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

"NA pOuA ~ NV kiOhb NNth SySSs ~N
was thinking, with a pang, how late he
was; then a fear flashed over her-per.
haps he might not come at ALL Sud
denly her heart leapei; a dimness
clouded her sight. She tried to still,
with One hand, that beating In her
breast. lie was comingl Ah, she
would know him among ten thousand,
with his broad shoulders, and his
springing 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 he reached the
door she had gained the woodshed.
Deacon Swift answered his knock.
Good evenin'." he said politely.
Good e~venln'," said Orrin. SIS
Abby at homer"
"Guess likely. Step in" And the
Deacon opened the parl0r door invit-
ingly.
Orrin walked in over the rag-car-
peted ''entry" into the dark and sacred
hest ROOM" An indescribable odor,
musty, herby. close, pervaded it. an
odor peculiar to New England village
paTlors. The haircloth chairs and sofa
stood stlffly 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. a row of family
photographs and a wedding certificate
In a black walnut frame adorned the
walls, and green paper shades covered
tho Uinhnpuo Tho Hnaann fiad nm Aon
of them, saying:
''The wimmen folks hain't ben in
here lately. l guess, to jedge from ap-
pearances." Then he went into the
passage and called.
"Abbyl Abbyl'
Abby appeared, domure and calm.
Good evenin', Orrin," she said;
mice evenin'."
Eyes. l walked over. SEEM twas
so pleasant. I've brought you some
flowers, Abby"
80, aln't they pretty. Your mother
does have the handsomest flowers of
any n l know" she said 80 admir-
ingly that her lover blushed with pleas.
ure.
"I'm glad you like 'em, Abby"
1io" Ia yOuI u1OltiCl blo ucAl
asked him, as she put her bouquet II a
china vast painted with red and yellow
roses.
"She's WE'LL" he replied, watching
her lift the vase to its place on the
whatnot.
THAT'S too heavy for you,' he cried,
jumping up and trying to help her.
They stlod close together. He could
see the flush deepening on her soft
cheeks; he could almost touch the little
ring of hair about her pretty ear; how
long her e~yelashes 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 1t rested on
the gay china. she tore 1t away. His
grasp on the vase loosened; down it
fell. dashing to a hundred pieces on the
floor. He was kneeling in a 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
Kissed her gently on her forehead,
where the pretty locks were parted
Tor Abby didn't wear a bang.
Don't cry" he whispered. "I'll
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.
xviii you come and live In the little
house with me, Abby Will you be
my wife2 Say, Abby, will your"
AS he stopped to hear her answer the
white flower iii his coat fell out. 1t
smote the girls heart, then dropped to
the carpet. She stopped and lifted 1t
without a word, raised her shy, happy
eyes to his, then kissed the little bios
som tenderIy.
"Oh, don't, Abby, don't do that.
Twas Emma James you see, Some.
how 1 don't like you t0-I-"
emma Jane's!" she said slowly,
with the radiance dying from her eyes.
eyes, l think a heap OF it for her
sake, you know; but
And at this moment Mrs. Swift
walked IN with civil greetings.
GOOD evenin', Orrin. All well to
your house, l hope?"
He went home slowly with a puzzled
expression upon his manly face. 81
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 Its beight-then waned.
The birds carolled madly 1 n the elm
trees-by August they had changed
their song. The crickets piped with
ominous d~istinctness through the long
hot afternoons. The locust uttered its
heartless shrill cry from the stone wall
and hedge. A S. nse of sadness and of
clange 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 thing
but it was useless. He tasted them ali
with an absent look in his blue eyes,
pushed away his plate and sighed.
SIT does beat ALL" she concluded.
"I've done my best. Doughnuts won't
rouse him up, and blackberry puddin'
hain't no effect. I'll try a huckleberry
shortcake."
She put on a pink calico sunbonnet,
hung a two-quart tin pail over her arm,
and started for the berry pasture.
"I1l go to Deacon Swift's patch
first" she decided. "The best and
sweetest always grow there"
In the field the sun lay warm on
sweet fern and on vlnes. A scent, born
of rIpening fruit, and wildwood green
things baskIng in the warmth, filed
all the air. The apple trees stood each
in a little ''pool of shade" The sum