Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1884-09-17
LOVE AND DUTY.

n. beauty. fragrance, trust, and song.
LOVE AND DUTY.
..She is not even pretty, " solllOquiZeJ
FjmUuI Darby, as he turned out of
the Rectory garden into the steep mar
rox lane which led TO Croft, the home
NJ many generations Of DarDys, tenant
farmers and substantial yeomen. "She
i not even pretty, l suppose and III
p,r +, boy either. TO be taken captive 10y
Tie first woman who crosses my pathV'
h. added. with some bitterness and
short coutemptuouS laugh, as be lighted
his pipe and strolled slowly onward IN
ueditatlYe mood.
Once more in tine family Excepting
roomr at Croft. Edmund Darby threw
himself listlessly into the cushioned
and capac.ous depths Of an old oak
ckair, once his gTeat-grendfather'S and
fell 10 gazing mO0dily At a big wood fire
which gowed on the hearth.
While thus engaged, his mother,
stately handsome woman of nearly
seventy winters, regarded him from her
coruer with covert diSapprobatiOn.
He was obviously i'll at ease as he
loungel IN the high-bdcked old oaken
chair fur he turned restlesSly and
smothered a sigh as he lighted a fresh
bile and took book in haphaZard fash
ion from the table at his elbow, Us a
gentle hint to his woman kind that 81
l-ner Just then would be more accepta-
U.e to hlm than conversation.
Aunt Jane. u placid little woman knit
ting quietly in the chimney-corner, al
0uoe accepted the hint, and checked the
Innocent mqgiry which had Tlsen TO her
lips. She was a Darby born and bred
and the female Ddrbys had always been
as meek and submissive as the men OF
that lame had been reSuiute and master
ful, In Aunt James eyes the good
pleasure Of the head of her house was
law As unalteTable as that Of the MedeS
and PerSians.
Ii was not 50 with his mother, a wo-
man Of different race. from whom
Edmund had derived much of the
strength and originality of his charac-
ter Ii Mrs. Darby felt curious and
inclined TO converse, neither gods nor
meu could command silence.
You VI come from the Rectory, Ed
mu4d = she began abruptly.
y Is. mother" was the brief an
Swer, given without raising his eyes
from his book, of which however he
had Lot turned single page since he
opened il.
And what is dong up there ?'' asked
Mrs. Darby, as determined to engage
her son IN conversation as he was quietly
determined to prevent her 50 doing.
They are much the same as usual.
I'm no gossip, as you know, mother
the k-ctOrau myself seldom exchange
a Word Oh the subject of our neighbors.
Tonight he wanted to show me some
drawings made in London from those
fossils found in the new rallway-cut-
ting last spring" he ended briefly.
An inarticuidte sound greeted his
reply, and, after minute, she cOntin-
ued-
Folk think, If you and the Rector
minded your books less and your buSi-
ness More, it would be better for DO h
Of YOU
We are not the men to mind what
iolk say!'' was the quick response.
And 10 one can charge the Rector
with neglect Of his parish. Hispersonal
influence, his hearty sympathy and real
Kindness are felt and known throughout
Tue length and breadth of il. AS for
myself, y be went on uore quietly, smil-
ing little, ''if YOU can prove tiat my
knowledge Of chemistry and my reading
make ne a worse farmer than my
grandfather, We'll say, for example, or
that I've ever neglected my work for
NY books, there viii be some justice i'll
tcuf complaint. "
Mrs. Darby was silenced for min
ute. as kdlnund's skill in farming had
almost passed into d proyerb in the
country side since the management had
idllen into his hands; and she was Sc
eieuy proud of her son, though, with
Strange feminine Inconsistency, loath to
show IL.
49,. Well, . she Tetorted, in hard tone,
II may be very fine. as you say but
tAere were no such ways in your grand
Iather'S time, nor in your fathers
either"
Mother" he answered, with short
impatient laugh, chow often have l
tfied to show you that the times don't
stand Stlll any more than the earth does,
auu That man must move with them
II be wants to he abreast of the men of
ha Ia
iall out of the ranks and sink into the
social condition OF an agricultural la
Doier If my ways don't content you.
am sorry for it but cannot change
VI ietT0grade, even to please you,
mother" He smiled again and went
On" But | can't he discussing this sub
Ieet eternally. You might as well ask
NE 10 dress myself i'll skins and adorn
NY body with woad, or use a bow and
arrow Instead of a breechloader. as ask
Me 10 return to the habits of my grand
Iather and his times"
80 saying, Edmund rose, and, light
ing candle, included mother and aunt
ID hasty good night" and retreated
y, 70 Ills own apartment, small room half
lloiary, half office, where alone, it
seemed, he could possess his soul III
peace for time.
fOor gentle Aunt Jane said
Poor dear boyl If we don't under
stand Him, suSannah, we have much
reason to be proud of him. AS to set
tilng down, I've nc doubt he's remem-
Uering to night what you seem to forget
--that tomorrow it will be two years
since We lost poor darling Essie.''
"i'h these words the gentle little
"olhhA 5 eyes filled with tears and,
gathering up her knitting, she also beat
TASTY retreat, leaving Tie common en-