Year: 1878

|


AusBURN TowNER, IN CHIMNEY CORNER" :"


They had been from childhood, through
their youth and into their manhood. al
though in quite different conditions in
| life, side bv side. almost hand in hand
The one. Abel Hart, the son of a rich and
prosperous banker ,the other fIeber Ayres,
the son of a miller in modest and never
improving circumstaDces--the nearness of
their two residences in Abingtord the small
town in which they lived, being the ear
liest cause of their intimacy.


Perhaps an equilibrium between the two
was brought about by the fact that while
Abel was not positively lacking in any
thing, nevertheless Heber was the strong
er of the two. He was more active and
energetic. physically and intellectually,
was the quicker and brighter. He took
the lead in the sports of the field. and was
ahead In the duties of the school room.


Abel looked upon these things with no
displeasure or envy. He was content to
follow in some paths, while he was sure
that in others he was the superior. There
never was any rivalry between thsm.
There could be none. They were like
two parallel lines, always running along
just so near to each other, and if they
never came in contact, so they never got
anv further apart


Over the difficulties and slouehs that be-
set the paths of of a schoolboy, Heber was
no more willing to help Abel than was
Abel to receive help, and. in the outer life
Abel was just as willing to lend the coun-
tenance and favor of his family.


To make the geomelrical figure com
plete. there was a third person. who, save
Tor her sex, was as intimately connected
with these two as they were with each
other. Rose Adams. the daughter of a
farmer living just outside the limits of Abb
bingtOn, all of them SO nearly the same
age, she year or two younger than He
ber, the youngest of the boys. that their
childish days, and even past them into
their teens, were so mixed and mingled
together that family relations could
scarcely make them more intimate.


With a feminine intuition, manifested
while yet in pinafores, Roses favorite
seemed to be Heber. She acknowleage ged
his free, frank. manly nature. his superior
qualifications mentally and physically,
and naturally became subject to them.
Yet with no such obtrusiveness as to her
likings that Abel could observe or object
to them. II was only in very little
things that her preference was made man
ifest, and most OF these founded on the
apparent worldly condition of the boys,
flattering rather than otherwise to A5el.


The absence OF the rich mans son at
college caused the first separation of any
moment ever happening to the three. 1t
was an intimation Of what the future
would be sure to bring--a separation wild
ening greatly as the years passed on, for
Heber could not follow his friend longer,
or into the sphere where his birth led him.
He was to be what his father had been
before him, as he had taken the place left
by his father. The effect was to draw
Heber and Rose closer together, not how
ever with selfish intent.
| The substance of that which made up
their conversation was their absent friend
his present pleasant situation, and the fu-
ture promising career that was held out
to him. In the which, in neither, was
there spark of envy or uncharitableness.


What else could follow? Who ever
knew of two young people like these. who
could meet with dear delight upon mutu-
al ground, without there springing up a
desire to make their companionship clos
er and more tender.


Heber never directly alluded to his
hopes, but he hugged them closer to him
self, perfectly secure as he thought them.
He believed that Rose knew and under
stood them. His illusions to a certain
time not in the far future, when by pru-
dence he could accomplish this improve
ment on his fathers house, make needed
alterations in the mill, and provide addi-
tional ways to increase their store, seemed
to be so transparent, that one with less
wit than he gave Rose credit for possess
ing must assuredly see through them and
be aware of their inner meaning


The time approached when he thought
he could see his way so clearly that he
could speak openly to Rose, not to have
the plan any the more definitely fixed, per-
haps-for of that he felt quite an absolute
assurance--but simply that the veil of ST.
lence which had hung before the matter
might be lifted. and show what was known
TO have been behind it all of the time.


Abel's college course was run with mucf
credit to himself, satisfaction to his father
and pride 10 his mother. A brief time wa.
spent by him in the study of so much o
the law of the land as would enable hin
to pursue his intended business, withou
constantly applying to an attorney fo
counsel and advice. He was to spend
year or more in Europe, and then ente
the bankinghouse of his father. The lif,
he was to lead had been fixed for him al
most before he was born.


He could see his path before him pre-
pared with parental care, protected OF
every side by all those devices whicl
father knows so well how to employ
He had only known to walk in it. pluck
ing the sweets of prosperity anthe way.


"Before he goes abroad" Heber said tC
himself, 81 must let him know how the
case stands with Rose and me, will tel
her, and then together our happiness will
be complete"


With this purpose in his mind, the seconC
day after Abel had returned home, he was
late in the afternoon in his own room
changing his clothes, preparing to carr,
ont his plan. He whistled gently to him
self as he proceeded with his toilet. think
ing how happy he was in his anticipations
and how pleasant it would be for Abel t
know. while he was far away. that his tw
} friends had become closer and dearer Il
each other than ever. He looked from tn
window. and along the bank of the river