The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1885-05-20

"And it won't do TO lose the sheep for
ha'p'orth o tar now"
Indeed, Patience had not thought
now to spare upon Enoch Marrish. Her
own sorrow for her brothers. death was
well-nigh overwhelmed in the grief OF
the father for the son who had died un-
forgiving and unforgiven. The fit
passed, though Tom Blackthorn was
Tom Blackthorn no longer. He woke
into an apathy, where he had to be
tended almost like a child. Patience
had never known how deep the fathers
love for his boy had been; she had
thought him merely unjust and hard.
and did not guess how much his words
of anger had been used to vindicate
himself in his own eyes. Nor had Tom
Blackthorn guessed it either, while he
was well and strong. He had to stick
to his word; for it was fixed family
belief that no Blackthorn ever did,
could, or ought to give way. And may
be the belief was right, for there were
assuredly weak drops in the blood, and
weakness means stubborness all over
the world. But living prodigal may
always submit at last, and Dick could
never submit now. And the poor old
father could only feel as II his own
harshness had done it all.
That was the phase of his grief when
short note was brought to Patience
from Mr.. Marrish, which ran thus:
"DEAR Miss BLAcKTBoRS - Hoping II
might please your good father. I've mado
| eWUsa 30 n 1.2s. 40. AL.
more news of poor Dick, and maybe get
some of his things. also send you paper
about the battle. But I'm sorry to say
there's nothing more TO hear. Only heard
to let you know. Among the list OF killed
there was the name OF Stephen Harlow. So
he must have listed, too, for l made all in
quiries, and no was the same we used TO know
no doubt about II at ALL
"rve seen the mortgagee's lawyers-that
was another thing l went for. I'm sorry TO
say they'll take no more delay, as I'd ai
ready got II put of four times, and they
interest aren't paid by a certain day. As
| your poor father mustn't be troubled now,
| I've asked them to communicate with him
through me. will call in a few days to
talk things over. and am, dear Miss Black.
ENoCH MARRIsH."
And somehow this letter made her
feel, not that new book of troubles,
but that the whole book Of her life, Joy
and trouble, and all things, save thought
for her father, was closed. Stephen
killed in battlel She had not spark
of reason to mistrust the only friend left
them, and, indeed, II she had. mistrust
would have been misplaced, since Enocb
Marrish himself believed his own story.
He had hidden nothing except how the
knowledge of it had come to him.
Moreover, it was as If the whole story
had now been told; at least SO far as
any story can. What had driven her
promised husband to become a soldier
she would never know, but it could not
have been because he loved another
better than he loved her. Miserable
weakness it must have meant-weak-
ness even TO despair, in the face OF
troubles that forced even a strong man
TO fly in secret and hide from weak
woman under the smoke of war.
But what was she herself thinking OFF
Better to have died, and left her father
to the coming stormP Thinking OF
preaching duty when she was forget
ting her ownP No-the book of her life
was indeed closed. Nothing was left
but to seal 1t and hide it away,
Neither love nor hope nor life left for
herself, but only duty; helpless father,
whom loss n his old home would kill;
an old man, who had lost his only son,
and had but his daughter to care for
him and to lean upon; VOWS buried in
the graye-what thing but one was
there for Patience Blackthorn to do?
II can't swear to love you, Enoch
Marrish, but with my lips" said she,
very quietly, when, just after harvest,
he asked her again. II don't know
why you want me, but II you want no
more than wife who will do her best
oryou-then-forpoor fathers sake"
Don't say another word, lass" said
he. "That'I all come square. know
what want, and I'll make you know it
too, before long"
"You have been very kind"
1've tried to be. I'll be kinder be-
fore I've done. I'm never In hurry
about anything, not I-big or small. 1t
don't pay. You've made me the hap
piest man in England-there! When's s
the affair to be? The sooner the better,
and then things will be settled for poor
old Tom. Lies an uncertain thing,
and then where'd you be againP"
"You will be quite content with what
/ can give youp With no moreP"
"Bless the girl, yes. / know what
I'm about We aren't just boy and girl.
My place wants mistress, and / want
you When's 1t TO bep"
She longed for delay. But then in
another day she would only long for II
all the more. II have no choice" said
she, and that was true.
"Then say this day three weckA.
That'll see all the harvest work finished
up, and give just time for the banna.
And-I say, Patience; we'll have nc
nonsense and trash, It wouldn't do SC
soon after poor Dicks death, and
moneys money, these hard times. How
It does 90, TO be sure! Wen Just wall
into church, you and me and old Tom
and then walk out again. and the. very
day we're married we'll begin as W,
mean to go on. Eh"
He attempted kiss, but he got nc
farther than her cheek, and found Il
cold. But he went away in triumph
aud left her TO think, or rather, to fgh
everything like thought and feeling
away. She had decided on duty, which
ought to have given her comfort, but il
gave her none.