The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1882-09-07


safer with your arms around me now"
she added with pleading look into her
friends face
Miss Storcr gathered the little waif
into her lap, and as they watched the
foam -tlecked waves, she began to tell
her stories of ocean life She pictured
the blue sea of Gallee, and told Of a
Stranger who came along one day as
the fishermen were needing their nets,
Of the wonderful things He said and did
on the shores Of that lake, and Patsy
drank it all in Just as she did the health
iul breezes BY and by the moon shone
over The waters, and gave warning that
it was time to turn their steps homeward
Ah happy for them had they continued
there, far away from the inland fret and
discord,
Returning to the house after dusk, and
hidden 10y the shrubbery as they ap-
preached the porch, Miss Storer was
startled to bear a woman saying in a
loud key:
"lou needn't talk to me. | know
them StorcrS root and branch, and the
child is hern or my name isn't MeliSsy
Bates. Faint likely that one O that
~tihgy family has grown 50 terrible BE-
neNolcht as To fetch up strange child
Miss StOrcr waited to hear no more,
but He'd to her chamber aud put Patsy to
bed Her first impulse was to come
forward and retute the Islander, but con-
ScjouS of her own putty, and sure that
the Jewetts would give no heed to the
idle tales Of village gossip she conclud-
Ell to let the matter rest.
But as time passed by She could not
fail 70 notice that the humble people
around We're beginning to regard her
with suspicion Averted eyes took the
place Of friendly glances, and rambles
about the town ceased to be pleasure
So it happened that the TWO went more
frequently to the seashorc, and this re-
serve only famed the fires oi distrust
into tiercer burning SO long as Farmer
jeWett and his wife believed in her in
tcgrity she did not care, and their loyal
ty Showed no signs Of wayering.
\ week passed, and Melissy Bates cir
culated her reports about ''the Boston
woman 50 industrouSly that they came
ID be generally believed Tie whole
town was in fever Of excitement, and
several visited the farmhouse to oeXpoStu-
late against keeping the strangers.
Mr.. Jewett was imm0vable ''No, said
he, bringing his clenched fist down on
the fence as he talked with ncighbor,
"al creation can't make me blieyc none
q these yarns
NJ length il was deemed best to call to-
gcthtr 4 few brethren in the church and
see what the minister would advise, The
country parson was a tribunal to which
everything was referred, and the people
had the utmost confidence in his good
sense and piety. He listened graveiy to
their charges, and then saId that he had
watched the young woman and the little
girl with some interest since they came to
town, and if the brethren thought it his
duty TO do 50 he would try to show the
former the error of her ways.
Even those who We're loudest in their
dcmuncialions demurrcl somewhat. They
had not expected such summary dealing
with the offender but roy trtncc tUr the
parsons Judgment carried the day, and
the timld ones were only too Glad to wash
their hands of all responsibility.
As Miss Storer and Patsy were seldom
necessary for the Rev. John Worthen to
seek them in their strolls on the beach
This he did With the utmost tathfuness,
While the good people Went back. one to
MS ialIu. another to his merchandise, and
the housewives to their accustomed tasks
IN simple faith that the minister would
set matters right.
He was q noble man, beloved b> all
his people. Strangers wondered that he
was content to remain in this obscure
village, bat those who remembered the
day when he laid his wife and infant
daughter under the daisies, understood
the secret Of his staying. He noticed the
newcomers the first Sabbath they at
tended service, and the look in the child's
tuce as nc distributed the elements at
domnunion A sight She had never seen
hclort haunted him strangely. Some
thing in the depths Of the brown eyes
aWokc feelings that he supposed We're
buried III the graves on the hillside, and
now us he sought the strangers from dav
to day on the seashorp, he had a purpose
of his own besides executing the commits
sion Of his people.
August merged into September and
slill they delayed returning IT, the stllng
streets Of The city. Sitting one afternoon
on u taNolite rock, With Patsy playing at
a little distance, Mr. Worthpn took let
ter from bis pocket and said to his com
panion:
''l have some friends in Boston who
have been writing me about You Would
You like to know what they say :"
''Nothing bad, | hope" she answered
quickly, for the distrust in the village mad
made her sensitive on the point of repu-
tation.
Gould any ore speak evil Of You,
Lydia 2"
He did not moan to say it, but the
words leaped to his lips, ana the name
escaped him before he was aware.
They do they have! :" she cried pas
sonately, burying her face in her hands.
II know it, he said gently, drawing
the dropping head down to his shoulder,
land I'm to protect you from the strife of
tongues if you'll allow me-
And the 'Woman O buSineSs,' who had
battled bravely Ior herself and others
since early glrlhood, found it very sweet
to bc folded to the heart of this strong.
good man. The sense Of being cared for
was 50 delightful that she nestled down by
his side in deep content while he told the
story of the "church meeting" and read
the letter from Boston. Not only Were
the cruel stories circulated by Miss Bates
proved utterly false, hut the testimony to
Lydia's deeds of love and sclf-sacritice
among the poor were so overwhelming
that she begged him not 10 read any
more.
"What report shall You make to the
people 7" She asked at length, looking ul
IN hls face with a mschieyous smile.
''l shall say that the trustworthy state
ments Of your capability and excellence
have led me to engage you as house keep
er for the parsonage he replied, bending
over the npturned face.
"And Patsy ~
'Shall 60 too,' he added, sealing the
compact with a long, long kiss.
'There, wife, | knew twas all con
founded le" calculated Farmer Jewett
when the denoument was made public
''but the parson may thank us for bringin
him sech streak o good luck y