The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1884-12-14

moments OF silence. I mistake not. your
,ike Keziah can 30 lad for the asking No. no.
i2H wl ,,t,o know u country maids spirit
she DECLINE e. w %Es "'sr her
,.,, Ii she did not. at such snort notice. sorry
~SSssnhssyH MAKE Ss .ss GIr" mot maid in MI mi,
country would refuse mo II asked"
III you won her, none would; but such n
won before She can DO had, You cannot get u
worthy spouse rs you would get your cattle. by
,, Yet I DO know that Mattress Kczial,
Then give, her the haprincss o, n wooingo
Nathan said no more. but when tho sun went
down he arranged himself in manner beft,nE
NJ; purnnnse and Set out with hear, strong
iinr kezah. for. though Nn!han's farm was in
father over the boundary line in Connectcut,
yet their fields adjoinod and their houses we're
hnt more than II mile apart.
keziah. from her upper window. saw the
weil-favored young man fasten his hors. to
,n" great stone htchlng post. and. though 1t
was thnt which he donned only on important
occasions. What wonder. then thati she sur
encouragement, bsiccted Herself With vii such
simple ilnery us the maids OF that day pos
lis, lne weather. Nathan" she said. MS sho
entered tho best room, whero Nathan sat. chat
Wl'h a. nor latn ,hn snI hsr sss
iln nh Hdt !, is Bq yop arc yfgy busy now"
The crops will be lne this year and Nathan
yon VIII harvest more hay and corn than ever"
"A fair amount. neirhbor. ,row,.. The
weather favors YOU too. IN stress :" and Nathan
made this first stop with an ndmiring glance,
ana his eyes feIl upon tho fair neck Of the girl
head. the Wilderness OF ii. and her other gracos
50 that he wondered that no had not Needed
Tonight She will pledge her troth to me-"
Now, tho maids intuition was keen enough
mure, and sometimes coy yot her Innocent
cunning, stimulated by Nathan's blunt admi-
ration ted her to display to the full her charms
She showed him, some of the family treas
ures but when he drew too near she skiifully
placed tan!alizinE distance between them.
his CUSTOM began to spoak to her hoping that
sleepy to :cR Of ssr 81
dence in kind, the artful maid took some inno-
cent occasion to awaken her father. Sincerely
did Nathan wish that tho farmer might betnko
himself to his bed. but the hints that he made
| of such wish fell on unhecding ears.
. Az length. in despair Nathan seized the FAM
lily Bible. and. opening to the register wherein
were recorded the births, marriages. and
on the ma rs page and /" sa AID sN names a
and yours, will soon he, written here"
Then when he locked at her he saw she
smiled but so unused was no TO a young wo-
mans way that 10 knew not whether il was the
| smile Of assent or of simple amusement.
"Perhaps.' she answered.; who knows? Are
y yG% such h,S prophet as to predict 'hs?" sho
SO he went away that night without greater
satisfaction. and while Kcxah knew she had a
lover. the young farmer was CONSCIOUS that he
The days passed until the lenves turned red
and brown. and the apples were gathered. and
selected for saug hter In all this ime Nathan
| had indeed wooed the mistress of his heart
his hand Yoi. though he doubted not thai he
should possess her he had opportunity to learn
by experience that maid worth possessing
deserves the pains anu patience OF winning.
In the late fall Nathan Foster was suddenly
called upon to make lourney,to the South.
Estates Of some value that had been tho prop
erty Of kin OF hi 3 mother were devised to MIN.
His mother. who was born in England: was
and taken thence to tho Westminster homa.
on tho evening beior. his departure Nathan
s hs to TO have Welded but hopS
perceive my meaning and give me opportunity.
lmay be absent some weeks but when return
then , shall a claim yo!n, for know you have
She gaze him h1 hand and suffered him
Nathan. then will give you answer"
She thought to t test his cophstancy by absence.
sag m n" %hs m w
was heard around tho world
No more sturdy patriot lived than Farmer
Hustled. He WAS on fire. and. though In that
vicinity there were many of his old friends who
were loyal to King George the farmer carried
his zealso far as TO cease to speak. except with
contempt. to those who I'D not espouse, the
time ne ravs iberaIIy. and later on served him
One day ho said to his daughter: "Keziah.
my child. you are comely woman and will
soon. it may be. be sought IN marriage: Prom
ise your father that you will never we'd Tory.
rated from your family by marriage with one
not n patriot. and there are many sil-favored
Of such
Their. that VIII wed no Tory.
The ,o maid had given that promise without
no. to we'd some day Nathan Foster. and is he
When Nathan returned there was the awful
presage of war. and no determined speedily to
claim Keziah. that he might give her protec-
ion ard /, beg he knew not What the com
" Let us De welded in. two weeks from this
day" he said to her on the evening Of his re:
turn, and she placed her hand in his and smiled
Nathan" she said few moments later 7
hard to make. He is warm patriot as l am
too and he asked me not to we'd Tory. How
came fer , me to give the prod%ss when
Why what is the matter. Nathan"
She saw that his face had grown set and hard
You promised your father that you would
not wed , oYaaI A., SublSg, Of In the kiphG,
And you have promised to we'd me in fort
Yes, Nathan"
why. what is 1t you mean. Nathan ?"
Did you not know that am and ever sha II
be loyal to the King as any of his subjects p
Nathan Nathan -
My mother was born in England. BY her
traitor to him. and would not II ! could"
The girls face was now as white as the arm
that she placed on Nathan's sleeve.
"Ah. my bride" he said gently, what have
you to do with these things? / nm your only
king and you shall be my queen"
She did not speak.
You believe in Scripture" he said. and
you know that therein is written that q wife
shall cleavs unto her husband"
All. Nathan. you are not now my husband"
You will break your word to me?"
You terrify mo- Nathan. Do not be SO fierce
Yet will say. Nathan, lot US tor tho time leave
matters as they were"
That would be cowardly. You have prom
ised me-"
Yes but under misapprehension."
'Of my afYecton!"
No no. You are too cruel. did not dream
that you we're not patriot"
knZiah would You Lat my duty coma ha.