The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1891-06-24

George and his traps. Many rusted deep,
with their notched teeth almost worn
away, like an ancient grandame's, with
continual swapping. When he had
reached the yard he put them down
gently, ana looked for long time at the
old house before entering, and had there
been more light one might have seen him
lift his patched sleeve to his eyes before
going in. For moment he stood irreso-
lutely with the leather latch-string in his
hand, and then, as with the approval of
some mild resolution, he drew it down
and entered. There was more confusion
than he had seen, perhaps, in all the
years of his existence.
1t was some little time before Georges
presence was noticed. There was 80 much
to do and only four hands to do it. There
was a peculiar radiance about the coun-
tenances of the young girls. For some
time George had been aware OF what was
coming and had laid his plans accordingly.
An expression of pleasure mixed with pain
come over his face. If for moment it Was
painful for him to be forgotten, it was still
a pleasure to see these girls, who had so
long been his life's only charge and his
souls only pleasure, so happy. It needed
no word from them TO tell him of that
which was about to take place, and at a
glance he saw that the next day was to be
the occasion which should mark an epoch
in the lives OF the Gray girls as well as his
own.
"Well, well, well. what does ali this
here mean?" His remark was UNDECIDED
and not heard, but with the same patient
kindness that had always been a part of
him, he repeated: well, well, well,
H. Ill tb,c bara ~ uoo
evident that they knew what it meant
and were instantly on his knee, telling
him very interesting and delightful
things. 81 hope it will be well with you,
my dears," was all George said, after they
had finished the last bit of confidence to-
gether.
81 amt much use no more, and you
won't need me much longer. / brought
my traps tonight, and think if it don
rain tomorrow ! will 60 down on the
Brandywine They say they air lots O.
minks down there, and es l have cleaned
EN- out pretty we'll up and down Little
Sandy, / had better go where | can do
better. You say you air both going to get
married tomorrow hope the good Lord
II be with you, as he has been all these
wears that | have been away late of nights
coon-huntin'." Little more else was said
that evening between George and the
"kids," but all went to bed with eyes not
quite so dry as usual.
1t was before the break of day that
old George arose the next morning, and
cautiously dressing himself, went down in
a huge chest in the corner and excavated
a long gray army overcoat The air was
misty and cold. The roads were muddy.
there was not the sound of birds voice
in the willows below. Stealing gently to
the bedside of the kids he kissed them
both, and then raised the latch and crept
out. Shouldering his traps and taking
one last look at the cabin, he drew his hat
down over his eyes, turned his head away,
and slowly tTudged across the beading,
over the foot-log that spanned the little
stream, and into the woods, pursuing his
course toward the marsh lands of the
Brandywine.
His figure grew smaller and smaller and
at last the wet foliage of the drenched
and dripping trees closed in around him.