Middletown transcript., 1883-01-26

left, and he heard the WneelS ol Ills
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
early to see to the horses and cattle.
When he returned to breakfast he OBJ
served that Mahlon was curt and mon
osyllabic of speech, Naomi gloomy and
Rachel distressed. john ate MS meai
silently, and then went to the field with
Mahlon. But he soon made an excuse
to return to the house. Rachel was
alone there, seated with her face buried
in her hands, and so intent on her
thoughts that she did not hear him
come in.
What is the trouble, Rachel ?' he
asked.
The girl started up, and the blood
rushed to her face, but she made no
reply.
els it to be wedding ?" he con-
tinued.
"John Paul, thee's-thee's-'
Cor did you send Absalom B. about
his business last night ?''
"What is that to thee, John Uncle
is displeased with me, and aunt is sorry,
and now thee must-what is it to thee
whether 1 have or not P''
"Rachel, " said he, taking her trem-
bling hand, and retaining it in spite of
her effort to withdraw it, cit is every
thing to me, for love you dearly"
The eyes of the girl filled with
sudden light. "Thee thee love-
me ~
John read the answer to his question
before he put it, and drew the sobbing
Rachel to his breast.
How long they stood there neither
could tell, but at the sound of Mahlon
Stacy's heavy step on the veranda,
Rachel made her escape.
What keeps thee in the house,
John ?'' inquired the farmer, entering
the room. We have work to get
through with"
/" Let that pass for moment, Mr..
Stacy. 1 have something to say. Who
holds now the mortgage on the farm ?"
Why does thee ask ?"
"From no idle curiosity. What is
his name and where does he live ?'
ellis name is Frobisher, and he lives
in New York. 1t is his lawyer, Wood
ford, who has the business in hand"
Woodford Not Charles Wood
ford ? Sol In that case make your
self perfectly easy. I can arrange all
that for you"
els thee serious, John Paul Does
thee think Frobisher would do it for
thee ?''
"Why not +? He never refused me
anything 1 wanted yet, from the time
we went to the same school"
Thee must be out of thy mind,
John. This Frobisher, they say, is
worth million of dollars. Does thee
expect to influence himP If I didn't
know thy habits, 1 should say thee been
drinking.'
"The man you speak Of is worth
more than you say, in estate, but he'll
give you all the time you need. Let
me see. 1t is nearly night. The mail
closes at ten. 1 have time to write
letter, hitch up and get to the post
Office in good time. You'll have an
answer by tomorrow evening"" and
without further words he went out,
harnessed the horse and drove to the
village, leaving Stacy staring in amaze
ment. When he came back the farmer
was still in the house, with Naomi and
Rachel, discussing Johns freak
During that day and the next morning
Mahlon would glance at John at times
with an expression made up of hope
and suspicion of Johns sanity.
Atnoon next day John quietly hitched
up the horse again, and without asking
leave drove off, with a reassuring smile
to Rachel's inquiring looks as he went.
This was hours before the mail was due,
and John had on his Sunday clothes,
too. He did not get back until supper
time, and then handed letter to Nah
Ion, in the presence of the rest. 1t was
postmarked "New York." and the
farmer opened it with trembling hands.
John, - said he, after he had read
it, and handed it to Naomi, "thee
made no vain boast. Woodford says 1
can have all the time want. Thee
has done me a great service. I only
wish knew how could repay thee. y
Perhaps you can, +" said John, smil-
ing, and taking Rachel by the hand.
"Suppose you let me take care Of this
young lady in future.
Why, Rachel!' ~ cried Mahlon, in
astonishment. "Does thee and john
But Rachel's answer was not dis
tinctly audible, her face being so close
to John Paul's waistcoat.
"Has thee thought about means to
support wife ~ inquired Naomi, with
last fiutter of expiring loyalty to Alb
salon Browning.
"There need be no trouble on that
score,' returned John ; but have a
confession to make. 1 have in some
measure deceived you. When you
asked my name 1 just said John
Paul"
" And has thee been using a name
to which thee has no right ?" demanded
Naomi, severely.
81 have a right to that name, but
there is more of it. am John Paul
Frobisher.'' -
Frobisher ~ exclaimed Mahlon, as
a light broke in on him. "Then thee