New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1891-01-28
CHAPTER III.

CLOUDS ON THE HORIZON.
A pleasant home and full of COM
% fort it was, to which Aaron Franklen
had taken his young wife.
Look in upon it now, with it's cosy
freside, it's ample high-backed settle,
the well-rubbed chests, and rows of
shelves. all a-glitter with pewter and
deli; and even a copper kettle Ia rare
possession in those parts).
Aaron's old coat lay, within it's
warmth, upon the settle; Aaron's
easy old boots (cut down to house
shoes) lay on the hearth; it was
,Aaron's favorite dish cooking now
at the fire; and if you had asked the
trim little wife, who made so promi-
nent an object in this home-picture,
was that her favorite color which
so plentifully adorned her dress?-she
would have told you, HE is fond of
it,"
Aaron was all,
Sad then, was it not? that, as the
hands moved slowly round the face
of the little Dutchman, and as log af-
ter log consumed, the pretty face grew
grave, and a cloud came upon it,
which even the sound OF a. quick foot
step outside, and the hasty opening
OF the door, did not dispel.
Nay, that even the CHEEKY voice,
which made her heart leap, saying,
Here I am, Nell, I'm so Sorry I'm
aate!' even that did not chase away
the cloud.
Sad that, amid all her preparations
for his welcome, she should withhold
that which was more to him than all
the warmth, and light, and good
cheer on earth.
FL 1t had been her custom to meet him
hall Way in the room, and with a. kiss,
that said more than words, to give
him welcome, as he folded his arms
about her, and led her back to their
seat beside the hearth.
During supper she barely answered
his observations, he at length threw
down his knife and fork, and declared
he could eat no more.
"Then you don't like it Aaron! after
me taking all the pains to get it, on
purpose for you'll"
ut isn't that, Nelly; the supper's
good enough, but it isn't that"
He turned away from the table as
he spoke, that she might not see the
moisture which, despite his manliness,
had gathered in his eyes.
And she, as she rose from the table
and began Immediately to clear away
the supper, turned aside her head and
smiled, yes-a triumphant smile!
Good, honest Aaron! the worst part
of these performances was that her
humility was so genuine, her love so
hun, k1n or1 a ~, fto,
that he would too often end by blam-
ing himself, and by vowing to give her
no cause for displeasure.
These are but passing showers, you
will say, and that, like sunshine after
thunder, love seems brighter by con-
trast; but do not forget the ruin by
which the scathing bolt has marked
its course!
It was wonderful how tho neishbors
should have got any idea of the slight
cloud upon the little home, seeing that
neither Aaron nor Nelly would, to
save their life, have let fall word
concerning one another, but of ton
derness; yet too often an expression
OF coincidence or sympathy, dropped
lnvoluntarily, testified to the general
impression that, as the women said,
F'Nelly didn't make young Franklen
the wife she'd ought to-"
Turn we now to q matter Of con-
siderable Importance, which had for
some time past engrossed the atten-
ton OF the village.
Saul Meghorn had returned and
taken up his abode within a short dis
lance of Sandcombe.
One old woman kept his house; but,
as no one from the village ever went
within it's door, much of his domestic
habits were not known. The girl from
the dairy, who took eggs and butter
twice a-week to Deepgang, told of the
quiet neatness ofthe place; the men, who
had met Saul in his solitary rambles
over the cliffs and along the beach,
gave wonderful accounts of the free
spoken, pleasant way in which he en-
tered into conversation; and
once a. bold urchin who had
ventured on remaining when his
playmates SUNK away among the
rocks at Meghorn's approach, came
running breathless to show what the
s'big man with the beard'' had given
him displaying a handful of pence
and related that he had, moreover,
stroked his head, and asked him his
name, and if he went "a-fshing with
father?''
In the little throng coming from
church, Meghorn had encountered the
young couple, and had raised his hat,
in token of which salute the young
fisherman touched his own.
He was looking at Saul, with whom,
have said, he had but very slight
acquaintance, and certainly did not
see the downcast eyes and too ready
blush of his wife at this unwelcome
reminder Of her past follies. He might
have felt the closer hold on his arm,
and the involuntary pressure to his
side, but q time had arrived when
nothing is to be WONDERED at or &C
counted for, whicha young wife does
& or says, and Aaron was-or, accord
N ING to theslaM established, was suppos-