The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1899-12-07
An Idyl Ct " ~
HardStOne District.
BY THOMAS s. COLLIER.

TT HE hot beams of an August sun fell
almost perpeadicularly on the
red clay road, that ran through Hard
stone district, a sterile and shadeless
collection of much-tilled and small
producing farms on the seacoast Of our
land. The only good feature about
the place was its sea breeze, rich with
the aroma and GOODNESS it gathered in
journeying over thousands of miles OF
salt water.
Along the road, his brow beaded with
perspration, Obed Strong plodded
stubbornly, as if both heat and cold
were alike poweress to affect him.
He was commonplace enough in his
looks and dress. His coat was slung
across a stick on his shoulder, from
which also depended a bundle; rough
straw hat covered his head, and still
rougher boots, red with the dust of the
road, shrouded his feet; while coarse
shirt, open at the throat, and a coarser
pair of trousers completed his attire.
Had traveller met him he would
have passed him by, thinking him a
rough farmer, made after the genera,
making of his kind; but Obed Strong
was different man from the general
ity OF his class. and his face was one to
study and remember.
it was dark and stern now, and there
was a deep glow in his eyes that sat
deep in the shade of shaggy brows, and
the lines about the brow were hard and
firm. The lips were tightly pressed to-
gether, and the nostrils swelled and
compressed with the working of his
lungs, quickly and savagely; and his
hands We're clenched, so that the cords
stood out in hard knots.
Some great passion was stirring the
mans soul with its power; and he
would have been dangerous even to a
friend, had that sriend sought to stay
his way.
AS he reached the brow of a small
hill, where a single tree stood like q
sentinel, he saw, sitting at its base, a
,woman's form. She was clad, like him.
in coarse habiliments, and her hands
showed signs of labor. Like his, her
face showed signs of power and pas
BlOH, DGl lllC y Go WIZ iHiA " $3.50 -
and pleading, while his were full of
wrath. As he stopped she arose ard
came toward him.
u heard you were going, Obed, and
came here to have few last words with
you"
He did not speak, but his face grew
sterner, harder, if that could be, and
I Il !, Ia
added strain he forced on them.
perhaps" her voice faltered a
little, perhaps l have done wrong, but
/ love you, .Obed, and we may never
meet again"
Her bosom rose and fell, as if a sol
was striving to break from its hold
but she stTAed it and went on.
81 have refused to marry you, Obed
because / have a sick father to tend; ;
man full of whims and notions, WHIT
would fret and tire you and cause you
to feel that l had brought you trouble
Please do not think me hard, for havt
thought only of you. Forgive me
Obed, for oh, | am weary and heart
sick, feeling that you are going from
me-"
He threw down the stick that hell
his coat and bundle, and the word
came hotly forth, as if time was pre-
cious. and much was to be said.
"You need not be weary, for | an
willing to bear your burdens; and
you are heartsick because | am goin
away you have it in your power to sta
me with a word. Say that you wi
marry me in a month and | will sta
here until you are willing to let me g
Phoebe Dome"
Her head was bent low now, an
the tears would not be stayed.
'Obed, you know | love you, but
cannot think it is right to bring to yo
only fretting and toll; for the care c