New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-05-17

Bidwel mounted to his set. the horses "neeieu
about and trotted strongly over the soft ROAD
BidWell turned half-round toward me-
"Frost's bout out" he said cheerfully; diu.
know one time but we were goin TO be trostoou a,
ALL the spring But It's got 70 give wnen the sun
gifts along this way. Yes. It's got TO give pu' III
early peas three weeks ago. south OF my parn. !e
know Wen have mess fore the l'th Oh 'u''e
you re sure IL, -
Nv owes sting and my throat swelled as
listened | would have said t. was ten years since
| had heard the country dialect instead oI d Nv
months breath Of fresh ar OF ar us swent
sweeter than any had known for ages; smep'
across my face My nostrils dilated to innale u.
1t was as if had breathed only neaV! lusoiou'
perfumes. but now e,h,,s
sat up with greater erec'hes9' " '
kinded within me - au,,ro tho
depot wagon. and where was Mr Mute -, no
ooh Nute's BEN laid up with rheumauSin' II iI
wanted me to take his trips for speIl. I'ut /
couldn't stan his old bosses, so put my oro""'
In. Amt they beauties! ..,,o,,, q,
The speaker turned and looked alec'o''aF'' at
the animals he was driving. ,a
! questioned him concerning every one mau
over heard Of in Worthing. feIt qu''e u''O
countable interest in everybody
lie told me with a laugh that Rachel Copp niu
sprained her ankle six weeks ago wren 9ms
going out 20 feed her hens. ana thal NJ w,,
had @tended TO the Cobb fowl ever sence Rachei
riece Myra from Great Medders. was stoppin
with her: Myra had constitutional opJecsiu , ~
takn care Of hens. But Rache! ""' '0"' "'
go visitin' again. ,..,.,.,
So RidweIl talked on in response to my inquiries.
But we fell silent when the chimneys Oh NY "o'"'
came In sight. ,oh And
did not know cared so much- Ioa 'rdun
had been so eager to go away. Granonotn ,..,
foce was at the window ! knew that she wa,
sitting in the big rocker there Ana they "oua an
look when they heard the depot carIiae, o"' 49,
II was almost dusk now. but the April Gays were
long sor rrder the
The door opened. tho south door III,
,,orob ond there was mother gazing quesuoIllisN
AT ne I saw the light come III hel law "' o.
faa
R;du,eu hurried to help me alight. but was out
Of the carriage before he could reac" ine' i'''""'
into mothers arms -,.,,. ,no exclaimed. as
"Why. my dear little glri' s"e
she elapsed me TO her 49,, ,,,,i.,hle 4,
And how strange how entireiY lhe1 si, os -
was To me that the instant saw ne' ~ t,r,a 70
couId NOT tell her II would be simply ihposSIpe "
tell her OF that marriage Few hourS "eo 0' NV
As thought this chung still more closely 10 .ne
frail form | must he the Gehtles, VI" nn,,d No,
ing the most obedient daughter. nut cou.u hoI
teil her Of my marriage. / would walt; yes
would wait. $3.50, ,,,,,oad
Ridwel had set my satchel on the etoop Jumped pea
into the carriage and driven of. NY uu!ih p'."'
u,ould send IN as soon as she could think 10 90 IL
grandmother came forward walking waVeiihs
w. as the old will walk. She gave me uiS i n1o
kiss from withered lips. and said sne cIu.u u !
b'lieve S'rissv when she said twas Wilhelnhy;
"'N' how be ye? spose you en- sing we"
MetIitable Crossey now. can't yc! -. .s..,,s ..
Miss Crosby had sung once IN the c"o'" Va
Judas Maccabaeu al Chiffon. H.,
They told me that Aunt Lowry was spending
the day with Rachel cobb. ,.
And where was father? ] was nervousy wait
ing to see him recalled his figure IN its hisn
rubber boots stopping forward in the wlnd anu
the rain as he had left me at the shore on ma ud
when he had come Bdwell Bakes behah.
Having Just met Bdwell. | could almost uouo'
that he had been knowing To that Visit
Your fathers out milkln'." said mother IN re-
Spouse To my unuttered question 49,,
She had been taking off my hat ana pattng
down my rumplcd hair Her eyes kept nllng' ana
the tears would drop on her checks. she Tea me
TO a chair and gently pushed me down INTO II; one
stood before me- her eyes fixed on my rae III
nor gaze and nv heart sank knew again. Win
still greater emphasis how imp )ssihe IL was ioT
me 10 tell her now. Yes. would wait. hut ~
keeping something Of importance from her
jumped up from my seat and put my arm
about her; walked with her TO the open door =.
"Oh how natural everything is!' cried Noth-
ing has changed don't think could have borne
II IL ANYTHING had changed There are the same
loose shingles on the east roof OF the cowsheu'
I'm glad that no new ones nave neen pu' ,"cIe.
And there's the turkey gobbler that used 10 run
al me-" .., 49,.
sciousness troubled me deeply. The words In my
mind were Il am Nane Hdreths wiie ana
want to tell my other. but cannot.
She gazed at me wIstfully. AZ last shS asked
Have you come home for a little WISH! You diu
not write that you were coming
NO. I did not write II was all very sudden.
only decided about half an hour before ! started
I'll tell YOU all about Il soon. guess III 20 out
and surprise father IL he Well?
7 stepned down on q the broad fiat stone al the
door and turned toward mother az put the qnes-
ton Her face grew troubled.
HE don't complain more" she answered, but
It seems to me he amt what he was six months
. ago"
/ hurried across the yard 20 the barn. AZ the
open door hesitated an instant, hen WIN "A
brood OF white fun balls on legs came fastening
up TO me- expectant Of food. heard steps IN the
barn. I walked across the big room we caliei a
carrlage-house into the place beyond where the
horse and cow stalls were
stood in the entrance an instant watching
father as he raked some hay down from INC mo"
He had not stopped like that when Ind last seen
him work was shocked by hla looking Ike an
old man | hestatcd still longer at the threshold
He lifted his rake full u the loose hay h" had
gathered 70 put into the rack ~ the COW near MIN
AS he swung round the rake he saw me. lie
hastily flung the hay into It's place ana came ior-
ward.
"Hullo. Billy" he cried but thought not In his
old boisterous good humor.
lie came TO me shook hands and kissed me- was
Il nv fancy that there was something mechanical
I'm his manner? And | actually wondered II he
were glad had come.
"JIow's the opery busIn, $50" he asked.
answered that 1t was good believed Then
added bravely that l thought was through
with 1t.
THAT so? Wall. amt surprised at anything
you en- tell me bout primy donnas. n that's
fact. Company broke up?'
mo: but I've had "a misunderstanding with
'Oh. that's IT. Is it, Mebby YOU could sing too
well. after all"
I thought my father was very shrcwd 10 think
OF that but said nothing.
Coin to stay to home now?" he asked.
yes" replied III you want 10 have me-
father"
/ spoke rather timidly. The thought came 10
me for the first time in my life. that perhaps my
IA her would think burden. This thought
turned me cold.
stay Jest az wells not" he answered. indifer
''fpof her ilKo tO /.
course"
This was 50 different from his former rough but
exuberant manner that felt colder still re-
called that since that time when he had taken the
Journey 10 the shore TO me on Bidwell Bake's
behalf he had never sent his love. never a word
in mothers letters. Was he Laying up some
thing against me? Was II my refusal to become
engaged to Bidwell?
Your motherll be glad Have We told herr"