The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1883-06-22

Scragg End, i Cont know what l
should have done. Here they are all
Undetermined people, without strong
prejudices, and do seem to have
found the way to their hearts. But
am afraid | should never dare to enter
another pulpit--certainly not yours at
Ponkapawket."
"You would soon conquer there as
you have conqured here" said Mr..
Ericsson
81 couldn't endure that unfriendly
gaze. | should display all my woman
Ishness. l should blush, ] should
tremble, might faint should be a
stumbling block to the women who
are following in the same pathway.
| don't mean to be that. Ny work in
Scragg End sufiices, and am so thank
ful for it.
81 am sorry you feel so about Pom
kapawket, because l have a PROPOSE
ton in my mind much more audacious
than the one that / made" said Mr..
Ericsson.
Miss Barton raised her eyes inquir-
ingly, and dropped them again instant
ly under the ministers gaze.
81 thought we might unite the
churches" Mr.. Ericson's voice trem-
bled little, as if he were afraid.
l don't see how it could be DONE"
said Miss Barton frigidly.
"Of course there is but one way
said Mr.. Ericsson, quietly. 81 dared
not ask you to be my wife without
suggesting to you the fact that your
work need not be given up
The girl rose to her feet. Lysan-
ders stocking fell from her hand and
was blown away by the wind unheeded.
81 don't know what have done to de-
serve this-this insult. thought
that at least you respected me, and /
thought my calling made me sacred
from such-such attacks altogether.
81 am sorry that you should think it
an insult. l can hardly see how a
man could give you better proof Of
his respect than to ask you to become
his wife. And as for your calling
making you sacred, we don't believe in
the celibacy of the clergy, you know.
In spite of this evident modification
and distress, there was a sly twinkle in
Mr.. Ericson's eye as he said that.
"But II am woman !" said Miss
Barton, sitting down again and cover
ing her face with her hands.
"The more reason why you should
be married." said Mr.. Ericsson, calmly
you need protector.
81 am perfectly sufficient for myself
And l shall never care for anybody
anybody-but my work
Mr.. Ericsson arose. 81 am sorry t
have troubled you," he said, gently
81 love you, and have never know
what it was to love woman before
that is all my excuse
Miss Barton watched him as he wen
down the road, with the yellow leave
falling upon him. She observed a
she had never done before, how finel,
his head was set upon his broad shoul
ders, what manly grace there wa
about his strong, well-knit figure.
'But he has no business TO 10y
me-" she said, drawing her brows int
a tight frown.
Then suddenly she remembered Ly
sanders stocking, and went down i
the grass to look for it. 1t had blow
over the fence into the field. Sh
retched her arms between the slat
and drew it back. As she did SO sh
caught sight of Lysander. He wa
gathering squashes and pumpkins o
the little south hill; she saw his tiglr
in silhoutte against the sky. ii
started to come toward the house, an
she waited for him-waited nntil
sudden thought sent flame of colo
over her face.
st cant be" she said, half alou,
inquiringly. Il will keep that out {
my life. l won't be failure l won
hs!' And she rushed up to her ROOF
and locked herself in.
She came down as grave as ev,
when the tea bell rang, and after Il
tea she and Lysander read their dai
quantity of Greek, for Lysander W
pursuing his studies with renewed avi
ity since he had companion to he
him, and had not yet given up b
long cherished hope of studying for d
ministry, though there seemed no pro
pect of his beng able to leave Il
farm.
|, After that day Miss Barton devot'
herself more zealously than ever to h
+ work She darned no more stockin
, When she was not writing her sermon
she was visiting the sick aud the POI
, and making or suggesting and indl
ing others to make improvement
I sanitary and moral, as well as rel
I ious.
n "She was as practical and efficient
: if she was not woman many p
n pie said; aud old Jeremy Grimes, "
3 had wished to tell her when she ca
e that they didn't want IA woman prea
n er, said, "they couldn't have had s,
8 women in st. Paul's time, or he wo
o never have written what he did"
n But Mrs. Hewitt had a grievau
1t Mrs. Barton didn't seem to make |
it self one of the family as she used
She was shut up in her own room
" most all the time now, and she {
:, Lysander didn't seem to get along
they used to. She never came into
III kitchen and wanted to help make C
Il. now, or sat with them around the
At in the evening while Lysander T
I'd aloud. She didnt"seem to have 8
an thing against them, but she wasn't
ID and sociable any more
it Lysander was teaching school
winter and attending to the farm "
he in his leisure time. His habit of stt
te lug with Miss Barton had gradu
IT. died out To his mothers persis
as questionings Lysander replied
re neither of them had any time f.
w now.
ad Mrs. Hewitt could not make it
W. SPA" who prided himself upon b,
he long headed, binted that he could,
ad he would not say outright wha
re. thought, and his wife regarded
'ut hints with lofty scorn.
ed One afternoon, after school he
"a, L l ,,eanla. ,uant 1nun 40 ,ha an,