Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1885-03-19


twice | heard voices" And the OLE
woman looked suspiciously at her.
David Price was there" said the
gill, quietly.
"David Price was there, was he ?''
echoed the shrill voice. "Well, il Da
vid Price wants to see ye he'd better
come to yer fathers house. In my day
young men dida't expect CELLS to 90
philanderin' 'cross lots to meet 'em f;
and shall tell him so the next time he
comes here"
HE won't come again." Lois an
swered (oh, with what heavy heart y
"He's going away"
"Where's he goin' now ?" demand.
ed Grandma Dunn, as though the
young mans life had been one round
of travel, whereas he had never been
forty miles from his native town.
"Out to his Uncle Micah's in Ohio.
His uncle is going to take him into
business" answered Lois.
"Hum I" said grandma Dunn "'a
rollin' stun gethers no moss.'" Then
with a thought of her own comfort {:
"Are We ever goin' to set the table ?
I'm jest a ,famishin' for my supper"
Joshua Dunn, coming in just then,
looked from his mother to his daughter
and said, in his grave way "Seems to
me, Lois, you might look after your
grandmother little closer"
Poor Lois She had the feelings, so
common to all of US. that the conscious
acceptance of q burden must somehow
tighten it, and the secret self,sacriflce
must in some mysterious way be felt
and appreciated /; but here ia the first
hour of her cross bearing had come not
praise, but blame.
She made no answer her face flush
ed, then paled, and with close-shut
lips she walked quickly from the room.
"Joshuay," quavered Grandma
Dunn, rye ought to take that CELL In
hand. She's gettin' more high-headed
ey'ry day. She's goin' to be the very
pattern of her mother"
There, there, mother ~ answered
the farmer. "Let the girl alone. She's
we'll enough {; and the more she grows
like her mother the better it'll please
me-" For Joshua Dunn held in very
tender remembrance the young wife
who hal given her life for her baby's.
Lois did not come down to supper,
but when her father brought in the
milk she came and took care of ir in
her deft, quiet way.
He stood and watched her, his one
ewe-lamb, his morherless child. How
dear she was to him, from her shining
brown head to her willing feet
He was a man OF few caresses, but by
and by he went over to her and laid
his rough hand gently on her head, and
said Fathers good little girl"
Then, as though frightened at this un-
wonted exhibition of affection, he gath.
cred the milk-pails together and hur-
ried out.
The touch and the words eased the
heart-ache little, but that night, lying
with wide wakeful eyes fixed on the
square of moonlight on the floor, Lois
said over and over, "The Dunns live to
be ninety" "The Dunns live to be
ninety" And she was only twenty.
How could she bear this for seventy
years ?
But nature is kind to the young, and
Lois had forgotten her trouble long be.
fore another pair of eyes closed in the
old farm house.
Joshua Dunn pondered long and sor-
rowfully. He had not been father and
mother both for twenty years without
having his perceptions sharpeued where
his child was concerned, and remem-
bering Dayid Prices frequent visits,
and certain loiterings in the old porch,
and sundry tender glances, it was not
difficult to connect Lois sober face
with the young mans going away.
In his inmost heart he was thankful
that he was not called upon to give her
up; but something must be done to
cheer her. II only her mother were a.
live But he must do his best alone.
She should have some new dresses
she must have young company he
would take her up to the village often
er. But alas for the tender planning !
The next time Joshua Dunn went to
the village he was carried there and
laid beside his young wife.
It had happened very suddenly. He
had gone out to the barn in the morn
ing, and, not coming in to breakfast,
Lois had gone in search of him, and
found him Lying under the feet of
horse he had lately bought, the good,
kind face trampled out OF recognition.
Well, we can live through a great
deal, and after the first bewilderment
was over Lois took up her old duties a.