The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1895-09-14

Her innate modesty revolted at the gross
idea OF surrendering 10 a perfect strangers
will. How could she TAIL to hate him, to
despse this man, who, without one spark
on the flaming altar of true love would will
ingly forfeit all noble sentiments of mind
and hcalt and sellishly debase himself and
her pune young womanhood?
And she herself would make this union
possible!
An empowering loathing of herself
possessed her with the thought a terror she
stiOve vainly to control, and the pent up
torrent Of her dread burst forth, sweeping
her away upon its turbulent waves in par
oxysms of despairing tears,
An atmosphere of feverish expectancy
pervadcd the usually quiet surroundings of
The Post. People were hastily gathering
from all quarters upon the little mound
beside the church. The oil depot and fac
tory were deserted, and the wolfish dogs
might pass the unguarded door and drink
their fill from the uncovered watts of oil.
The missionary's tidy children jostled
with the crowd of natives unnotced by their
nurse. The baker and brewer stood on the
mission house porch, putting vigorously at
his long Dutch pipe while his little frau
beside him conversed excitcdly with the
gardener wife who leaned from an open
lattice.
y rising hum of eager voices came from
the hillock, where the throng of dusky
Eskimos was steadily increasing and every
eye was strained upon the entrance to the
little bay.
The cause of this unusual agitation had
been signal gunshot from the hill, fired
by the sentry stationed there to keep n
look for the long expected ship. 1t was
| to bring them news from DER the sea, the
history of the great worlds dongs for q
year letters from relatives and friends
presents and messages supplies and stores,
months. What wonder, then, that they
looked forward, anNiously counting the
months and weeks and days and hours
until the time the vessel might arrive.
And one there was to whom it brought
a bride. He was the Youngest white man
at the post. lie had her picture, brought
through winter SHOWS and stormy twilight
by the native messenger, who iOurneyed
over the frozen channels with his sledgr to
| missions Nyhnra l,n In Of Ia,
great company buying furs, and who
brought few precious letters for the
Post, forwarded by winter courier from
| Quebec.
The 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 vet dreading that moment
Gus time when they should meet to either
love or hate.
Which would it he and could he gain her
love? How should he greet her? He, Il
gawky .outh, who guarded in his school
ascetically trained, had no experience with
the other sex, regarding them as quite be-
You'd his ken, knew nothing of the pangs
of boyish love, and only had crude
abstract idea of the happiness, duties, sac
riiice 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 mandate of the church, he had writ
ten, at dctation, his request.
And now the signal shot had let them
know the vessel bringing her was drawing
near.
lie left the store with speed, fled to his
loom, bathed, combed and dressed himself
in his BEST looked at the photograph and
put it back within its velvet cover next his
heart, laughed and half cried and paced
the polished floor, and through the open
window watched and waited for the coming
ship.
The murmur of the voices now increased
and swelling into shouts of ''Gleanera koo-
a-o-o-tn' and round the PERCEPTIONS point
with white sails set and remnants flying
swept the noble brig The bay was dotted
now with bright kayaks, and volley on
volley rang from a hundred guns, the
church bell pealed, the dogs set up "a howl
and sang their weird chorus Justify, flags
tluttered bravely from the mission roofs
and presently the briggs signaling cannon
doomed.
The novice hid his face within his hands,
with tluttering heart of mingled Joy and
fear, and wished himself 10000 miles
away.
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 silvery
hair was auburn then. Her dear old