The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1898-06-15

sound Of milestone on scythe- blade
what q clear, CHEEKY ringl How
could Nathan beat such music with |
banishment for the babe--for both Of
them, did he but know i'll lin his
heart?
Beyond the bridge, Abigail turned
into the woods and followed the
stream westward, for the road ran too
near the meadow where Nathan and
his men were haying. The child fell
to crying, but she nestled it and kept
on. Just before sunset she came out |
of the woods upon another road and
followed it southwark. The summer
dusk began to deepen, yet she met no
traveller and passed no house. What
n lonely country 1t was, that New
Hampshire mountain valleyl The
great hills looked down over the
woods like stern-faced giants. The
night air smelled of swamps and piny
glens and deep-buried solitudes. The
voices were all those of wild creatures,
mysterious and hidden. How the
weary, heart-sick woman longed for
the sight of roof, a chimney, an open
especially for the face of one
of her own sex. Only the heart of
woman understands a woman's heartl
At last, when the freflies began to
drift across her path like sparks from
the crumbling embers of the sunset,
Abigail, turning bend in the road,
came suddenly upon the welcome
glow of a farmhouse window. She
hastened forward and, turning into the
little path between the lilac bushes,
approached the open door. A man
sat upon the doorstep smoking, and,as
he saw the approaching figure, he
rose and called his wife.
A buxom, sweet-faced woman came
bustling to the door, skewer in hand.
The moment Abigails eyes rested
upon her face she cried:
Lucinda jones'"
The skewer fell Gathering upon the
floor, and the two women rushed to-
gether, like amicable battering rams,
the arms of the larger embracing
friend and child in their expansive
embrace.
"Abigail Drew! BE you still living
in these parts? heard, away out i'll
York state, where we just moved from,
that you and your brother had gone
west 20 years ago. Myl and you've
been and married and got baby?
Come income inl Lorenzo, fetch the
rocker out of the settin' room. How
glad am to see you again, Abigail. 1
thought you and me was parted for
ever"
How straight love had led her wan
dering feetl Abigail sank down in
the cushioned rocker and marveled at
the cheerful freight playing on the
face of the sleeping babe. Welcome
-refuge-sympathy! All! she had
not obeyed the inward voice in vain.
Six weeks was Nathan Drew a. a-search-
ing for the treasure he had lost. He
drove east, west, north and south,
stopping at every mountain farmhouse
to seek news of his sister. Nobody
had seen her going or coming. The
yawning earth could not have swal-
lowed her more completely.
But at last he found her. She was
sitting, with her baby, on low chair
under the lilac bushes, and he spied
her before he had reached the house.
She saw him Mt the same moment and,
springing up like hunted creature,
made as if she would have fed. But
he stopped her with pleading ges-
ture and look on his face such as she
had not seen since they were children
together.
''You don't know how I've missed
you, Abigail" he said, simply, draw
ing rein in front of the lilac bushes.
The man looked haggard and worn,
and there was pathetic tone in his
voice.
81 can't go home with you, Nathan"
said Abigail, firmly; and she pressed
the rosy child closer to her bosom.
Yet there was yearning look in hei
eyes that her brother was not slow to
interpret
'I've thought it all over sence you
left, Abigail" he said; "and it's ben
borne in upon me that, per'aps, was
wrong about the child. Come home,
and you shall keep it as long as you
live. 1 won't say another word. It's
the only love affair you ever he'd, Abb.
gail, and amt a-goin' to stand any
longer between you and your heart. I"
The tears welled to Abigail's eyes as
she came out into the road with her
child. ''Put your hand on her head,
Nathan" she said, ''and swear to me
that You will never part us. Then 1
will go home with you."
Nathan Drew hesitated moment.
Then he touched the child's head with
the tips of his horny fingers and said:
81 swear it, Abigail"
So they two and the child went
home together. New York Post.
Elephant Lost u Tusk.