The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-05-19

] could cooped up In that stupid Darn VI
meeting house.
| fixed the ride for that night to SHOW
Mercy Avery the power she had over liar
mon Page
We'll. the party started from Amity-
Vile long about five o'clock. They were
ali in a big two horse load. except Viz
ginia and Harmon.
she had arranged for them to go ahead
| IN his cutter alone and I'll admit they
were splendid looking couple-he with
| his fine eyes and teeth. and she in rich
crimson hood that set of her dark beauty
to perfection.
'Our route-for | was one Of the party
lay straight up the hill toward Deacon
Avcry's Just as we turned into 1t who
| should W.. meet but the deacon and Mercy.
They we're late. for the meeting was
alus appointed for early candle lightiAg
but Mercy had probably waited awhile for
Harmon. who for year back. had taken
her to Thursday meeting as regular as the
day come round.
'She sat up straight and queenly. be.
side her father, as they passed and seemed
not to hear the malicious sally Virginia
called out to her
I'VE. in the back team, were near
enough to catch the scornful glance she
threw from those deep eyes, gray a. steel
that night.
"hs for Harmon, he turned white TO
the lips. and for mile hardly answered
the banter that Virginia kept up. After
that he seemed to grow perfectly reckless.
laughed and ioked louder than any of the
rest. and was so careless that he drove on
stone wall; and We. following, were all
upset in heap together. and had hard
work TO get tied up so as TO make our
way home toward morning. more dead
than alive
1T was a sorry day for Harmon Page
lie was waited upon by church com
mttee headed 10y Deacon Avery, who de.
nounced his whole conduct toward Mercy
rs unchristan and highly inconsistent in
"A church member
He didn't have much to say for him
self. and they churched him on the spot.
he was pretty down In the mouth, but
kept up some hope till he saw Mercy
Avery.
He had refused to see Virginia Wake,
and that night he went up the familiar
hill to Deacon Averys stone house.
Mercy herself came to the door, calm
and self possessed, as il nothing had hap
pencd, and showed him into the sitting
room There was steady light in her
gray eyes. though. that made Harmon
trembIe, and. without beating about the
bush bit, he came right to the point
and asked if all might be forgiven and
forgotten and they become as good friends
as before lie worked himself into pas
sion. cried and took on like a child they
said
"But. lawl il didn't move her an atom
She had the genuine old Avery grit, il
she was mild hammered, aud she told him
that. as long as the church had put him
out. she, of course, couldn't take him
back.
He pleaded and entreated until It.,
o'clock at night, late hour iii them days,
but it didn't make mite of difference.
She wouldn't overlook what the church
had considered Il gross breach Of faith.
lie went out crushed man, and from
that time his spirit seemed TO leave him
utterly"
And what about Virginia Wake?'
interrupted unconsciously cutting my
finger in my eager interest.
"Oh. after the girl had done all the
mischief possible, public opinion toward
her changed main quick, and she left
town in few days, and was never heard
from in these parts again.
And Harmon Page; what became Of
HIM"
He never got over the shock He be
came silent and melancholy, and finally
had TO be taken to the retreat. He grew
worse, and the sight of handsome woman
with red checks and black curls would
always throw him into his most violent
tantrums He died in the asylum at last
Nov, | think that was real mean, said
|. wrathfully winding cotton around my
bleeding thumb. If Mercy Avery hadn't
turned him off his life might not have
ended so sadly think she ought to have
taken him back. "
"Ah, haw said Grandpa West. quizzi
cally do you mean THAR"
Certainly, said |. with dignity. why
shouldn't II
"Oh, nothing" he replied; "only If she
had Harmon Page would have been your
grandfather instead o! me.
MY grandfather-why. then, said in
some confusion, Marcy Avery must
boz
Mercy West your grandmother, SAID
grandpa, chucking me under the chin.
Confess now that 'all's well that ends
we'll"
Il suppose so" said l reluctantly
New England Magazine