Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1883-02-27
Gales a,ro Sketfkes.
A VILLAGE STORY.
BIZ JULIA NJ. Bennett.


Il was an early morning in June; the
flowers still held the drops of dew in their
tiny cups, and the birds had not finished
their matin songs. Everything was fresh
and blooming in Miss Clementine's gar
den; every rose bush was blushing
lovely pink or deep crimson, as the sun
sought them out with his first rays. And
there is Miss Clementine herself at work
in among bed Of scarlet verbenas. A
bingham sun bonnet hides her face, but
her figure is graceful. As she goes to
the fence to throw over handful OF
weeds, we can see this, and as she stands
looking down the street into the village.
she pushes her bonnet back, disclosing to
view face that stranger would not
have passed indifferently, although it has
lost it's first bloom Her eyes are dark
and full, the brows arched, forehead low
and broad, the nose just a trife large,
mouth resolute. chin square but relieved
by deep dimple, hair dark brown. with
a dash of FURNISHED gold once, now thick
" strewn with gray, Over all an ex-
preston hard to describe. 1t was not
alone sorrow, nor desolation; it was as if,
in the midst Of hope and happiness. some
wave had swept over it and carried away
all its brightness. Whatever it had done,
It had not .'bettered" her. And while il
had made her self-reliant, it had also made
her secretive and cautious-prouder. too.
and colder. and Of little faith or trust in
human kind.
Her dress shows extreme neatness. but
she wears no ornaments. A trifie prim,
as Is often noticeable where a woman lives
unmarried five and thirty years.
As she stands there, a large awkward
looking man coming down the street
catches sight OF her. His face SO bright
ems at this as to transfigure him, making
him almost handsome for the moment.
As he pauses to speak to her we see that
he is about her age, or perhaps year or
two the elder. His eyes are blue and
meet your own with frank and honest
expression-true, kind eyes that can be
merry or sad, in sympathy with a friend.
His hair is light brown and his complex
ion ruddy. Hc is a giant in strength and
size, and .'tender and low" as he speaks
to her. it is not difficult to imagine him
brave and inflexible to an enemy.
Good morning, SAM" said she. ''how
Is your mother to-davP intended to have
gone over to your house yesterday, but
mother did not feel we'll"
''She is better. thank you. Miss Glenn
N.Y." said he. ''She had a pretty bad
spell of it this time, but she is up and
around this morning. She missed you.
But how are You Miss Clemmy-happy
and well?'
II am always well. As for happiness,
that and I parted company years ago, as
YOU we'll know. But am well enough.
] care for nobody, nobody cares for me,
said she half bitterly, balf carelessly.
Sam sighed, but seeing the hard look
coming into her face, he fastened to
change the subject.
''How fine your poses are looking
But you always beat every one for pretty
ones and plenty of them. How they do
grow for your
81 take care of Them" said she, THAT
is the reason. / do not kill them with
kindness one day and neglect them week
rs some folks do. | go among them
every day. digging around the roots here.
pulling up the weeds there. watering and
trimming them. But come in. and I'll
cut some Tor your mother. She loves
them almost AS well as do. My mother
don't care for them. only that they please
me. believe"
Sam, nothing 10th, accepted her invita-
ton. following her around while she
made up large bouquet of the choicest
flowers. As she handed it to him he said
.'Ain't some of 'em for me, Clemmy ?"
This so wistfully that a smile rippled
over Clementine's face. and it was Won
derfnl TO see how young and sweet il
looked. II don't care who claims them.
SAM" she answered, and with this small
compromise Sam had to be satisfied.
He was. and thanked her so earnestly
that she grew impatient and said shortly
II must go in to mother now, she has not
had her breakfast yet" and without fur
Their parley she went into the house, leav-
ing Sam to 90 on his way. He did moi
mind. knowing Miss Clementine's ways.
Were they not boy and girl together? Had
he not worshipped Der. since the time,
when little brown thing with her long
curls tied with "bonny blue ribbons. "and
wearing little white aprons, she had
tyrannized over him rs she pleased. and
laughed at his big feet and hands and his
awkward ways? Had he not carried
her books. and found grape vine
swings and nuts and the rip
est berries for her? And had he ever once
tnou&nt oi complaining "ncu sue, III soHie
pet. houted himp No; she was his little
queen always, then and now. Had he not
watched her as she grew 10 maidenhood,
kinder to him now. but still holding light
" the worship of his true heart, accepting
his homage as her right. but in no way
returning his love. Had he not. later on,
seen her cheek flush aud pale slternatly
rs handsome viii Ashby spoke to her,
and did he not know, thought the boys
and girls laughingly called him "Clem-
my's big lover" that such. in fact, he
could never be to her. All, yes. true
heart. None knew this so well as he.
But his was one of those rare natures d.
vinely unselfish, capable Of loving on
without return. blessed in the giving.
For her sake he had made VIII Ashby his
friend when he learned from her own lips
Of their engagement. and had tried to in
fluence the wild youth for good.
Clementine Norton was the only child
lett out of family Of four. Her father
died when she was five years old. leaving
to his wife and children the pretty cot
tage home and an income of 5000. This.
in an New England village was considered
quite comfortable provision.
Mrs. Norton was a Woodworking wo-
v..u ~rhoso wholo 1;fo uas dovcf,,1 IN