Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1896-12-24

settled here in York state he was one oil
the original land-holders, but am hurt,
| own to it, and it bothers me about
Rachel, and telling all our friends, they're
sure to ask after Harry, and they II see
how we feel even il we don't tell them. -
Let them think what they please, |
shan't explain matters, Harry had right
to marry, he's of age long ago, and if we
don't make fuss, no one else will Pm
sure" said the squire.
'You know every one ground here Just
about worshipped him, and don't fancy
young men going off and marrying
TRANCE women, it isn't orthodox you
know that, what kind of religion she's
been brought up i'll we don't know, nor
what sort of morals either, perhaps she'll
lead Harry astray from truth and light"
Don worry SO Hettie, the Lord care
will be over him there as well as here.
let us leave him in the good Lords care
who rules and overrules all things for
good TO those who trust in Him"
Mrs. Fleming tired to be brave, but
only mothers know the yearnings of the
mother-heart for the absent ones, and
with sorrow unleigned, she tried to sleep
away her grief and dream of brighter
things.
And while family and guests are buried
in dreamy sleep oblivious of surround
ings, we will ramble round the premises.
1t is an old square two. story house with
large rooms below and chambers equally
spacious, plenty of windows, and the
| regulation green shutters. The front
| piazza was quite imposing, with tall
| fluted columns and the entire appear
| ance denoted stateliness; the front yard
| a sb..r a
| long walk was bordered on either side
with tall lilacs and great horse chestnut
trees in the corners; old shady elms on
the road-side-the lane ON the south side
ran out to the barn, and thence to the
orchard; the trees now were covered
with frost and snow, and in the moon
| light the whole place was like fairy land.
| A beautiful picture in ITSELF Some parts
oil the house, were not used much i'll
winter, for those were not the days of
| stoves and furnaces, and the best room
| was only for company OF the best sort
| from distance and not for ordinary
visitors, not even the minister and the
guest chamber over the parlor was even
more exclusive, and colder, but on spec
ial occasions like the present, the great
brass warming fan was taken down from
its nail in the wall, and filled with live
Goals, and the housemald went through
the bedrooms, and seen that each bed
was thoroughly warmed; as you can per
ceive that flannel sheets were not amiss
in those times Horses, cows, pigs and
chickens everything upon the premises,
all were well housed.
Christmas day was bright with sun
shine and good cheer, the breakfast over
all went TO church in the most orthodox
fashion, and at the close of the services,
while introducing his relations to the
minister, the Squire invited him rather
uuceremoniously considering it was
Christmas, to dine with them at the
mansion las the place was designated by
common acceptance.) Rev. Erastus Gill
man after some excuses about his house
keepers preparations, and the Christ.
mas goose, finally consented TO Join the
party. Having paid strict attention to
the proprieties all felt at liberty TO 'eat
drink and be merry for the rest OF the
day. Even Mrs. Fleming forgot her
trouble and Joined in the general iestivity.
Nothing was said of the recent news,
until the visitors gathered in the paror
after dinner, when the minister opened
the subject by inquring "what news
Squire, from Mr. Harry, how does he
| ike Id1lS, OF IL Tic Ill lldlY dl present!
Uncle Ben supplemented the question
while the Squire sort of deliberated, by
saying Yes, John, we've not heard word
since we came about Harry, and you
were always so proud of his talent for
drawing, and Ruth and myself were
examining his paintings here this morn
ing, and wondering il he was going to he
a great artist, now he's gone abroad. "
The hush was almost painful, the Squire
looked at his wife, and she turned to-
ward Rachel, who had come early in the
afternoon) ii was evident some explana-
ton must be made, and the Squire broke
the silence with, "Mother where's the
letter we had last night, we might read
it. that explains affairs exactly" Rachel
unconscious OF any secrecy, but fully
aware OF her love for Harry, asked, can
fetch the letter Squirei Mrs. Fleming
grasped the opportunity and said 'yes
come with mel' Squire Fleming had
not remembered the girl when he had
proposed reading the letter, and now he
realized the embarrassment, still he
trusted to his wife's tact TO help him in
the dilemma. Meantime in the other
room Mrs. Fleming and Rachel read the
news together, the girl proudspirited
and unwilling to betray even to his
mother her unrequlted affection showed
no outward emotion, while Mrs. Fleming
wept bitterly, and broke out sobbing
"You mustn't be down-hearted my girl
"there's as good fish in the sea as evei
was caught" and I'm sure Harry has
been deceived by a false glitter, and
away from home. he'll come to his
senses when it's too late. Pm as dis
appointed as can be. always thought he
would marry you though there was moth
ing said"
Don't mind me Mrs. Fleming Pl
take the letter in while you compose
Yourself" and with the open letter in
her hand, Rachel walked up to the
squire handing him the letter, and ther
sat down and istened apparently as un'
concerned as il the writer had been to
tai stranger. Alter the first few com
ments all congratulatory, noticing Mrs
Fleming's absence she went 10 look fol
her, telling her the letter had been read
and quoting some OF the complimentary
remarks; her indifferent manner COM
pletely modified the mothers grief, anc
the evening passed off as gayly as though
no heart had been broken. Rachel wa.
asked to sing and reluctantly consented
she sat down to the Melodeon and in q
voice Of touching sweetness sang the ole
favorite, "Oh, no we never mention him
his name is never heard" by the sug
gestion of one OF the young lady visitors
strange how these things happen. The
minister was the only one who noticed