National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-09-20

looked again upon Mark, she was smiling
through hor tears, and the rich blood
mautlod her face, But 1t is not In anger,
Mark: DO of good cheor 10 is only from
the purest Joy that the bushes chase each
other over her modest check. Tho little
hand lies in his own and gentle pressure
gives him wonderful announcements.
Mark is quick enough TO discern now,
although he has been long in discovering
what one of less depth of reverent aifec-
ton would have learned long ago that
Patience would never love any other man
than himself. The bright head now re-
noses on his shoulder, and all the pent-
up love of great aud honest heart is
poured into the willing ears. 1t is the
old. old story, whose charm will never fail,
so long as men and women live and love
But we will not attempt TO chronicle the
words that fill up the golden moments
When the artist can paint the sunbeam,
then perhaps tho prosaic scribe may hope
to preserve on paper the subtle and
spiritual flavor of tho converse of loving /
hearts. At present. however, he must |
leave It all to the sympathetic readers |
imagination.
There must have been great deal to
say, for 1t was q full hour before the lovers |
arose and walked into the library where |
sat tho minister and his wife quietly dis
coursing on parochial affairs
81 have come.p said Mark, after the
usual friendly greeting, ito ask of you
both great favor, the greatest that you
can grant. 1t is the hand Of your
daughter, whose heart am so fortunate
Us to possess already"
The minister and his wife took IL oil
very quietly. "Sit down, children" said
Mr.. Ware, in his kindly voice that was
characteristic of him. "You see am not
greatly surprised, for we have forseen this,
mother and |. You can have her, Mark,
and am happy in giving SO good child
into the care of so truo man. There, let
us know about your plans now"
Patience threw her arms about her
fathers neck and cried softly on his Shout
der, and then, with commendablef fairness,
performed the same feat over her mother.
This done. she sat quietly down beside
Mark, while he read aloud the letter. 1t
was decided after some discussion that he
should accept the offer, which Mr.. Ware
regarded as in every way u fattering one,
and as no would enter pom his duties in
the fall and steadfastly refused to leave
Northbook alone-how imperious and
exacting he had grown of sddden-tho
wedding was fixed upon for the day
preceding his departure for the scene of
| his future labors.
There were many things to be said, and
the evening wore rapidly away. And
when Mark, after bidding Patience good
by in tho little uncovered porch which
covered the front door. walked down the
garden path and turned into the road
leading homeward, he bore with him o
sense of supreme happiness which he had
never known before.
1t soon became known in the village
that Mark was going to - to assume
charge of the academy in that place, and
| his good fortune excited much generous
comment. Ere long another rumor stirred
the placid surface of Northbrook society,
and became the chief topic of discussion
among tho gossips. This time, rumor
said, that Patience Ware was to accom-
pany tho young teacher as his wife. As
the summer passed along and tho bauns
were published in the church, the report
was verified.
Some two weeks before the wedding
day Cyrus Dudley, who had for many
months been absent from the village,
again made his appearance. He had not
improved in the interval; on the con-
trary, he looked more hardened than
ever. and made his associations among
the most dissolute young mon of the
country. He kept out of sight of Pa
thence, who no longer feared him, indeed,
but who sympathized keenly with his
aged parents in the sorrow which their
undutiful son had caused and was causing
them. She and Mark were very busy
now. as may be supposed. He, in com
pleting arrangements for undertaking
his new charge, and she, womanlike,
engrossed in preparations for the moment
GUS occasion, upon which she was to be
Joined in the hottest of bonds to the mau
| she loved. '''
The golden hours sped rapidly, and the
morrow was to be the wedding day. For
week violent storm had been raging
and the swollen streams, carrying theii
, burden of waters into the river, hat
caused it to rise almost to the proportion:
! of freshet. Across tho river at low
tavern, the resort of the vicious and do
| PRAYED, were gathered half dozen mer
with bloated, sensual faces, engaged in {
Q game of cards. Cyrus Dudley was one
, of the number. Frequent calls were
0 made upon tho bar for rum, and az the
: fiery liquid asserted its power, and thu
s game increased in interest the converse
tion became more noisy and profane
1 Rude and coarse jokes followed eacl
4 other from the unclean lips Of the profit
, gates, and then came bacchanalian songs
Q ia the choruses of which all Joined with
>, out regard to timo or tune At length
t Dudley arose, and, procuring from tn
bar a flask of liquor, put on his hat AM
| prepared to take his leave. There was
/, howl of dissent from tho remainder o
. the company at this sign of breakup.
k whats the use'n goin' off now, Cyl?
ri said one; 'ye amt goin' to see yer sweet
h heart, BIO ye? She's goin' ter be married
10 ye know, to-morrer."
d This aroused general laugh. whic
| ,l NV md tyh
IF was evidently in no mood for enjoying
y Joke upon this subject.
z "See here, you Jake" he said, fiercel.
It "you just drop that OF I'll be down on yo
4. in a way you won't relish. You hear IN
@ Pm going home and to bed, and don
Of want any more of your chin music. Yo
10 understand, l hope"
TO His glowing eyes and flushed fa'
a. showed him to DO in earnest, and u
le men who were not drunk enough to
40 utterly reckless subsidized ut once. I'll
10 fellow, Jake, whose ill-timed jocularit
of had aroused Dudley's anger, offered I
r, treat all around, and this being accept'
40 and attended to Cyrus pulled his h
w over his eyes and stepped forth into II
10 night.
~ Tho wind howled around him, but Il
elements were not wilder than
es thoughts, which struggled and jostl
X each other unanimously in his brain.
Id took straight line for tho river, ai
q having reached its bank he paused al
he looked across the watery flood to /
i'll lights which cleaned cheerily through I
n darkness from the parsonage windows.
n "Ah, Patience Ware" he muttered, ~
think me forgetful of my vow, but y
Id shall know when the sun rises to-morr'
We on the dead body, of the white livered