the stranger should pass out
of sight, instead of which, to her added
chagrin, he threw his horses rein over
limb and came to her assistance.
Etiquette, conventionality, are flowers
of later, more refined but less robust
civilization than that of which / write,
when common dangers shared and tolls
endured knit the scattered settlers in q
comradeship often strong as kinship.
The story of the Frenchman who ex-
cused himself from rescuing drowning
man because they had never been in
troduced would have fallen pointless.
The wide, free air of those forests
seemed to impart something of their
own careless bounty and abounding
fuLness to those who dwelt among
them. Homes and hearts were easy
of access to whoever needed shelter,
latch strings were out for whoever re-
quired help; hands were ready, and for
Theron Brent Qor he it was) to
see any one, much more a woman
in difficulty, if not in danger, was
at once to hasten to their aid. So,
in spite of Joicey's signals of protest.
he advanced to the slim, girlish fig
ure, poised midstream, helped her
through the tangled branches and
across the perilous span. 1t was the
work of but few moments, but Brent
could hardly have told in the swift rush
of sensation, feeling, and thought
whether it was minutes or ages, that
those clear brown eyes looked into his.
and those fine. firm fingers lay in his
own, but he was conscious that a
strange warmth was thrilling his pulses,
and sudden hope springing in his
heart. The thought was n bold one,
but the emergencies of life had made
him quick of decision and prompt of
execution, and before they had reached
the bank, the blade of momentary i'm
pulse had ripened to the full corn in
the ear of a definite resolution, and he
lifted Joicey down from the tree trunk
to the frosted leaf-strewn grass with
the question, "If one wanted some-
thing very much, should they dare a
great deal to gain itP' She gave a
merry glance over the river and at the
gaunt old bridging trees as she au-
swered, a. wanted to cross the river
very much. and so L dared to do it."
81 see you did, and / will follow your
example, for there is something want
very much. Like the patriarch, Isaac,
l am a young man, a sojourner in a
strange country and in need of wife,
though unlike him am not the heir to
great possessions, and have no servant
| e., b,-,Ia ~ IL ,I
his companions eyes, that had lifted in
wide open astonishment, fell under his
direct gaze. Was she offended at his
audacityp he could not tell, there was
fiutter to her fingers as she picked
some bits of bark from her shawl fringe,
that might be from anger or confusion,
at any rate the plunge was made and
he continued.
"It Glanced that as was journey
| ing one afternoon, praying like
Eieazur give me good speed this day,
| (though, unlike him, my errand was
only to make a payment on my farm),
lifted up my eye and saw a damsel, not
exactly going down to the water. but
with an even chance that she might.
admired her courage, and as l drew
nearer and saw that she was very fail
to look upon my heart went out to her,
and l said:
"Oh, that might have her for my
wi:el But alas! 1 have no shekel:
weight in jewels to offer her, and how
can L hope to win favor in her eyes?'
Still there was no answer, unless he
read it in Joicey's heightened color,
and he urged:
elf Isaac, instead of her rich uncle:
son, had been o poor man, with only s
| loghouse in the woods to offer, what dc
YOU think Rebekah's answer would have
beenP"
Joicey had been for the moment con
fused by the unexpected turn of events,
but now there was a slight curl to hel
lip, and a spice of mischief in her eye
as she answered:
"Very likely she would have TOLD
Eleazur that she did not care to leave
home, and could not think of taking
such a journey"
Would you have said that?"
1t would have been easy to have saiC
yes, and ended the matter; it was tn,
answer Joicey felt that his presumption
deserved, but the disappointment il
his tone touched her. She stole glanc
through her lashes at the erect figur,
and fine, manly face-a goodly Isaac
indeed, for whose sake she inwardl,
confessed woman might leave kindreI
and fathers house; so az she could no
answer yes, and would not no, sh
evaded the question with, "How can
tell what would have done in he
place? 1 am Joicey Sweet instead O
Rebekah." "And am Theron Bren
instead of Isaac, and my home is il
Bainbridge instead of Hebron, but m
need of wife is just as great. l hav
lived alone till 1 haven't words to te
you how tired have grown of solitude
of going out mornings with no voice t
bid me God speed and returning
nights with dark house and cold heart
for a welcome"
II am very sorry for youP" she mul
| INJURED.
:" Sorry enough to change all that"
But are there no damsels in you
own countrya" she asked, ignoring hi
question.
lone or two"
81 should think one would b
enough"
PLENTY, if she were the right one
. " But how can you tell when you fin
, the right oneP"
- think have found her now"
"How can you tellP You know nc
thing about mep"
II know you are brave. believ
/ you are good. 1 hope" taking he
hand in his as he spoke, "you-wil b
pitiful."
: What could Joicey saya She ha'
dreamed of eyes that should look int
hers with the tender pleading of thi
/ handsome young strangers, OF han
, that should hold hers in such close
, warm pressure. But the vision had a
, ways been dim and distant, and its vi
: expected nearness startled and disturbe
, her. Half frightened she felt as
, borne along by a mighty current, he
} barrier of evasive talk had been sweI
: aside like straws. The question sh
would have ignored faced her, and mu!
: be answered, and most perplexing of a