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CANADA Belford Brothers, Publishers. MDCCCLXXVI. t A- J. M. Tbout & Co., PKItlTIB* AND 8T«M0TT»»«f. HUNTER, Rose & Co., Bindibs, TORONTO. jo THE yVlEMOI^Y 09 " THE SWEETEST SODL tHAT EVER LOOKED WITH HUMAN EYES." Marion Harland; I \ — — 'r: :::r: it ^e «:.. .*... .» CONTENTS. )aniel Dcronda. ) DHAPTKR I.-" There's Sand-now ! " '**°* II.— Ailsie Darling '^ HI.— Rain upon the Eoof ^^ IV — '• Papa ! " " 36 v.— Headache and Diplomacy '. ^^ VI.— How the Old Tree Fell ''^ VII.-Troth-plight 77 VIII.-Hasheesh ' 87 IX.— In Clover '**''^ X — Kobin Adair \\\ 11^ XI.-(Pool's) Paradise' Lost ^'^^ Xn.-" The Nine Column "....' ^^^ XIII.— Comforted -^^ XIV.-Blessed St. Valentine ^^^ XV.— Home 180 XVI.-The Memorid Pine ^^^ iXVII-How One Promise w;;'kept ■::::: J03 LVIII.-Witch-hazeK 218 XIX._My Oriole .'..■.".■.■ 232 XX.— In the Woods 243 XXI.-.. Good-bye. Sweetheart"'* ^^^ •iXII.— .. Withered "... 268 P"I—" Pulling through-' 278 ™V.-The Winter Robin 288 |xxv.-..At Six O'clock this Morning'"".".';;;;;; ^^^ :i MY LITTLE LOVE. CHAPTER I. "there's sand — now!" ENT to the country to recover his health »" Million Flowers." ^^^^^^^^e Soap and - Balm of a Very white as to face verv hlanh ^^ i i hair and sunken eves!* S bundle „°1 '•^"'j™' ""'' bones and lax sinews, indTfflrent in tv, '""i^-^';''™-""* (t T\ ~~ '■ ^^ '^'^ III this \vm^>' to .& ^a/bet-'e'tS^i-! "' «>» f«,n,b„nse - o-^^v» «a,iiic ui txie iarm-1 been conPigned during my supposed con- "^ 10 MY LITTLE LOVE. vftleBcence. " A Wednesday momin', and the tenth day :"Tn the year of our Lord, Anner Domi^^^^^^^^^^^ it ? We was married-yer Pa n ^^^,'3Kp Jr l^f it ago this very arternoon, Ezry It f ^n t /ear as it it i;i •„ 1,00/ Ppnfp' neace when there s no peace. InihimaW^rhsgC^^ churchyard, with a t^^Ze slun at his Lad this twenty ye-, poor man ! It's fa'r tuk away my appertite-not to say that I had ""^V^u^Srway the howl of ''ryeV Injun bread" cnnkpd Tn milk which she affected, she was careful to nforr^ me at ealh meal, '' because she hadn't no teeth to snTairof " Truth to say, I should have been better sat sfied had her want of these troublesome yet useful Wiances been passed over in silence as discreet. I Xo had had no appetite to begin wi h, nor fouiid aught provocative of zest in the salt-herrmgs and stale bread white and brown, the weak, over-sweetened coffee and cold boiled potatoes that composed the regulation morn?n2 meal. Increased disrelish, and of a more de- SdeHyprseized upon palate and diaphragm at the T' was' mt birthday. I had attained my major- ity speaking after the manner of men. Legally I was free because white and twenty-one. I could even and! descried grim pleasantry in the reflection-make TwUl if I S^^^^ bad anything worth the trouble of Lauea hing over my hand and seal ; might, m law- furserioisness, call all men to witness by these pres- Ints That I was of sound mind, with as many other nWvements of words and as royf disregard of se^e as misht suit my whim. I was the Benjamm of my tribT r^ neither brother, sister, nor W twice-wedded fnther had recollected what anniversary this was, or if latner ndu lev^ui ^f. roeo"nizfi it bv written it were reinembereu, had ea^ea ^^^- ^,"3 ,, ,^V s „ . i,^ word or token. I was too weary and dull to be hurt by the omission. A sense of greater fatigue and of phy si- e tenth day niny — ain't seven year pear as if it no peace ! ard, with a , poor man ! that I had ijun bread" 3 careful to in't no teeth been better e yet useful gcreet. , nor found gs and stale etened coffee le regulation )f a more de- ragm at the my major- Legally I I could even Bction — make the trouble of light, in law- )y these pres- 8 many other gard of sense ajamin of my twice-wedded ;hicJ was, or, if e it by written to be' hurt by and of physi- MY LITTLE LOVE. 11 in^l^^^^^^S^yi!:^^^''^,., she, .ith an Mrs. Ezra Gasldn prided hersplf nnnn nv, acquaintance with the eSen ial rnlT '^^/^Pei'"nental society, country brS though he was T^^ ^''^ acquiscence was " altogether the thW" th ^^''f.' "^ have respected herself^^ad she \aZ to ubo' H^ Jh ' cu-cumstances. "^^ ^^ ^^ the into the porch beWdstdtfi'tllttrv ZT'' upon my retreat ^ ^^'^ former's comment death's dtor. T suess the- » •* '' " ^ '"^ *' into him, even whfn he ttldP ' "'''" '""'''' P^* diier^ncrdid'^t "sinlfe theTt^""'''' '"■"•• ™»* the frame that, tottered dZn the hmS ""' '^^ '""" lapping aukles_to hide iS Hke if), """"^'y ''^«- in the woods-that I had be/,, witj ■ / 'P'"' *"'""'« best wrestler and eaper in mv ^1 " ^°" ">°°th8. the Belf upon the lengthThmb alttT' "'"' ^'J^^^ -"y- in skating and foot races ? ^''^ """ "" "^^'^ ""'" |sheItr^ft%t«|t:Tht^d tr£?? ^ «''■-<' tl'e ber window as a plact wtee I mT4t b„ leS" f^ ''^'"^■ and the misery of my good fnfwt- ^^* '° ">'««'' fully a anarter of , mi'e f ™*'^-»»t''ipgncss. It was [not walked so far si? "mylCs^Thr"'' "f f '"^^ prettUy beyond the maple^tdrs, lite^bS'^and ■QBaBBEl 12 MY LITTLK I-OVE. beecheB taking their place The ^f f^growth th to intowildneHS toward the bottom of the hill, and, blent w^h Iho rustle of the leaves, I heard tl- npp e of wat^r 1 was always thirsty, then-a-days, ^y ^^^^^^'^^ . 