The Penn's Grove record., 1888-04-07

" o SeS AbohS SNOou
beside her, a girl in a white sun bonnet
and a black gingham gown, a girl I'M
mistakably erect and trim. The pink
and white bonnets confronted each
other. Two kindly dim eyes peered
out from the one, two sorrowful dark
ones from the other. Mrs. Pease had
turned with anger in her heart, when
she saw the girls pale cheeks and al.
tered look, she softened.
"Why, Abby, child, for the lands
sake, where did you drop fromP"
81 come down to pick berries for
tea"
"How's your mother?:" and the good
woman put On her spectacles for a
closer lcok at her companion.
She's tolerably WE'LL" said Abby
Ettlessly.
Father wellp" continued Mrs.
Pease, regarding the girl sharply.
Pretty WE'LL"
"And how are you, child? Seems to
me you amt a-lookln' very peart."
'I'm all right" said Miss Swift
promptly. "Huckleberries plenty this
year." she added.
"Orrin amt right well Jest now,"
said the old lady after a pause.
The girls hand trembled; half the
berries she held fell on the ground.
"What's the matter with himP" she
said in a low voice. 81 haih't seen him
lately" she added, d~efiantly.
mo. / know you hain't," said Mrs.
Pease with decision. Whose fault
is't?"
"'Tain't NINE" said Abby, twitch-
ing a bush toward her.
"Taln't his l know for certain"
said the mother, rattling her tin pail.
lies the most sot In his feelings OF
anybody l ever see. There amt no
change in him. The gal that gets Or
rim Pease ill get a dreadful good hus-
band. And the gal that trifes with
him ill live to repent it. He amt one
to be took of an on like an old shoe,
l car tell you, Abby Swift: and the
time may come when he can't be got
back noways."
"Who wants him backp" cried
Abby. her face in a blaze. Mot I, for
one," and she burst into tears. Be-
tween her sobs she managed to say,
"YOu think-he ain't-the-trihin'-
kind. l know-better. He's been-a
keepln' company with me-aud ail-the
time -he-cares-for- another-girI.
He's goods said-sol"
Land o. Goshenl' exclaimed Mrs,
Peace, nearly dropping her pail. ~
hain't never heard of no such girl.
What be you a-thinkin' Of, Abby
Swift? it's you, and nobody else, he's
been a.follerin' after these two years.
Eff ever a man was dead sot on havin'
a gal, and that gal you, it's my Orrin.
Why, he'll smile Jest to see your pas
old white horse acomin' down the
road-he's fairly tickled to death to see
that critter ambling along. There.
child, for the lands sake don't get no
such foolish notion in your head. Only
be good to him beg and pray of We
to be good to him. He's dreadful
tender-hearted and faithful, .Orrin is,"
and the old lady put her worn, thin
and on the girls shoulder, and looked
at her beseechIngly.
With a cry Abby flung her arms
around her neck and kissed her.
Good to himl'' she said brokenly.
90 Lord, good to him!'' aud then she
turned and fed as fast as she could 60.
At 6 O'Clock the huckleberry short
cake lay smoking, and literally sprink-
led with sugar, on Mrs. Pease's tea
table. Orrin helped his mother to a
large slice. AS he handed 1t to her she
said:
81 picked them berries over in Daa-
con Swift's pasture, Abby wa there
a-pickin' too"
Orrin looked up sharply. "Was
she?" he said.
"She looks dreadful peaked" de-
claied his mother.
"Sick, mOtherp"
Eyes, real sick. I don't know, Or.
rim, why she thinks so, but she's got an
idea that there's another girl you're
a-keepin' company with. / done my
best to prove to her there warn't. /
think likely you'd better kind o. ex-
plain to her yourself"
"Another grill" cried Orrin frown-
ing. 30 motherl"
" to the Center. 'Taint best to let
such things spite your appetite"
save my supper, mother. Pm off
now"
"But, Orrin, a leetle more short
cake, do. Bless my heart, how dread
full foolish young folks isl"
The Swifts were all at the table, the
deacon, his wife, Abby. her brother and
the hired They looked up sur
prised when Orrin knocked. There
was no bouquet In his hand this time
as he waited in the dim. close parlor.
AS Abby came in slowly he met her, a
determined look On his face.
"Get your hat and take a walk with
me-" he said, gently. ye. so firmly that
she eve thought OF d~isobeying. With
out another word they left the house,
walked down the silent street past the
few shut up houses, and out to where
there was space and solitude. Then he
stopped and looked at her gravely.
"Tell me-" he said, 'did you think
l ever cared for anyone but your"
Her face droeped before his gaze. At
last she nodded sadly.
"For Heavens sake, whop" he de-
manded.
Emma janet" came the answe
There vas a moments silence between
them.
30 Abby" he cried, "come and see
Emma Jane with me. Come now,"
The girl shrank away.
mo, no. she faltered. 81 couldn't.
AOu WCak hCi hOWcAs. 4Ou tuluh
they're too fine for me. YOU"
Eyes. 1 do love her flowers. I'll
show you why l love them. Come"
and he drew her hand through his arm
and he held it there.
Still she resisted him. lie stopped
short, clasping her reluctant hand
firmly, and SAID in a voice that shook.
~ swear to you, my love. I've
never cared for any girl but you, only
just you, abby"
"Then why-p"
"Come, trust me, and I'll show you
why"
They walked along through the soft
evening light. The hills lay bathed in
sunset splendor; above them shone a
strip of palest amber sky. Everything
seemed strangely hushed and peaceful.
Even the village graveyard wore a
sweet, restful aspect as they passed
through its gateway. Over the quiet
steamers the grass waved paDtly- field