The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1895-08-14

sledge to the lower missions, where he met
the factor OF the great company buying
furs, and who brought a few precious let
tiers for The Post, forwarded by winter
courier from Quebec.
Two thousand miles the print had come
by sledge, and every day the young man
studied it, noting the charms of youthful
eyes and mouth of rounded cheek and
wavy hair, specializing upon her character
and longing for yet dreading that mo-
mentous time when they should meet to
either love Or hate.
Which would it be and could he gain
her love? How should he greet her? He,
q gawky youth, who, guarded in his
school, ascetically trained, had no expert
ence with tho other sex, regarding them
as quite beyond his ken, knew nothing Of
the pangs of boyish love, and only had a
crude abstract idea of the happiness,
duties, sacrifice and pain involved in the
mysteries of married life.
The elder of the post had said the time
was ripe for him to take wife. Obedient
to the magnate of the church, he had writ
ten, at dictation, his request.
And now the signal shot had let them
know the vessel bringing her was drawing
near.
He left the store with speed, fled to his
room, bathed, combed and dressed him in
his best, looked at the photograph and put
it back within it's velvet cover next his
heart, laughed and half cried and paced
the polished floor, and through the open
window nervously watched and waited for
the coming ship.
The murmur of the voices now increased
and swelled into shouts of "Gleanerakoo-
a-ko-o-o-t!" and round the precipitous
point, with white sails set and remnants
flying, swept the noble brig. The bay was
dotted now with bright kayaks, and vol
ley On volley rang from a hundred guns,
the church bell pealed, the dogs set up
howl and sang their weird chorus Justify,
flags futtered bravely from the mission
roofs, and presently the briggs signaling
cannon doomed.
The novice hid his face within his
hands, with fiuttering heart of mingled
joy and fear, and wished himself 10000
miles away.
4
A week passed. The brig still lay at
anchor in the bay.
Within his study the mission elder sat,
his long gray beard falling in tangled
waves upon his breast.
His keen gray eyes were bent upon the
novice and the girl. who stood respectfully
waiting till he should speak.
For 40 years he had lived his mission
life, and his thoughts were busy with that
time long passed when he had been just
such another youth and had obeyed just
such call to wed. His helpmate's sill
very hair was auburn then. Her dear old
wrinkled face was smooth and fair.
The children of the love were scattered
wide. One had been sent to Asias infidel
land, another lived beneath the scorching
rays that bleached the sands of Africa, and
third had labored for the church among
the hordes of one of those far islands in
the sea, and news had come that he, the
most beloved, had been rewarded with a
martyrs crown.
"Fraulein,' he said at last, 'fthe time is
short; the brig must sail tomorrow. I
must urge that you should give your an
swer definitely.
cit is a thing most serious to you both,
but you have been together seven days.
Not long in which to fix upon wife or
learn to judge a lovers moods and whims
But I can speak myself for this young
man. pledge you he is upright, virtuous
kind
And as for you, my son, she is far
more. Her features would be ample pass
port without this commentator from the
church. That you already love her can
see. What do you answer"
The young man looked to her, then
dropped his gaze. "You speak but truth,
sir. She is dear to me- I would not have
her leave me, but still less would enjoy
the thought that she was forced by sense
of duty only to share my lot.
81 pray let her decide for both of us and
give her till the morrow to reply. If she
should wish for more delay, it is not nee
essary we should wed at once, and mean
while may try to win her love"
''What says the madchen?''
The girl was touched by the generous
thoughtfulness the youth. had shown and
by the kindness of the aged man. She cast
one swift, wistful glance through the open
window at the anchored brig where the
captain S stalwart figure paced the quarter,
and blushed and bowed her head and tried
to speak. Then, with returning courage
and resolve, she approached and knelt be-
side the old mans chair.
Father" she said, her sweet voice
tremulous, 81 have had thoughts unwor-
thy of my faith, rebellious thoughts and
fears and wicked moods. If either is I'M
worthy, it is L.
"Give me some few days more before we
wed-and let the brig sail. 1 will stay
with you. Ralph Graham Tabor in
Truth.