South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1892-01-29


ing the CHICKENS - they dArted about
greedily c,ucking over the rain OF
erumbs that fell from the snowy linen
clond- The lady was rather thin aud
her hair showed q silver thread here
and there in its brnwn strsightbands.
hut In Deacon iIiffen's eyes she was
very cnmely still, 10 her neat dark
ess. plain collar and white apron.
which had ra'hor q coquettish look
ing bow or ribbons NJ the waist
band, nni her eyes were bright and
smiling in spite or the forty years OF
lies storm and gloom they hal Iook.
ell out on The deacon paused a /.
he was riding by and called good
morning.
La. Deacon Blffsn, 10 that Won ?
said Mas Ca!edonia in reply. giving
,he' tab eclolh q finai shake before
folding it ~.
Tes'm; is Obadiah st home : l.
I would
No, he's just G me. They're patch.
ing up the fence over in tbs 10 .adow,
and his there. But get down. dea
con. and I'll blow tho horn for him.
The deacon alighted, and secured
his gray mare. but he caught Miss
Calcdoni.'s han a. che pu. the horn
to her lips. Never mind abont calling
him. ma'sm: most likely he's busy,
bat IL you'll le, me I'll jus, take q seat
here in your kitch.n, and N. ~ DO bel
to the house-for- II for -
something he's forgotten.
La! said his hostess, eYeing him
In wonder. Tben az q thought struck
her hor pale fsce flashed up Liz, a
girls and she said no more. hut bust.
ed herself about Ter morning work,
chatting IS che went TO and fro TO the
deacon. about Widow Green's COW,
the Sunday school work ant the Dor.
cas- society. she made no sign but
her glance fell time aud again sux-
iously at The cloudy sky sho wing Ia
gray patches through ,hc windo vs.,
and her thoughts we're tu.y depic,iLg
Obailah's disaust and wrath IL i, he.
gan to rain and be returned to the
house TO fiadS Dsocon Bhff,n sitting
In her kitchen at 9 o'clock In the
morning.
That circumstance cou d OF course.
have but one meaning. and Obadiah
would call hor an old gpose. She
knew he would. and Mss Gale.
donia shivered To remember how lie
bad laughed five years befuTe, when
Lenuel Crane bad come 10 call on
Sunday evening, laughed till koor
Lcmuel had crept away never 70 como
back. IL bad always been thus, even
"hsn she was q girl. Obadish, TO
whom she had looked up and fea:ed.
bad driven them ell away By his cruel
jcsts at love and mstrimouy. So
Mise Caledonia did her work. and talk.
81 swav With her simple heast huts
teriug like q bril- with broken wing,
but the deacon, obiivious 20 the color
10 her cheek and the apprehension Ia
her eyes. waxed iiisndlier and msr.
tier.
In the meantime Obadiah w.rked
away At the meadOw fence ill . drop
like big tear splashed 90 HE hand.
he wiped IL OF, bat twenty, thirty.
ff'y cane psltIug after Il. SO be
ssnt bis men away, and stood Jude.
decided for q moment. He Wantsd
TO see Deacon b iffeb about that
mortgage Harker wanted on bis mill,
and bis advice Rs to the valde OF the
mill. The rain Was likely TO drive
the de con home, too. so he could not
do better than 70 step over to hls
house-it Was as near Ss his own
and talk the matter over With bin.
tie had TO run fir u, for the rain vas
falling heavily. so be tore up the dsa.
cons steps aad raped at the door
With glow on bis heart ct bic boy
ish run.
Is your pa at homs : be said, smiI.
Ing with unusual ploasantness az
pretty Kitty Blifisn opened The door.
Strange be bal never noticed before
bow very pretty the girl wss. Why,
her hair was like spun gold aud Der
eyes as those flowers CaledonIa was
always tending. What we're they ?
Oh, yes, forget-me-nots. No, the
deacon was not 81 home, but Mr..
Crumb must walk Ia, for Il was rain
ing 90 hard II would vet him through.
This With many bushes aud a dImple
playing 10 and out OF her round cheek.
What did u remind bin OFF,
hr. Crumb stool and pondered this
Tor quite a mioute o. he drew of bic
dnPPi g cat and put on the dry
one Of her iatber's kitty brought
hm. Then be rsmen bered viii
Pang such ~ his heart scarcely IN.
iersiood. More years than he had
erred TO c ,unt he bad sat, q bare.
footed little lad OF nine or ten, in The
old log school house set high on
sunny hillside, Rlancing shy across
We room 81 little girl dem0rsly in-