Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-02-19
uas Heaven /; abe had never before fol.
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"Theres a cake in the basket, know,
and what else Turn it out, Jenny"
So under the shadow of a spreading
tree, where the grass looked soft and
dry, the three made halt, while Jenny
on her knees displayed one by one the
several dainties.
al VOW l feel peckish myself said
Peter.
Its seeing the coed things, master ;
the sight o good things has often put
me in mind of being hungry" and
Jenny laughed, while Peter, looking
down at the upturned face, thought the
girl was really pretty.
"This won't be missed" she said,
handing a cake to little Peter, "nor
this neither" and she held out a pasty
to his father.
Eyes, but where's your share ?"
ooh, I've got mine in my pocket,
and she drew out hunk of brown, dry
bread, and, beginning to repack the
basket, set it beside her.
"No. mo. Jenny, that amt fair. "
Peter had pulled the basket from her.
"Mother hadn't told Mrs. Pollard what
she was going to send her, and what the
eye don't sec the heart can't grieye
after"
"Oh, master" exclaimed Jenny,
pIunging her little teeth into the dain-
ties he handed her; doesn't it taste
nice ?"
Jenny didn't know that forbidden
fruit is said always to have a good flavor.
Not only was Mrs. Grants basket
cleared, but Jenny's bread went down
sweetly. Peter ate every crumb of it
himself, and then. being thirsty. he LETT
them to fetch some water from the little
stream they could hear babbling close
by. When he returned Jenny held up a
warning finger that he should speak
softly; the boy had fallen asleep, his
head was nestled on her shoulder; one
chubby hand held the sleeve of her gown
tightly.
Hes e pretty fellow, said the father
proudly, and then he sighed, "'Tis a
thousand pities be hasn't got no mother,
Jenny"
at is, master, she said sadly.
They're telling me that he's growing
up headstrong and self-willed, and that
on his account ought TO marry" and
he looked at Jenny questioningly.
perhaps they're right, master. 1t
might be the best thing for ye to do. "
"That's what's taking me to Mrs.
PolIards. It's been hard matter,
though. 1 could hardly screw my
courage up to GO
"For why ?" said Jenny, amazedly.
Peter felt it did not become him to
speak Of the woman he intended asking
to be his wife in any disparaging way.
"Oh, well How do 1 know that
she'll have me? As likely as not she'll
say No"
Jenny shook her head.
"NOt she, master"
"But it's very little that I've got to
offer"
Little what, yourself and Peter "
and the astonished eyes of Jenny
dropped, to fix themselves on the sleep
ing treasure.
"You think, then, that would be
enough to make a woman happy, Jen-
n.y."
"Shed be hard to please if it didn't,
master
Peter was silent for a moment. The
midday sun flooded all around, the trees
waved their branches gently, the bah
bling Of the little stream sounded like a
song.
III thought so" began Peter, 81
might ask to marry me somebody who
is younger-somebody | know that Is
about your age, Jenny.
"Yes, would YOU said Jenny, in
terested in the matter.
Surprising, now, that anybody
like me, say-was TO ask-well, was TO
ask you, Jenny, would you give him
/ Yes or No for an answer
"Oh. master 1 should give him
/ Yes. " cried innocent Jenny.
"Then will you give that Yes to me,
/ JENNY" and Peter stretched ont his
arm to put it round her But already
Jenny had sprung to her feet there was
a panied look in her face, her eyes were
filled with tears.
"Take him." she said, holding out
( little Peter, and the dignity of her man
ner more than her words told how
wounded she felt at the thought that he
was trihing with her. a minute before
and Peter would have said that he had
drifted into the offer he had made, but
now his heart leaped up, the spark had
fallen, the flame burst out, and he knew
he loved her.
Jenny he said, and as he spoke
unconsci0usly he drew nearer. "Who
gave me courage to ask young girl to
be my wife?
Jenny trembled.
81 will wake the boy. Peter" he
said Peter, my little son, beg of Jen-
nv to let You call her mother"
The child, newly awakened, stretched
out his soft rounded arms, and the next
moment they all three were clasped to-
gether
A long time went by before sense and
reason seemed restored to them, and then
/ Peter had most to say. Jenny was like
one in a dream at the good fortune which
had come to her. By turns she laughed
and cried, would look shyly at the father,
and then devour with kisses little Peter.
Their steps turned homeward ; the mood
of each became more sober. The farm
in sight, Jenny stopped.
"What is it ?" said Peter.
"Oh, master think it over what You
have said to me. Pm afraid the old
missis will be very angry"
"You mustn't mind it if she is, Jenny.
I shall stand by you, and you must stand
by me we are both pledged to little
Peter"
Jenny smiled through her tears.
Last night, she said, after l had
cried myself to sleep, remember now
l had dream. Somebody, thought,
came to me dressed all in white, and put
into my arms little Peter"
Jenny" said Peter solemnly, "tha'
was no dream. She you saw was an
angel-my dead wife, Milly." l prayed
that she'd help me choose a mother fol
her boy, and she has chose you
ooh, master can it be so
"Yes, 1 feel sure" said Peter conf
IDENTITY, "for never since God took hel
from me have 1 felt so happy. Come
Peter come, my son-one hand Il