The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1886-01-23


the Dunkard Meeting. More than one
Young fellow in the county was a sutton
for her hand, and it was not long ere
they grew jealous of the stranger who,
received almost as a son by her friends,
was also regarded with evident favor by
herself
That he should fall in love with her
was foregone conclusion, but there
was nothing to indicate that he did so.
He gave way humbly to others always,
and though her lightest word was law
to him, was at her side only when she
had need of or called him.
1t was at an apple-paring after work
was over and play had begun, that he
overheard an angry outburst from a
jealous admirer of Lois.
Thar amt no use hangin' roun
Lois Hnckle, said he. ''I'm agwine
to quit it for one. She ain't got a
word fur anybody else when that thar
fellow White is roun'.'
"Who is he, anyhow asked the
person to whom he spoke, a stranger
who was visiting Lutheran family in
the neighborhood, and thus CHANGED
to be at the gathering.
''That's what nobody knows. He
war soldier onct, and they foun' him
most dead at thar do one night. He
got well, and he is mighty pious now.
The old folks think a heap Of him.
And SO he is to marry the daugh-
ter?' asked the other.
Il dunno, muttercd the the first
speaker, ''but 1t looks mighty like it,
Lois, said White the next morning,
when he brought her the trimming pals
of milk, ''it seems well to me that
should go away from here.
She lifted her startled blue eyes to
his.
$50 away she repeated. What
for?'
Because, because he stammered,
| am too happy here. | will go West,
where there is harder work to do.
"Do you 7,ant to go?' she asked,
innocently.
WANT to go" he echod, bitterly.
docs one wish to leave heaven? All,
Lois, if you knew how it tears my heart
to leave you-' and then he stopped
having said the very thing which he had
meant to leave forever unsaid.
Then stay she whispered softly,
why do you go if you love me?'
at is because l love you SO well, he
answered. Il am not worthy, Lois.
who of US is :? and now the round,
dimpled arms, barred above the elbow
for her work, were around his neck.
anthony, if you go away from me you
will break my heart
The old people gave their consent
gladly. They loved the stranger and
were willing to trust him with their
daughter. Moreover, the child loved
him and would he happy; was not that
enough? Lois sang like bird about
the house, in her new happiness, and
Anthony grew more gentle and less
grave than hitherto. at is as though
| had died and been resurrected,' he
said to himself The peace of God
which passeth understanding Thank
God Thank God ~
PART II.
Il say, Merrill, are you sure we tool
the right turning last time?
Not in the least coolly answered
Merrill, "but, my dear Dale, what doe:
it matter2 here we are, journalist in
tending to combine pleasure with profit
on a vacation tour, and an artist. Sup,
pose we are lost, what then? This patti
must lead somewhere, or, if we have tc
camp out, surely it will do us no grea
harm
Don't be too sure of that" rejoineC
the first speaker, whose restless gra,
eyes were searching the forest for {
break in its green canopy. 81 smell
thunder in the air, and summer thun
der storm in these mountains is NJ
tritling matter. But, as you wisely re
mark, this path must lead somewher,
and we had better hurry
'In luck, as usual, he added a few
minutes later, when a sudden turn o
the path around a projecting craE
brought them to the edge of the forest
Below, in green hollow, lay gra,
stone farmhouse; about it orchard
laden with ruddy fruit: behind it it
big red barns picture of peace ant
plenty.
Three children were playing on tn
green sward in front of the spring -hous'
where a woman in the quaint garb o
the Dunkards stood handling the mill
which had just been brought her from
TIE barnyard, where the sleek cattl,
Contentedly munched their evening
meal. The last rays of the setting SUI
fell broadly on the picture, and Merrill
instinctiyely opened his sketch-book
His friend checked him.
look there, he said, pointing to
black cloud over the mountain. 'W,
shall have a squat in five minutes
The words were scarcely uttered
when there came clap of thunder, re
verberating among the hills like burs
of artillery. Ere the echoes died ava,
it was followed by gust of wind an(
the first heavy drops of the comm!
shower. There was nothing for it bu
TO rl1Sh down the hillside and seek ref