Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1891-10-01
"Deaconess 'I.iza-

Rose is afraid of Elderess Hannah. Al
ways was. Just turned white as those
sheets the other night when elderess called
her."
"She'd no business tslkin' with male
men on the stairs"
at was only me-"
You're a man, James Henry"
This view of the case seemed TO strike a
spark from James Henrys stony conscious
ness.
lie. en- punish me, then. instead of
poor Rose Trapp," he argued, hotly. tn,
tumult in his breast by no means suggest
ing the expansion Of natural faculties har-
moniously developed. Tell 'em to send
me away instead of her, She won't know
a soul in that North community.
Deaconess Liza's broken nose confer
red resolutely with her chin as she closed
her jaws. "You always let on thet you
didn't keer straw about Rose Trapp.
wouldn't hev me pass her name to you
skercely."
"lou was always talking about her"
II was tempted of the devil" said Lizs,
bandly shifting the load Of personal re-
sponsibillty. II was tempted to banker
for home in the world where | could
raise hens. | see the folly of my ways
now that a high temporal office has been
granted me. As for you. James Henry,
you said you would pray thet Rose Trspp
might come TO see the vanity of her heart.
So reckon it'll rejoice you to hear thet
she hez come to conviction. Eldre>s has
been instroctin' her daily. an Rose saws
she has rooted her fondness for you out OF
her soul forever. an is resignated to whut-
soever course is laid out for her"
I'm glad, said James Henry, paling a
little, and lucldly aware OF something
heavy IN his breast, As If his heart had
dropped Ike pummet Of lead, and was
gauging the fathomless depths OF new
and curious dissatisfaction with life.
II reckoned you'd be-" said the deacon
ess, giving ear to his assurance, and not
taking note of the tagging aspect of his
face.
A. Brother James Henry thought over
the matter il was plain TO him, long plant
To authority, that perhaps Sister Rose
Traps removal from Kentucky was a
wise and providentlal arrangement. She
was resigned; he could not be less
He had. however. a feeling of vague
gladncs~ that on the very day set for the
departure Of Eldere>> Hannah and her
charge, he was commissioned to .o to
~ IL hNI APi Nbiilt ilaltEiRiN ntttlsi IN
the shops He glanced shyly At the two
women a. they ciamhcred into the wagon.
on the front seat of which he sat with
the driver
II was wet morning IN May, and the
drizziing landscape oppressed him. The
SKY was a hlanket-like spread Of grav, ap-
parently harhoriug rain enough to last
week. The houses had no aspect of COW
tpa 81 nI int
ly fortultous shelters for creatures A. des-
oiate as the place III which they held an
cxistenc" that was only the pale serum of
life, lacking the vital red atoms of love
and human aspiration.
Sister Rose Trapp d.d not look at the
Young man at all, but he saw that her
check, were not pink any more, and that
her eyes gathered new shade from the
circles below their heavy ashes She ala
not speak, even to EideFess Hannah, a.
the wagon rolled along toward the rail
way. But when they were come to the
station. and James Henry had helped the
elderc>s to ahght, it befell that he per
formed the same Office for Sister Rose,
and that a. he lifted her free from the
muddy wheel their eyes met
Perhaps her look was altogether one of
eSignatiou. 1t was sad enough to be call
ed by any name which bears to the mind
an intmation of mournfulnes>. But it
was not appealing. 1t carried TO the young
mans heart direct revelation that some
thing like pride, as We'll a. piety, had
come to Sister Roses aid ani that she was
gong sway willingly from place in which
her womans soul had dreamed Its dream
and wakei to find 1t only the shadow Of
its own desire.
He glanced about The eldcress was
with great dignity up the path
10 the sCroll-sawed edifice beyond. Broth.
er Wilbur was gone to fetch water for his
horses. There was no one by to hinder
him II he chose to speak, no one but Ann,
the Word, and somehow just at this mo-
ment she did not seem ii very ponderable
presence set Oft against the Shaker maid
en- at his side She had turned to get
shawl from the wagon and a. he watched
her he rapidly reminded himself Of various
canons of his faith; but that in him which
had deiied the spur now resisted the curb
Why. YOU don't want To 20, do YOU,
Rose he said suddenly.
Yea, said Rose.
And leayc me-"
Yea" said Rose
on Rose, see here, Why, can't let
you 60 away | want you-to-to-stay
Say, Rose"
The eld'reso.' gasped the girl looking
wildly after the ponderous figure of her
spiritual director, as one who sees her
faith dissoiving, like a scroll in a flame.
What Of herr" demanded James Henry,
his young heart filled with a
lions courage. IN just 90 and tell her
were going to be married She cant do
anything to stop Us. This Is a free coun-
try, May tell her? Say, Rose"
Il hey rid my heart of earthly ahec
tion>," said Sister Rose. soIemnIy, her
tender eyes putting the lie on this awful
assertion.
"Our affection won't be earthly; it II
be divine" pleaded James Henry. making
love a. naturally A. if he had never done
anything else all his life long That lit
tie house in Bufgin is still to rent; there's
two peach trees in the ward, and Here's
elderess coming to .ook for you. Shall
say you're going up North with her? Rose,
Rose"
"Oh nay said Sister Rose. surprised
into negative assent.-Harpers Weekly.