The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-10-08


81 ask your pardon, mistress, so rudeiy
to have disturbed you, but you were intent
with your spinning, and saw me not TILL
| spoke"
"The chimney conceals all who ap-
| proach from that way, and few take the
| path on this side" she said.
AS she spoke she looked furtlvely, but
| modestly, upon this stranger, as though
| wondering who this courteous hammered
| man could be. He, too, fixed his piercing
| dark eyes searchingly upon her for a
| moment, and then, with smile and q
| manner so well bred that she was not dis
| turbed, he approached nearer and held
| out his hand. She did not take 1t, but
looked wondering upon him.
$50 my memory is better than yours
| he said, his hand still extended and resting
upon the window still. ''To me you are
now known, and will make you remember
me. Years ago a little girl went out into
the field yonder, down by the brook,
dressed in bright red garment, and a
maddened and infuriated animal almost
caught her on his horns, when a
safely away over the stone wall. You
were the little girl"
Her face frightened, and she looked upon
him with cordially. "And you were the
great bow that saved me. 1t is you,
indeed, Mr.. Benedict, though you are
greatly unlike the picture my memory
carries OF the boy who rescued me, and
whose mischief, my father said, had
maddened the animal"
eyes" said he, laughing, 81 remember
that did torment the brute. Mischief was
my pastime then, / fear. But atoned for
it. / saved you, and may tell you, Mis-
tress Faith, that never did a better thing,
and that l am well repaid by the vision l
have had of you as you sat there uncon-
scious that you were beheld."
She looked quickly at him, not with dis
pleasure, exactly, because of the compli-
ment, but because she was not used to such
sudden and frank expressions of favor.
"You will take my hand now, Mistress
Faith" said he.
eyes, but not there over the window sill.
Come in, and welcome back, Mr. Benedict" /"
She arose and went away, and an instant
later he heard the great latch in the broad
ribbed door rattling in its socket, and
there she stood revealed upon the threshold
with her hand extended for him to take.
"It amazes me-" said he when they were
within, THAT this should be my little play
mate Faith, who did once pull my hair
when l ventured to tease her."
''Surely, Mr.. Benedict, your disposition
always was to tease as | remember it,"
"And as you have heard people say" he
added quickly. 81 know / was not held in
great esteem when went away from here.
especially with your father. But he,
trust, has forgotten my mischievouSness.
and you, you, know have not regarded
me unkindly."
"Not unless you think it is unkind to
have regarded you not at ALL" said she,
with so much of mischief in her tone that
her words were plainly playful.
"'Twould be unkind if it was so, out 'tis
not. Come, mistress, you now and then
recalled the mischievous Benedict"
'Well, sometimes, when you were sug-
gested," she answered demurely
"Suggested? by what, or whOm:"
"Of course, if ever 1 saw maddened,
roaring, tearing bull, then l surely could
not forget my deliverer."
"And saw you many such:"
"One."
"Then you have thought of me but once"
"Once more, perhaps"
"When?"
"When, by chance 1 passed by the old
well in your fathers orchard"
"The old WE'LL" said he, thoughtfully.
"What was there in that that suggested
me-"
"Surely, once as you led me to it, YOU
whispered solemnly to me, and, with terror
on your face, said, as you pointed down
into it, Silence, Faith, or the servant of
the Evil One will rise and take you,' and
then you made me peep over, and really
saw the horrible suggestion of human or
fiendish form, and l ran, screaming,
away, you laughing at my terror"
81 laughed, but because of the foolishness
of it. l have no reason to fear the myste-
rious occupant. Do you 60 there now?"
"Never, since then"
"You should. The old fellows there vet.
He came up at my bidding this morning,
and he told old Nance Riggs terrible things
about me. Pll warrant if you go there he
will tell your destiny for you. l know the
ghostly servant of Satan we'll"
She looked queerly at him, for this flip
pancy seemed TO ner to justify the repute
he had left behind him when he departed
from that town to take up his residence
elsewhere. She wondered that one, even
so virile a man, could speak with trifing
upon sucn dreadful subjects. He is a
strange man as he was boy" she thought.
He fears nothing seen or unseen now, and
did not then"
Though she failed not to pay him that
tribute OF respect that daring compels, and
though she saw that he had acquired some
of the graces and mannerisms of fine
breeding, yet she feared him, and, as he
drew his seat nearer her, she withdrew,
with simple cunning that amused though
it annoyed him, until she had placed her
self behind the protection OF the great
spinning wheel. She did not like his eyes,
tAOu5A lIEO We Ull5HO5 anu WIFI us
treSs she saw she was tempted to look into
them, only to see that they hid all purpose
and thought except condescension and the
wish TO be amused by her.
Mistress Faith )" said he, 81 have been
away ten years, and. when | went You
were maid of seven or eight. Thus have
l always thought of you. So selfish and
thoug are busy men"
You were quite mau when you went,
Mr.. Benedict"
eyes, quite and Just, for 1 was but
scarcely more than that to- day. Mistress,
you should not hide your grace in this dull
town. Surely none pass day by day out
the farmers lads. You should come to
New Haven, where you may see much
gayety and the hustle of life"
Il know none there but one."
"Have you friends there:"
"Yes, one OF the scholars in the collereU %
Zone of the pale-faced lads" said he
with smile that was almost a sneer.
Mind them not, my little playmate. Such
as you are for the brave aud strong, and
you will find none such among the book
"Nathan is both brave and strong" she
said.
she was nettled. Then he asked of the old
acquaintances, and chatted of the olden
time when she was his little playmate.
Then her father entered, looking sternly
upon the stranger until Faith told him that
the young man was their old neighbor,
Benedict.
'Aud a trial for you, too, Squire" said
Mr.. Benedict. "BuE you trounced me well
,Dce."
"Aye, Benedict, you were a willful lad,
Ind many's the time did predict you'd |
come TO no good end But Won have pros-
1ered, l hear, and have become a man of |
in your community. Be juss,
ear God, and you will be man of power |
wherever YOU are. Is there to be war with |
he King?"
"Without doubt"
sand you are eager for it,"
"You will hear from me if there be war. |