The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-04-23
EARLE I'll, TUIRD-

THE VIPER AND TIE COUNTRYMAN.
Patience Black,horn went halfway
TO the village to meet her lover on his
way back from EuuchcStrr. The we'd
ding bells wern already singing in her
heart. No; whatever father and neigh
bOrS nigh. say, >he could not believe
that ne er-iio- well Dick was really bad,
when all the world was so good and so
gay. And how good above all things
and creatures was her own husband
that was to BE-! How true and thought
full and strong he was what a rock to
lean upon and what an anchoc to mold
by. What 4 good wife she would be TO
HIM; if she did not love him So much,
the burden of gratitude he had laid
upon her would be all too great to bear.
But Love knows nothing of debt; he
cannot be even grateful, he is SO al in
all when he IS t'iiy true.
What made him so late? Once she
thought she saw him in the stance,
and took ont her handkerchief to wave
Bus, she WAS a trific short sighted, and
presently perceived that she mad mis-
taken a has and Il cat for the man; md
the wcarer I rcsently turned out OF the
path towards Legs Croft by WAY of the
church. and struck of towards the
crossroads by the Half Moon. I'm
afraid he thinks me 4 Little cold
thought she. But never mind that
he shalt not think so forever" Bat at
last she had gone 50 far that her eager
ness To meet MIN would seem a little
too warm and eager, MI 1t once. SO
she sat upon 4 st!:e and waited there.
thinking happily. while the rocks cawed
home. and listening 10 the Shcc bell
tinlling far away. But : il be did not
come. And at last she could only de-
eide that his buying5 must have kept
him in Hunche ,ter. and that he WAS not
coming home nj all before morning. l.
wa, disappointment. Tor she had gone
forth so full of love and JOY. But still.
men must be men. and have their work
that makes small women jealous and
large women helpful and wise. Pa
tience Blackthorn, though small. was
one of the large.
She fully expected. however, to sec
him turn up for breakfas,, and prepared
special provision for man hun CRY with
an Up-and-down-hiil walk from HUI
chester to LeyS Croft. When she did
not come she looked Tor message pres
emily: and when that did come then for
a surprise and ! S;artc. She would be
going about the place and would ght
upon INN hard At work. rs il nothing
had happened; and then there IN GIT Ice
sham iallmg-cut. for the sake OF what
would follow. Then. when he d,d not
come to dinner. SIC began 20 fear that
he had sent me sSage bv some chance
idlcr, who had loSt ii b. the way For
she had a head on her shoulders. and
never jumped to uncomfortable conc:u-
sions un.c 5 compelled. Besides. Ste-
phen was Stephen: there could be
nothing really wrong. or without good
cause. No doubt he had sent that
message, and no dou5t would outStri2
his errand-boy.
Nevertheless, she would not 90 down
the road TO meet him, just to-day. She
did not like to seem running after him;
and he must stand his trial for neg;i-
gence. even though he was acquitted |
beforehand. And it was perfectly easy
to Keep her resolution until the days
work was done and the first occasion !
for breaking it had arrived. So, as
she would break it. she struck CON-
promise. She would so along the path