Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1893-01-28
ORIGINAL STORY.
CLOVER BLOSSOMS.
BY VIRGINIA WARREN.

Name o common sense, Marcia,
amt you done them dishes yet? Did
| ever see such Il slow, good-for-
nothing piece US you are? -
Marcia Stewart stood in the farm
house washing the tea dishes. She
was slight, pale girl, with dark hair
and eyes. No one could call her
pretty, but her face was relieved from
absolute plainness by the rounded chin
aud soft curves Of her mouth.
She was an orphan and lived with
her paternal uncle. She supplied the
place of maid-of -all-work in the busy
farmhouse and few were the moments
of leisure which fell to her lot
AS her aunt's sharp voice fell upon
her ears, she started.
"Yes'm, I'll be done in II minute"
she answered.
AS she threw out the water and
hung up the dish. towel, Mrs. Stewart
said
"Then set the sponge for the bread,
and fold down the clothes to iron to-
morrow and peel the potatoes for
breakfast. And, mind, you don't for
get to shut up the chickens before
dark, and remember to count the
young turkeys"
AS the reader will readily see. Mrs.
Stewart was one of those women who
are always in hurry and whose work
is meyer done.
AS her aunt hustled out, Marcia
glanced at the clock.
81 must hurry" she murmured.
At last she was done and, after
smoothing her hair and bathing her
heated face, she slipped out and
hurried through the garden, down to
the old orchard.
What cool, pleasant place it was,
with its shady trees and the ground
carpeted with sweet clover, now in full
blos2 ON.
AS she hurried down the path she
caught sight Of figure beneath a
gnarled old apple tree. 1t was Law
renee Earle, Young lawyer from the
city, who was spending the summer at
the next farmhouse.
He was handsome young man, with
his tall, well-knit figure. his blue eyes,
wavy light hair and long, dropping
moustache. How manly, true and
noble he seemed in Marcia's adoring
eyes.
"You are late, little one," said he,
as he tenderly clasped her small, toll
worn hands in his shapely white ones,
'and this is our last meeting, too
''Indeed, could not help it," sighed
Marcia. at seemed like I'd never
finish the work this evening. But
must you really go tomorrow ?"
yes" he replied; ''I've staid too
long already and tomorrow must go
back to the hot. dusty city. How |
will miss you, my own little girl. How
often shall think of the pleasant
hours here among the sweet cloycr
blossoms. You must gather bunch
for me to take back with me and every
time | look at them | will think of
you--the sweetest blossom of ALL
Marcia's face flushed with pleasure
at his words, and, STOPPING, she
gathered Il bunch of the sweet pink
blossoms, pressed them to her lips and
then gave them to him. With smile
he placed them in his note book over
his heart.
They fingered fora short while longer
and then the tiual "good-bye" was
said.
Matcia went back to the house with
his kisses warm upon her lips, and her
heart beating to the happy refrain
she loves me-he loves me-"
Little need she care now for her
aunt's sharp tongue or the long, weary
hours of toll. He loved her and in
few months would return and take her
away from it all. What castles she
built. What plans she made. He was
poor, he told her But what pictures
she drew of IA coy little home. How
hard she would try to make him happy.
a week passed before Marcia heard
from him, but her loving heart found
plenty of excuses for his negligence.
AT last her uncle handed her a letter
when he returned from the village.
Marcia put it in her pocket until she
should be alone, for no eyes but her
own should see the precious missivc.
She finished her work and then
down to the old trysting place in the
orchard she flew.
Surely the world never seemed so
bright AMI beautiful. The sun had
just set, leaving a path of golden
radiance above the western hills. The
bees hummed merrily as they flew
homeward laden with the sweets gath
cred from the fragrant blossoms.
She took the letter from her pocket
and pressed it to her lips. Poor child
1t was her first letter from the man
she loved, and how happy she was!
But, ah! it is merciful Providence