, 1883-06-02

lie was never ONer-WlSe, poor W
rus, even when he was young. HI
heart Outweighed his brain. He was
however, an honest, fearless, hearty
fellow, and the best smith for miles
around Almost every country VII
lage had its legendary Samson, who
could lift a barrel bf cider and drink
from the bunghOle. Whether or not
Cyrus could do this Is unknown but
II ls certain that he could lift keg
Of nails with one hand and carry II
through the village.
lie could sing tOO-a mighty, un-
trained bass--aHd II W'as n the VII
lage choir that he hrst met 0ctavh
Freeman, the daughter Of a farmer
who lived near the village. She
sang the part called 'cOuhter' -
the China Valley people. She stood
beside Cyrus in the choir, and often
shared with him the thin, green-cOv.
cred "Cademy Collection from
which they sang Hebron Wood
stock and Silver Street.
Octavia was what Is called "a harm
some girl in country places such as
China Nalley-large and well made,
with black eyes, abundant hair and
full red lips. As for poor Cyrus, all
the romance and poetic fancy that
existed In his slow brain centered
about this girl and glorified her in
his sight. He walked often over
the lonely river road which led to
the farm. He carried her flowers
and early red-and-yellow apples from
the little orchard behind the forge.
He took her to the menagerle in the
summer, and to the county fair in
the fall. He sat beside her ut the
weekly prayer meeting, and found
her place in the hymnbOOk with
rugged brown hands made tremu-
lous and awkward by his love.
And Octavia? She was content
that Cyrus should adore her. She
was RESTLESS, ambitious girl, who
fretted at the farm life and its hope
less monOtOhOus drudgery. She
lOnged for change and freedom, and
thought to marry Cyrus Spears and
be mistress Of her own house
was the best thing fate had offered
her 30 far in life. Everybody
called Cyrus likely They had
even begun to come to him from
Hollis Mills to have their horses and
oxen shOd. Yes, she was content
that Cyfus should adore but somG
times, while he found the hymn for
her with stumbling eagerness, she
would laugh at him behind her 'Ac-
adenlY- Cnllectinn.i with Maria
Thayer, who sang treble beside her
in the choir.
One EVENING" warm, hushed ev-
cning after burning August day
Cyrus walked out to see Octavia and
found her oddly silent and moody.
She sat on the sunken door stone,
with her elbows on her knees and
her firm white chin resting in her
hands She wore pink cotton
gown and pair Of gold ear drops,
shaped like little cookie shells, that
Cyrus had given her. He thought
dimly that an angel might have
looked as Octavla did just then.
"Tired-dear p he asked, stopping
beside her. He made a little pause
before he called her dear Pet
names come stifly from country
tongues.
Yes said Octavla, duly. Il be
tired
He'd a hard day " he venthred,
sitting down unbiddcn beside her ;
'harder'n common. mean :?
1T amt that reblied ! Octavia,
pm tired Of it all, CyrusAthe farm,
AN the fields, an the cattle, an the
spinnin', an the dairy-wOrk, an
lyin' awake nights with the rain
patterin' on the shl hlngles or the
night-hawk's cryin' lin the woods.
1t amt the rork. TJn willin' enough
to work. It's the Edmeness of II all
that Pm 40 tired Of
Cyrus pulled 4 twig from the sy-
ringa bush beside the doorstep, and
beganrtO stfiP the leaves off, one by
one. wal he said slowly, most
works bout the same, Octavy, arter
ye've done 1t Oncet.'
1T isn't that, either, returned the
girl, petulantly. You don't know
what l mean. Phi tired Of ererythiT, -,
Cyrusp
As she spoke, she turned her head,
and Cyrus eyes followed the direc-
ton which hers had taken. To him
1t was peaceful, pleasant scene
enOugh-the sweep Of green rising
from the road to meet the
great red-painted barns, the corn
house with its four long legs capped
by rusty tin pans to keep away the
rats, the barn-yard full Of lowing cat
tie, the empty hay rack with Octav-
las little sisters playing In 1t. The
bars between the yard and the irregi
ular meadow lane were down and
the two boys sat on the low stone
wall playing something with various
willow sticks. t'bd farmers wife
leaned from the buttery window for
a breath of evening air. Within the
barn yard door the farmer and a
neighbOr chewed long straws and
examined a new scythe. Before the
BAN a cart horse, freed from his har-
ness, rOlled uncoutly and hourlshed
HIS stiff, cumbersome old LIMBS.
Seated on a wheelbarrow was Hifam,
the hired mahJ In his Blown
checked shirt, home-spun trousers
and battered straw hat ; he sat slOuch-
ing forward, with his elbows on his
knees he was whiting a bit Of soft
pine wood, but ne was not making
in norffot,lar aveoff shaw