Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-02-11
Gales aud Sketehes.
THE MAN FROM NOD.
from yesterday. }

/ Janet had indeed answ cred his question
with honesty, but she was too much of the
woman to confess that when the argument
began to take shape between them some
weeks ago, her position had been assumed
for that arguments sake. But by dint of
much repetition, and the searching of all
the hooks and corners OF her heart for
pleas in support of her theory, she had
unconsciously become her own first and
most steadfast convert. and burned with
all the zeal of the martyrs of old.
Had she known-had she dreamed for
moment-of the love that had sprung up
in the heart of the stranger, and that he
was only hiding it until such time as con-
fession should be the most certain to win
success, not all the eloquence and all
challenges that his lips could utter would
have led her to promulgate or defend the
faith to which she had given her disciple
ship.
She knew it all week later. For the
first time in his life, he called her by the
name her mother had given her. But as
she looked up with t1ush in which there
was no touch of anger, he took her hand,
and, turning toward the western sky, said
gently:
Janet, there may be glory and there
may be storm behind the bank OF clouds.
God sends His burdens and gifts as he
chooses. and we must take them as they
come, | have had my share of each in
the years behind me. had thought the
way was plain ahead-that l was APP
preaching the summit of the hill, and in a
few years would begin to 60 down on the
other side; a new. a sudden, a blessed
| light has shone into my heart, and bless
the road that led me here l love you,
Janet, will you be my wite?"
it came with the lightning stroke of an
absolute, binding surprise.
Though, in looking once. she might
have seen it in his eyes, she might have
heard it in his voice and felt it in his pres
ence, she had been blind and deaf, and
had not understood.
| | will not chronicle the answer she gave
him. There are some things SO simple in
their honesty, and yet SO sacred that they
cannot be written. She opened her heart
to him, and laid it bare in his presence
and AS he heard the tale of sweet and
lonely life, the tears stood in his eyes. and
he was better man and nobler man in
that hour than he had been in all his life
before.
She made one condition. 1t was simple
but from it no eloquence and no entreaty
could move her.
You must leave me tor three months
In that time do not see me. If you find
that you have misread your heart shall
know it and hold you in no blame, and
you will rot come back to me. If | see
you here when the day of Punishment has
ended, you will have my answer
When the clerk, the schoomaster. and
the superintendent Of tanners came te
breakfast the following morning, one chail
was vacant, and all the answer Miss Den
ny could give had no consolation in it-fol
they had come 10 like the fellow, and tc
defend him stoutly against the insnuations
of baf1led curiosity.
"IIe babe me good by last night" she
said, land left on top OF the coach al
dawn. He did not tell where he was 90.
ing, and he may never come back.
And then wave of speculation swept
over the village for nine days, and was
still.