The Springdale news., 1889-01-18
CHAPTER XI.
 AtAELIE

We have before remarked the unukeness of the two girls Ma@ge Wilson and Rachel Foster. While Rachel was quiet, thought full and somewhat sedate, Maggie was ex- actly the contrary Pretty, petite, good natured and full of animal spirits, she was everybody's fayorte and could count on more friends than Rachel. Yet there was not the shadow Of jealousy betwixt the two. As for Matthew Wilson, he thought as much of one as the other, and, if the truth must be told, he would probably have missed Rachel much more than Maggie. Rachel read the paper to him, when there was paper to read, filled hIs pipe for him, and had of late years kept his account books Al the same tune the Manor Farm would never have been the same place with out sauey Maggie Life in farm house is usually dull and monotonous enough, but Maggie was a little witch and transformed the house into I scene of mirth and laugh ter The very pIaWBays would sit in tue great kitchen after supper. with a broad grin en each face, fl Miss Maggie" was around directing the malds il her half earnest. half playful style She made fun out of every thing. even the parson. She would mimic his style of preaching, and Lawrence I.ovejaY, fresh from his studies and the stern rCalliCs of Lancashire life was rather shy of his, as he thought, too merry young parishouer But, as IS often the case, when a man appears reserved towards Il pretty girl and says little or nothing to her, he, ike the parrot in the story, thinks great oeaL So was il with young Parson Lovcjoy We have seen how he grew to regard Tom Wilson as brother, and ID IS short q space of time he came to love Maggie in q more than brothcrly man uer But the Rev Lawrence LoyeJoy was a man of honor. and not one word did he breathe 10 man. woman or child of his feel ings. With the Wilson's and Fosters his re lations were ofthe most friendly character. He visited the homes of both families ire quently and entertained genuine regard for George Foster No. he had lived longer than most young mon without experiencing the tender passion, and now that the tune had como he must say nothing If he should, l,e would nldcly interfere with the plans of the hitherto happy families and would per haps dash to pleees the fond hopes of a man as good as himself and well deserving a good gtr for d wife, even though that girl be Maggie Wilson Not that Hovejoy was so eEotstIcul as our friend Pcrcival He did not take 1t for granted that Maggie would marry hIm did he ask her-hc differed en- tirely from that arstacratc piece of self VI iuasmueh as, with less than half of Per civats reasons for holding back, he did hold back. preferriug to run not the slightest risk of creating trouble,
 And what about Maggiel Well, we have already remarked that only forty years ago farm life. even ia England. was very prlmt- tive Neither Rachel nor Magg7s had ever loved nor been loved as soHio women love and are woocd The old folks, Tom and George. and they ti@nseives, had settled t long ago. that apm would marry Rachel and Magfi, ,.cd George and up 10 the time that Pereital had so surprj ed both Rachel and her brother. not one of them had given 9 thsught for any other probable or im- pobable plans. So Maggie just regarded Lovejoy as a very good sort of rector, and went on with her fuu-malfng, wmle he, poor fellow. did his best to act the part Of her pastor and aotmng more
 So time passed on. Christmas came and went, and soon the time drew on when Maggie and Rachel were to be married. It was April, and the long cheerful days of the English spring had come around when it was pleasaR. te take stroll after tea. One evening found the two girls on their way te one of Mother Wilson's cd labor CTS, who was now bedrid4en 10 whom Mag gic carried, very often, basket of good things from the dairy As they walked along with the leHgthcuiue rays ot the san streaming through trees and hedges. Maggie i'll her lmpeju0us manner. burst forth Rachel, please don't De cross with me; bat don't believe love George Of course l l6e hlm ever so much In fact I don know that there IS any other man cx- cept father and Tom that like as well. | think l like them all about alike When l was little girl 1 didn't think much about such things. but now that am nearly woman i seems to me that l ought to love George great deal more ihan do if am to " hm '
 Why you little goose replied Rachel, whatever are you thinking of, to talk like this almost al the last minute Why, what wlll George say if you talk to him in such manner. Of course you love him quite enough 10 make him a good wife. We plain farmers daughters are not supposed nor expected to love as the girls in the plays and story-books l think you care as much for George as do for Tom. and I don't doubt but we shall come up to their ex- pectations of wives. We can both cook, sew aud nurse pretty well, and pray what more does a farmer need Tn his wife, You foolish girl, think no more about story book loven
 Very well, Rachel you can say what you like and make fun of me if you wish but intend to take the bull by the horns and talk to George himself about it. I've lain awake nights sometimes thinking of what I've told you, and, anyhow, III not marry George without first letting him know ex- aetly what my ideas are,n