Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-10-20

y. .n,re And, gazing yet into her eyes,
m...,s her how, IN this shady bower, I
" once watched her weaving leaves
~. her hair and heard her talk TO her
INTO n.,,nrIsnd NJ so-had stolen away. for
f,ar Of her beauty
~. we're 30 far out Of the world and
,,.need TO kiss you"
iInd didn't, Peter.
hne siSn't CHAIRMAN because we were
Anu Anu, tar from the world, and because
" vsre so very much alone, and"
sorra because. Peter. because you are
..,is man and strong as the old locket
80 And do you rememper' she % %went
~ " surriedly. laying her cool, restraining
On an NV eager lips, how l found
nnse, ..srinr that locket and how you
!o.~,sd and stammered over II and
prl...nded 10 read your Homer
pss.d how YOU sang, TO prevent mer'
.nnS how sravely you reproved me?"
.and how you called me creature p
~And how you deserved H. sir-and
,,ore helpless and Ill at ease than
fIeN ma how-iust to fatter my vanity
s's., toId me I had glorious hair'?'
sst.s 20 YOU have" said /, kissing a
~ her temple; when YOU unhind II.
~ charmian, II will cover you-like
hs, s1a,r vhen said this, for some reason
-. sisnced up at me, sudden and shy
"a bmshed and slipped from my arms
"a eed up the path like a nymph.
co we presently entered the cottage,
eushed and painting, ana Laughing lor
-, happiness And now she rolled up
~ .. sleeves. and set about preparing
n. .vfast laughing my assistance to
49, e. h,,t growing nightly indignant
- would kiss her, yet blushing and
w.a,I,ne nevertheless And while she
s.s,is6 70 and fro (keeping well out OF
us.ss ~ nv arm). she began to sing In
a. soft voice to herself:
.,, scarlet town. where was born.
Thsre was a fair maid IiIwav, diITsl,,n;,
Esr name was Barbara Allen.
~oh Charmian how wonderful you
srev' 49,,
IAN in the merry month Of May, >,
When green buds they were swellin-
asurely no woman ever had such beau
,n,l armsl so round and soft and white,
chsrmian." She turned upon me with a
fork held up admonishingly, but, meeting
NV look her eyes wavered, and up from
throat to brow rushed wave of burning
crimson.
aoh. Peter!-you make me-almost-
sfraid of you," she whispered, and hid
her face against my shoulder
aAre you content to have married such
a very poor man-to be the wife OF
village blacksmith?
aWhy. Peter-in all the world there
never was such another blacksmith as
mine, nd-and-there!-the kettle is boil
Ing over
aLet itr' said I.
aAnd the bacon-the bacon will burn
let me 60, and-oh, Peter!'
at 20
,olltary wedding breakfast; and there
we're no eyes to speculate upon the brides
beauty, to note her changing color, or
The glory OF her eyes, and no healths
we're proposed or toasts drunk, nor any
speeches spoken-eXcept, perhaps, by my
GOOD friend-the brook outside, who, of
course, understood the situation, and bab-
bled tolerantly of us to the listening trees.
Ike the grim old philosopher he was.
In this solitude we we're surely closer
together and belonged more fully to each
other, for all her looks and thoughts were
mine, as mine were hers.
And as we ate, sometimes talking and
sometimes laughing Though rarely; one
seldom laughs in the wilderness). our
hands would stray to meet each other
across the table, and eye would answer
eye, while, in the silence, the brook would
lift its voice to chuckle throaty chuckles
and outlandish witticisms, such as could
only be expected from an old reprobate
who had grown so In years and had seen
90 very much of life. At such times
charmian's cheeks would flush and her
lashes droop-as though, indeed, she were
versed in the language of brooks.
So the golden hours slipped by, the
sun crept westward and evening stole
upon US.
This is a very rough place for you,"
said I, and sighed.
We were sitting on the bench before
the door, and CHAIRMAN had laid her
folded hands upon my shoulder, and her
chin upon her hans, And now she echoed
my sigh, but answered without stirring:
IT is the dearest place in all the
world"
"And very lonely!" I pursued.
I shall be busy all day long, Peter
and you always reach home as evening
lalls, and then-then-oh! l sha'n't be
lonely."
But am such a gloomy fellow at the
best of times, and very clumsy, Chairman.
and something of a failure"
"And-my husband"
"Peter!-Peter!-oh. Peterw / started,
and rose to my feet.
Peter!-oh, Peter" called the voice
again. seemingly from the road, and now
thought 1t sounded familiar.
Charnlian stole her arms about my neck.
4 think 1t is Simon" said / uneasily;
what can have brought him? And he
VII never venture down into the Hollow
On account of the ghost; l must go and
sse what he wants"
Yes. Peter" she murmured, but the
clasp of her arms frightened.
what is it?" said /, looking into her
troubled eyes. Chairman, you are
trembling is it?"
don't know-but oh, Peterl / feel
a. Il shadow--a black and awful shadow
eere creeping upon us-hiding us from
'.eh other. / am very foolish. am not?
-and this our wedding day.
Peter! Pe-terg"
Come with me, CHAIRMAN; let us go
tosether"
NO, must wait--it is woman's destiny
!" wait-but 1 am brave again; go
- what is wanted"
J found Simon. sure enough, in the lane,
seated In his cart, and his face looked
HlsIer and grimmer even than usual.
4. vh' Peterl" said he. gripping my hand.
oe come al last-Gaffer be goin'."
1oing, simon?"
4 oyln', Peter. Fell downstairs g marn-
Doctor says e can't last the day
~ e'nkln fast. e be. an e be AKIN
~ &C. Peter. 'Wheer be PeterY says
over an over again; 'wheer be the
tF as ! found OF a Aunshiny arter-
noon down in tn aunted 'oner? You
.'snt AZ work 8 marnin'. Peter. 30
come to fetch 'ee-youll come back
=, me to bid 'goOd-by' TO the old man?
Ill come. Simon" / answered;
~elt here for me-"
Nharmian WAS waiting for me- IN the