The Penn's Grove record., 1882-04-29

strange 10 neT. A STOUT, mlOule y
man, in q white summer suit, with
broad brimmed hat and cigar, sat OF
the steps of tue piszzs, reading a news
paper. A fashionably dressed lady
some years his junior, swung in I
hammock upon the lawn, lost in Z
novel.
Several children, in .road. brimmet
bats and brown Holland blouses, were
making the lives Of two nurses .
burden TO them further down the
lawn, among the elm trees, where
swing had hung from time imme'
mortal.
CITY" was stamped on every face
and figure that she Jaw.
HID Maurice sold bis place to some
retired merchant, who would over-or.
nament and disfigure it in the mod
ern villa style9
eff one could live their lives over
after they grow older and are taught
by experience what is best for theml''
thought Hester in her sadness, once
more
She would have gone up to the house
and asked leaveto rest and lock around
IL it had remained in the ARE Of old
Farmer Williams and his wife, the
tenants of the upper farm.
But she could not face those prosper
Gus, happy "eity people," who would
LOOK at her with their coldly curious
eyes and wonder, almost audibly,
"what she could want" yer If they
did not absolutely mistake her for a
tramp"
~ wish I could have gone through
he strawberr pasture once more"
she thought, as she turned back to-
ward the railway station, tired, hungry
and unrefreshed. s
AT the foot of the lane a gentleman,
in a summe suit of silver.gray, stood
leaning against the bars, with his
straw hat drawn down over his eyes so
far that he failed 10 see the strangers
tilent approach.
"Wil you let me PASS, II you
plsase?" said Hester, at last, after
waiting some moments.
Hs wheeled round, as II che had
struck him, and stared doubtingly in
Ler face.
She uttered a great cry.
Maurice Maurice! I heard that
you had sold the farm and gone to
Colorado"
"Hester! Can this be you ?" he an
swered.
His eyes seemed to devour her.
Words rose to his lips and were forced
back again. At last he asked
"Is your husband here with you,
Hester ?"
MY husbandF"
"Wny, yes! 1 heard that you were
married very soon after you went to
the city -
"You heard wrong, Maurice. I have
not been married. l have never even
tho ght of such thing"
"But why did you go, then. Fl aster?
Why did you leave Depdene? Why
did you refuse to marry me, If If there
was no one else in the way"
Poor Hester!
She thought OF the hot city garrett,
Of the dream of fame that had never
been realized, of the unlucky book
that was lying in the black trunk, of
the little burial hoard so hardly earned
and saved.
The tears came quickly to her eyes,
the honest, handsome face
on which she gazed.
Don't cry, Hester," said Maurice
Blessing, taking her hand. And tell
me why you would not marry me.
dear2n s
because I was a fooll" sobbed
Hester.
F..Isthe folly ended ~ asked Msurice,
hiding a smile q he bent over hen.
Can you give me different answer.
now Hester If you can, we VIII be
just the hsppiest pair Oh earth, here
on the dear old farm
"Bnt you sold it and went to Colo
rado,n said Hester, wonderingly, .'at
least ] heard So"
~ was a fool, too, Hester; for I went
to Colorado, and 1 was quite ready to
sell. But my brother-in'l law, from the
city, persuaded ME to rent 1T to him
for one year, till / had ii ne to think
the matter over. When I came to my
senses-although / had not forgotten
you, darling-I was very glad that the
poor old place was mine still, AID l
came back some six weeks ago, to see
1t. My sister and her hush md and
family 20 back to the city next week,
stopping at the mountains on their
way. / shall be left alone, with good
Mrs. Williams for my housekeeper.
aud her husband as head hired man
lust as | was before. Hester won't
you take pity on me, and come and
share my home? / have never cared
for any N but you"
/ do not know in what words Hester
answered him. But | see her daily in
the cream-colored farmhouse, the very
ruodel Of an active, bustling, good tenn
pered farmers vie.
As for the book, she has utterly for
gotten it, She needs its recompense
no longer. and she is far too happy TO
care or wish for fame.