Year: 1873

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CHAPTER XXXIII.


INTO THE LIGHT.


4 For two weeks longer Ralph taught


at the Flat Creek school house. He
was everybody's hero. And he was
Buds idol lie did what he could
to get Bud and Martha together, and
though Bud always "saw her safe
home' after this, and called on her ev-
cry Sunday evening, yet. to save his
life, he could not forget his big fists
and his big feet long enough to say
what he most wanted to say, and what
Martha most wanted him to say.


At the end of two weeks Ralph found
himself exceedingly tired OF Flat Creek
and exceedingly glad to hear from Mr..
Means that the school money had ''gin
aout." 1t gave him a good excuse to
return to .4ewisburg, where his heart
and his treasure we're. A certain sense
Of delicacy had kept him from writing
to Hannah just yet.


When he got to Lewisbu-g he had
good news. His uncle, ashamed Of his
previous neglect, and perhaps with an
eye to his nephew's growing populari-
ty, had gotten him the charge Of the
grammar department in the new gra-
ded school in the village. So he qui-
etly arranged to board at a boarding.
house His aunt could not have him
about, Of which fact he was very glad.
She could not but feel, she said, that
he might have taken better care Of
Walter than he did when they were
only four miles apart.


He did not hasten to call on Hannah.
Why should he? He sent her mes
sage, of no consequence in itself, by
Nancy Sawyer. Then he took possess
sion Of his school; and then, on the
evening Of the first day Of school, he
went, as he had appointed to himself,
to see Hannah Thomson


| And she, with some sweet PRESENT.
ment, had gotten things ready by fix
ing up the scan,ily furnished room as
well us she could. And Miss Nancy
Sawyer, who had seen Ralph that af-
ternoon, had guessed that he was GO
ing to see Hannah. It's wonderful
how much enjoyment generous heart
can get out OF the happiness Of others.
Is not that what lie meant when he
said Of such as Miss Sawyer that they
should have hundred-fold in this life
for all their sacrifices? Did not Miss
Nancy snjoy hundred weddings, and
love and have the love OF five hun
dred children? Aud So Miss Nancy
just happened over at Mrs Thomson's
humble home, and, just in the most
matter-ofcourse way, asked that lady
aud Shocsy to come over to her house.
Shocky wanted Hannah to come too.
But Hannah blushed little, and said
that slAe would rather not.


And when she was left alone, Han
nah fixed her hair two or three times,
and swept the hearth, and moved the
chairs first one way and then another,
and did good many other need ess
things. Needless, for a lover, if he be
lover, does not see furniture or dress.


And then she sat down by the fire,
and tried to sew, and tried to look un.
concerned, and tried to feel uncon
cerned, and tried not to expect any
body, and tried to make her heart keep
still Aud tried in vain. For a gentle
rap at the door sent her pulse up TWEEN
ty beats a minute and made her face
burn. And Hartsook was, for the first
time, abashe1 in the presence Of Han
nah. For the oppressed girl had, in
two weeks, blossomed out into the full.
blown woman.


And Ralph sat down by the fire, and
talked of his school and her school and
everything else but what lie wanted to
talk about. And then the conversa-
ton drifted back to Flat Creek, and to
the walk through the pasture, and to |
the box-elder tree, and to the painful
talk in the lane. Aud Hannah begged
to be forgiven, and Ralph laughed at
the idea that she had done anything
wrong. And she praised his goodness
to Shocky, and he drew her little nole
out of-but agreed not to tell you
where he kept it. And then she
blushed, and he told how the note had
sustained him, and how her white face
kept up his courage in his fight down
the bed Of Clifty creek. And he sat
little nearer to show her the note that
he had carried in his bosom II have
told it! And-but l must not pro-
ceed. A love scene, ever 50 beautiful
in itself, will not bear telling. And
SO l shall leave a little gap just here
which you may i'll up as you please.
Somehow, they never knew how, they
got to talking about the future instead
of the past, after that, and to planning
their two lives as one life.


And when Miss Nancy and Mrs.
Thomson returned later in the even
ing, Ralph was standing by the mantel
piece, but Shocky noticed that his chair
was close to Hannah's. And good
Miss Nancy Sawyer looked in Han
nah's face and was happy.


CHAPTER XNNIN.