The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1883-05-12

CYRUS went back to his forge slowly: but
that day he did not sing.
Letters from Octavia were neither long
nor frequent, but she wrote sometimes.
She told Cyrus about her "Aunt Bucks
siIver-glass bell-knob" and the "parlor
Garnet" and sometimes she said she wished
he would ''set up" in Lewiston; she would
''like to live there"
After all, she did better than CYRUS.
COMPOSITION was hard work for him. He
said a pen was 'too small to get a good
holt on - and he told a confdant in the
village store that he had "ruther shoe ten
woke of oxen than write one letter"
1t was long fall and a long winter to
poor CYRUS. He was glad Octavia was so
happv. He was glad the mills were so gay,
and that she no longer found everything
the same. For himself, he would have
found the days. well-nigh unbearable, ex-
cept that he had planned great surprise
for Octavia, and was very busy in prepar-
ing it. In the fall even earlier than he had
hoped, he had bought the coveted piece of
land beside the forge, and had his cellar
dug and the house well along before winter.
1t was a small house, but every part was
arranged with humble, loving thought for
the woman who was to be its mistress.
81 want everythin' eZ handy's a thin can
be made" he said to Silas Chapman, the
carpenter. 81 want everythin' done to
save steps an make thin's easy. Woman's
work is hard enough, make the best of it We
will"
He even sent to Portland for door-bell
with silvery knob, such as Octavia had
written about. People in China Valley did
not have door-bells, and there was much
talk about what Octavia's pride would
bring her lover to, for nobody laid the door
bell to CYRUS.
SO he worked through the short, dull
days of wifhag- Through. -ssscofm2G w ,kh-
and windy April. Spring comes with
such chill reluctance to these north
ern New-England towns that even on May
day one still sees snow-drifts lying along
in the shadow of stone walls and in the
bleak meadow hollows. Only the new red
shoots of the naples and the green and
brown catkinS on the alders and witch
haZels give hope of more gracious season.
One afternoon in early May, Cyrus was
sitting in the village store with number
of the choice spirits who frequented the
place. He had just come from his new
house, now almost finished. He had the
key on his forefinger, and swung it to and
fro as he sat on a nail-keg by the stove.
"What we ben mOvin' into yer new house,
Cyl" asked Silas Chapman.
"Notmuch,' answered Cyrus. 81 thought
| nights wal move my own thin's over
from Deacon Dunlap's. Long as got my
own house, no use in .payin' board to the
deacon's, as l know on"
"The plaster hain't rally dry, though"
said Silas. eye want to keep the winders
open am give the wind a chance to draw
through. Takes plaster considerable of a
time to dry in the spring, ye know"
EYES," agreed Cyrus, absently. He was
rather interested in a game of fox and
geese which Nathan Pettingil and Ben
Thayer were playing on starch-box cover,
with beans and corn for the fox and geese.
Presently there was a rumble without, the
snap of whip, and loud whoa"
The store keeper, who was also the post
master, went to the open door and caught
the leather mailbag as the driver tossed it
to him. "Hain't seen nothin' o. them salt
fish, | s'poseN' he asked.
oval, no." returned tie driver. 'They
wasn't to the Falls. l asst for 'em. But
them dried apples we sent, Jabez Washburn
tole me to tell ye-" The clumsy stage
horses started with an ungainly jerk ''See
ye-when | comeback along" he finished
spasmodically.
The store-keeper came scuffling back in
his red-leather slippers trodden down at
the heels. He threw the mailbag down on
the counter and began to hunt for the key
in his pocket. eye don't seem to take no
great intruss in yer girl, Cy," he called
out, presently.
what do ye mean~ asked Cyrus, flush
ing suddenly.
'She was on the stage tonight" said the
store-keeper.
"Octavy Freeman was?" asked CSrds,
starting to his feet, quite regardless of the
winks and grins and nudges of his friends.
"Why couldn't you "a spoke on it sooner,
Job, while you was about itW
Job Perkins was ponderous man, slow
of speech and comprehension. "Ef I'd "a
ben expectin' of her," he said, heavily,
like as not l sh'd "a knowed who twas.
But, bein' as she wasn't in my mind, an
not expectin' to see her, why, it wasn't
borne in upon me who it was till 'Lias had
whipped up. She's sort o. changed, too
Octavy has. I'd know as twas much
wonder l didn't know her either, jest at
first She looked-why, she looked like a
sid'able sence she's ben in the city. Then
there was strangers in the stage, too-goin'
to Tewksbury's, guess. l must asst 'Lias,
when he comes back along, who they be-"
Cyrus stood quite still for moment,
watching Job as he unlocked the mailbag.
"She has come home unexpected" he said,
with some idea of pride; 'thet's what she's
done. Her father knowed nothin' of it this
mornin' when he was in to get his sorrel
shod. She's ben an done it for surprise
to us ALL" He pondered moment, then
added: "Thet's so; thet's So" and left the
store, still swinging the key of his new
house upon his finger.
In the early evening Cyrus made himself
smart, and started out along the river-road
to see Octavia. 1t was a mild, damp even
ing, and the air was full of sweet earthly
odors. On the left, behind the screen of
willows and alder-bushes, Cyrus could hear
the river, swollen and angry with the
spring freshets, flowing turbidly over its
rocky bed. Once he stopped to cut a handful
OF little branches from the young willows,
covered with shy, furry shoots. As he went
along he whistled softly. He was thinking
how Octavia's eyes would shine when he
showed her the key and made her guess
what it unlocked. "She won't want to be
goin' back to Lewistown again, guess" he
said to himself; and then he grew blissful
over the rides they would take to North
China to buy their house-furnishings. 81
don't know, rally, what Octavy won't say
when she comes to see that door-bell.n
When the great red barns came in sight
he had to stop moment to collect himself,
his slow heart had begun to beat so heavily.
Before the house Octavia's two Young
brothers were pitching quoits, and her little
sister stood watching them. AS they saw
him, the boys dropped their quoits and ran
into the barn, and the girl fed toward the
house, crying: "Tavy! 'Tavy here's CYRUS
comin'"
The blacksmith quickened his steps. He
had hoped to surprise his sweetheart. az
she had surprised him, that afternoon. He
was too late, however, for Immediately DC.
tavla ran from the house and came down
the sandy road to meet him. She wore n
pale-gray gown which was wonderful in
Cyrus eyes; there were ribbons and ends
and fiounces, which fiuttered and twisted