Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1888-04-11

was 1ulnAiuKf Win a pang. now Late ne
was; then fear flashed over her-per-
haps he might not come at ALI Sud
denly her heart leapei; a dimness
with one hand, that beating In her
breast He was comingl All, she
would know him among ten thousand,
with his broad shoulders, and his
springtng step. She leaned against the
window frame, and watched him with
kindling eyes
When he opened the gate she was in
the kitchen; by the time be reached the
door she had gained the woodshed.
Deacon Swift answered his knock.
Good evenin'." he said politely.
Good evenin'," said Orrln. sis
Abby at homer"
'Guess likely. Step in" And the
Deacon opened the parlor door inyit-
ingly.
Orrin walked In over the rag-car-
peted "entry" into the dark and sacred
best room" An indescribable odor,
musty, herby. close, pervaded it, an
odor peculiar to New England village
parlors- The haircloth chairs and sofa
stood stlffiy on the red and yellow in
grain covering OF the floor; the marble
topped centre table bore a lamp and a
few cherished books; the mantelpiece
was loaded with shells, daguerreotypes
and wax flowers y row OF family
photographs and a wedding certificate
In black walnut frame adorned the
walls, and green paper shades covered
the windows. The deacon tied up one
OF them, saying:
The wimmen folks hain't ben in
here lately, guess, to iedge from ap-
pearances-" Then he went into the
passage and called.
"Abbyl Abbyl'
Abby appeared, dsmure and calm.
Good evenin', OrTin," she said;
mice evenIn'."
"Yes. 1 walked over. seein' twas
so pleasant. I've brought you some
flowers, Abby"
80, aIn't they pretty. Your mother
does have the handsomest flowers of
any one 1 know" she said so admir-
ingly that her lover blushed with pleas
ure.
"I'm glad you like 'em. Abby
"How Is your mother?'' she next
asked HIM. as she put her bouquet In a
china vase painted with red and yellow
roses.
''She's welI,'' he replied, watching
her lift the vase TO its place on the
whatnot.
uAl , LOO ucdNl IOE you, ne CIlcu.
jumping up aud trying to help her.
They stood close together. He could
see the flush deepening on ber soft
cheeks; he could almost touch the little
ring OF hair about her pretty ear; how
long her eyelashes werel They both
held the vase. Above the flowers he
gaZed at her.
abby, look up" :" he whispered.
a tremulous smile lowered about her
red lips, she bit them angrily, and turn
ed her head away.
ABBY, dear, look at me-" And he
put one hand over hers as ii rested on
the gay china Sne tore 1t away. His
grasp on the vase looSened; down it
fell. dashing TO a hundred pieces on the
floor. He was kneeling in moment
picking them up, and she was beside
him. They gathered all silently, and
laid them on the table
Then they looked at each other. HIS
eyes were full of mischief. Hers brim-
ming with tears-the shock, the reac-
ton, something, she knew not what,
had brought them there.
Instantly his arm was around her.
He said some inarticulate words; then !
hissed her gently on her forehead, !
where the pretty locks were parted
AOA AoOy NANh "NoA a O-AA-
Don't cry" he whispered. "I'u |
BUY you a dozen china vases. I'D give |
you all the world, Abby, If L could"
The tears were rolling fast down her /
round cheeks now.
"Will you come and live IN the little |
house with me, Abby VIII you be I
nv wife2 Say, Abby, will your"
AS he stopped to hear her answer the |
white flower IN his coat fell out. 1t |
smote the girls heart, then dropped to |
the carpet. She stopped and lifted IL |
without a word, raised her shy, happy |
eyes to his, then kissed the little bios |
som tenderly.
..Oh, don't, Abby, don't do that. |
Twas Emma James you see. Some
how don't like you to-I-"
Emma Jane'sl'' she said slowly, |
with the radiance dying from her eyes.
Eyes, think a heap OF it for her 1
sake, you know; but
And at this moment Mrs. Swift |
walked In with civil greetings
GOOD evenin', Ocrin. All well to
your house, L Eopep"
He went home slowly with a puzzled
upon his manly face. al
could "a swore she almost took me,''
was his thought. What was it chang
ing her so all in a minute? What could |
it "a been?"
The summer glowed and deepened. |
1t reached It's heIght-then waned.
The birds carolIed madly In the elm
trees-by August they had changed
their song. The crickets piped with
ominous distinctness through the long
hot afternoons. The locust uttered its
heartless shriIl cry from the stone wall
and hedge. a 5 nse of sadness and OF
C lange lay on the hills and pastures.
In Orrin's heart, winter had come
already. His mother now had no need
to complain OF his leaving her alone.
He was more silent than ever; and she
wondered and asked no questions. She
tried to cheer him up In every way she
knew. She made as many different
kinds of pies as possible-lemon, Gust
ard, berry and apple She even con-
cocted an imitation mince turnover
knowing his fondness for the real thlng
but il was useless. He tasted them ali
with An absent look in his blue eyes,
pushed away his plate and sighed:
s'It does beat all, ~ she concluded.
.sI,ye done NV best. Doughnuts won't
rouse him up, and blackberry puddln'
hain't no effect. Ill try huckleberry
She put on pink calico sunoonnet,
hung a two-uuart tin pail over her arm,
and started tor the berry pasture.
III go TO Deacon Swnts patcn
frat - sh. decided. "The best and
sweetest always grow there"
In the field the sun lay warm on
sweet fern and on vines. a scent, born
of rIpening fruit, and wildwood green
things baskIng in the warmth, nuea
all the air. The apple trees stood eacn
in little ''pooi OF shade" Inc sum
mer's spicy breeze swept over weeds
and grasses with a laneuid sign OF
pleasure. Mrs. Pease bent over tue
loaded bushes, patient. homeiy figure;
The hard, black huckleberries rattie9
like hall into the tin receptacle, anu
while her fingers moved, she thougnL