The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-02-15
Over him, mother, and less = II hen want

And In his few spare half hours John
was invtted into the sitting room, and
presently Il anything was wanted by the
home people Il was to John they went in
steed Of 70 The busy husband and father,
md s waetaket for granted that on Sum
days A should have : seat in the family
peW. And thus one year passed and an
cther; ana the third year found John Dean
keeping Mr. Siblcy's books and his bank
account, collecting his moneys, making his
payments, going and coming between the
lumber camps, engaging and paying on
the men-in short, the trusted and faith
ful intimate Of his business, always firm
and gentle and obliging. Mr.. Sibley used
to say il was ~ good as an open fire and
mug Of cider 70 see Johns face on .
gloomy evening; and there was many z
no less and looked shyly askance at his
face, once % bleached, and now with
healthy tan and rudy color beneath the
whose bright laugh was not hid by the
tawny shadow Of the recent mustache;
at the sparkle Of his happy eyes, at his
shapely shoulders and his easy Bearing.
But of late this cheeriness of Johns that
Mr.. Sibley liked was going under . cloud.
Mr.. Sibley thought he must be tired, and
was for giving him 4 vacation. Mrs, Sib-
icy thou&b ne uust % III, nHu Was iOL
dosing him with herbs. Annie Sibley, if
she thought anything about it., only
showed her thought by a heightened color
on her cheek and brighter star in her
eye when his name was mentioned, or
when she saw him coming up the garden
walk.
Certainly an unknown young fellow who
had found place almost without asking
for it, had been taken into his masters
mt md INT far mi nd 0A
every reason 70 think his future secure and
fortunate. ought to have worn q gayer face
than John Dean was wearing now. 1t is
true his good nature was continually the
same on requirement, but gradually all
jests and quips and drolling, as Mrs. Sihlcy
called 1T, had ceased, and he went about
his work pale and preoccupicd and silent,
and Sundays he strayed off over the fields,
instead Of listening to little Annie singing
in the choir or walking home with her, as
he had been used to do. Perhaps it did
not occur to him that any one might be
troubled by this; perhaps he was not
aware Of it himself; he certainly did not
see the paling of the bloom on Annie's
But Mrs. Sibley did, and it smote her
heart to see the girls eyes fol-
low John and fall again, she taks
ing shame to herself that they did,
to see the unconscious pretty ways in
which she tried to win him out Of his
gloom. :. She might do worse,n said Mr..
it. as good wife should. He's . likely
fellow. I'm going to raise his salary the
first of the year. And he'll be rich man
'But--father-you-y wouldn't be
willing to let the first conner have hcr-and
n he; =; you may say a sort of-of-hired
L.
Sibley, who didn't allow swearing. "he's
my confidential man of business!
But we don't even know where he
came from!
"Steady as clock. faithful as . dial.
There's some out about him somewhere, Of
course, but can't lind it. Perhaps that's
1t. guess we can find out where he came
from. I'll ssk him. / don't never want
ter know, though, mite more'n / know
about him. Always under our eye, an
this the third year. What's she pale
aboutf Does she think / would't like it
You tell her / say she might go further
and fare worse!"
ooh. father. couldn't speak to her
aWell, then. you turn over an 90 ter
sleep an let the Lord take care of it. Wen
see two young folks Amazing love I
don't believe can improve on natur."
Perhaps the mother had some of the
same reverence for Annie in her sweet in
nocence that John himself had, as she
watched her going about her simple duties
and pleasures like something just above
the earth but not on it. Every one in the
port had touch of this same feeling about
Annie Sibley-the old woman to whom
she gave an arm on the street, the little
child whose hurt she soothed, the sick
girl with whom she watched. Even the
sailors in her fathers lumber schooners
counted it luck if they saw her sweet face
before sailing, as other people do when
they see the moon over their right
shoulder. She had the gentle word, the
gentle deed. for all people, the tender judg-
ment, the unfailing pity:
"Annie Sibley," said old Peachblow,
yoicing the sentiment Of all the commun-
ity, shes as nigh perfect as they make
EN-"
It would have been no wonder, then, had
despair fallen on John Dean when he
found that he, too, was under the spell,
and that he would rather be condemned
for life to the solitary cell with bread and
water than pass that life without her.
And what was he that he should dare
Al he sat there on the doorstep his head
fell forward on his knees, and sob escaped
him full Of anguish. In the next moment
some one sat down beside him, hand
stole into his. and Annie was whispering
some indistinct. comforting murmur.
How could he help returning the clasp
of that little hand with an unconscious
strength of grasp that was almost pain,
suddenly raise it to his lips and cover it
with kisses, and as suddenly fling it from
him as though its touch had stung him,
and then, seeing her withdraw, startled,
gricved, hurt, turn and snatch her to his
wildly beating heart and hold her as if they
were one body and one soul.
"Oh, what have done, what have l
donei" he cried, as he opened his arms
and released her. II love You! love
you! and l must leave you. / must go
away from here, for l can never marry
you'll"
But for all answer little Annie had only
to cling to him the closer, her face up
turned on his shoulder. with its appealing
eyes, the red lips parted, the blush going
and coming. the trembling smile melting
to one of tenderest sorrow.
II ought TO have gone before it came to
thisl' he said. Il have been meaning to
go. day after day. And I could not, could
not! My will was strong, but could not
drag my feet after met He disengaged
her clasp. and took her face between his
two hands, his great gray eyes looking into
hers long and passionately. Kiss mel"
he said. "0nce. For the last time. And
now forget mer'
He told Mrs. Sibley that night as soon as
Mr.. Sibley returned from his western Jour
ney he should have to leave them.
leave rs. Johni" said she. "What for?"
Its about lime" he answered careless
ly. My travelling cap is on"
But John-why, john Are you dis
satisfied? Isn't Mr.. Sibley doing right by
your Has anything--has anything made
You unhappy"