Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1884-04-10

= like ball or ornage-ilame above the
western woods, there was the sound
of quick footsteps crashing over fallen
twigs and crisp autumn leaves below.
( Its John Ford coming home from
/ hunting" Miriam said to herself, with
quick breath. "Oh, l do hope he
/ won't see me -
She shrunk close to the trunk of the
tree, aud tried to seem rs mucn like
/ big bunch of miStletoes rs possible.
/ But it was useless. John Ford's keen
eyes were too well used to woodcraft
and all pertaining 10 it, to overlook
her. He stopped short at the entrance
to the glade
miriam Green - he exclaimed.
"Yes," said the girl, laughing lit
lie hysteIically. "Zaccheus he"
And am Zaccheus, and now /
can't get down"
"Oh ~ said Mr.. Ford. "The ladder
fell, did 1t %
"Y yes" said Miriam, turning very
red. The ladder fell down"
cpl put it up for you" said F)rd.
'Do ~ said Miriam, laughing to her
self, as she thought of Aunt Jane.
He swung the ladder promptly up
against the trunk Of the tree.
"Now, IT'S all right, " said he. "I'u
just go oyer to see that the dogs hayen't
frightened Mrs. Morey's young turk
eys, and wait for you outside the
woods.
In five minutes Miriam Green was by
his side, rosy and breathless, still cling,
ing tn her apronful of mistletoe.
"Oh, am 50 much obliged to you :"
said she, earnestly.
"What will Aunt Jane say ?" said
Miriam, involuntalily.
"She'll be very much alarmed, won't
she ?"
"No," confessed Miriam. "She :
that is-Oh, Mr.. Ford, can't deceive
you about it ~
And she told him all.
'Of course, it was very wrong to
diSobey her." she added, "out--'
MY poor little Miriam My sweet
/ frightened darling !" cried John Ford
passing his strong arm around her
waist "She was "A perfect drag)oness
to torment you 81 ~
"But belong to her." said the girl,
innocently. Il have no other home
but her house. -
"Then belong 10 me, ,henceCorward, !"
he said, teuderly looking down into
her blue, limpid eyes. "Surely, You
! cannot have filled To discover how
deeply love you Hereafter you are
mine -
Miriam Green, young as she was,
had often dreamed of the pathway in
which love should come 10 her, but it
had never seemed like this
But" She s'ammered, what viii
your uncle say %
"What should he say ?'' calmly le-
torted her lover. Ford Court is
mine. My uncle is ouly my beloved
and honored guest. Besides, he loves
me 50 genuinely that my happiness
cannot bat be his. And-But what is
this ?"
They lad by this time reached the
solid stone wall which divided the
grounds of FoId Court from the woods,
and there perched Up on its height--a
feminine Styll.es was Aunt jane,
with basket in her hand, half full of
the barberries which she had gathered
from tho huge bushes that made a
scarlet-dotted screen inside, willie
stretched prone on the grass at the
foot OF the wall lay old Major Ford's
monster bloodhound, Gelert. He
looked around and waggtd his tail
slowly at the sight of John, hut did not
stir otherwise.
"Aunt Jane said Miriam, "what
are you doing on top Of the wall,
there ?''
"I-I only wanted a few barberries
to put in my cucumber pickles." f" stam-
mered Aunt Jane ready to burst into
tears. "And--aud l didn't suppose
there was any harm in gathering them
here. I've picked pecks and pecks of
barbeIies off them very bushes and
nobody said word. And | was just
reaching UP for the finest, when up
comes a cross old savage and asks me
what mean by stealing fruit, and
leaves me here with this horrid, snarl-
ing brute to watch me-just as if | was
.ramp-While he goes for cOnstablel
| never was so treated in my life
And, the more try to jump eff, the
more the dog shows his teeth at me,
and gfowls. He'd tear me in pieces if
stirred foot in amy direction, [ do
believe -
"My Uncle Ford" whispered John
to Miriam. ''Ife is positive mono
maniac on the subject of fruit thieves I?
The park bristles with man traps, and