3 nouS were drier and hotter for the sound that coloured up the vision of a gleaming, dancnig brook. Sliding d tumbling, stopping twice to rest, I w^nt down own over slippery leaf-mould and mossy rocks, until I stoo upon the bi^nk of a shallow stream, so broad that the sun broke for itself a path between the foliage limng t e banks, and glittered upon the gravel under he bJown water I scooped up tremulous handfuls of the HqS, Ipilling much of it on the way to my mouth, and Tutving myself for losing it. „ ,, u-i t a^ ^ 1 was sorry for myself continually, the wMe I de Huised the unmanly emotion. Sorry-not that 1 was lisin- time from uiy studies, and forfeitmg the oppor- u ity of gaining the class-honour I had resolved to win Sre the pith was taken out of me ; not that my healthy relatives had not concerned themselves more evidently itat my recovery and had taken no heed of my loss of sSsTbut sadly compassionate for one with whom Se feeling of Whatever kind was no longer possible, ?oi whom the lights and shadows of ife had run into one dre^y middle-tint. Sorrier than for all fse t^at I was - so tired !" Not in body alone, but, as I phrased it " tired all through." „ , i j 'l sat down upon a rock at the root of a tree, leaned against the trunk, and repeated aloud the sentence that stands at the head of this chapter : ^, " Sent to the country to recover his health ! T lauffhed. My excellent father had unwittingly per- JrS a ghastly practical joke. There might have Cn a chaSce of^^evivification in the city, where the very air was instinct with the electric stir of human life. Here the only luxuriance was vegetable, ihere, in time,' my spirit might have rallied to the thought that ■ r My little love. 18 thickened md, blent i of water, iroat and t conjured . Sliding ent down, iS, until I broad that [age lining under the iuls of the aouth, and /hile I de- ;hat I was the oppor- .ved to win, my healthy e evidently my loss of with whom 2r possible, ad run into I else t^at I 1 I phrased tree, leaned sntence that !" ittingly per- might have , where the human life. There, in hought that existence was worth the kcopinff, whci-o it hrnnahi c^ much that others, sane in body a mTm ml sS and n^onf ^'f^^^.'^"^ ^"*^ *^^« ^^»» Silence al^^utv?ich I could not take the trouble to npcculate, except to hope ne^ of tireTsdf ''T \ "ll^' t ''' '' "^ '-— ness 01 tired self. I sat all hudd cd together mv Innk hands crossed below my knees, which werrd mwn un fn support my chin, and, because the sun's trSa-down ^f?ifl! I 1?^^' *^^ winter before my sickness T eld her head while we bore into the nearest cS he mangled thmg that had been erect and welfS'tv seconds ago, and stayed by her until a physfdan arrived Ten mmutes may have elapsed while I kielt bv tl o was iSe a haTn ^" P^^**^ ^^^^re it was so pale. I and over, uL my brain Tng IZ Z heaX"^' IZ Malme'drSuSco* '' ^r"^- 1^^"-'^' tSS' story of -TZZmte]' '?f «"°^P*^^%?^.«ce and her tearful of the des7/e f o Jv. '.""^f «omethmg to regret the loss ruin oft much ^^l[ '' ^"^^ '^^^"^^ '' presupposed the JrJfa^A^''!''^ P^'* rehabilitation," I said with a Tdltte" ' *"^^ ^' '^**^"-- - «- ^^--ion: ^; And ^ The clear brown water rippled through the -raises w4p"Sl^^^^^ "^^ beeche^-and Sirch wmspered among themselves, and a lonely pine behind 14 MY LITTLE LOVE. me bighed in the dreamy summer air. A robin chirped near by, and a crow cawed afar off. ' I have only to let go of sight, hearing, and breath and drift out! drift out!" ran my fo^g^^s to the rhythmic flow of the stream, ghdmg down to the un- known river in the lowlands. «^ Dying must be easier work than living when one s vital apparatus was so badly damaged," ^ -^^^f^f^ further still with no liveliness of curiosity. W hat was heVec^e nature of the sensation of leUrngjoJ How much more feebly and sluggishly must the thin curr n in my wrists run before the vems were empty ? And the hea"', would it stagnate gradually or the beat of t^ arterial pump be checked m mid-leap? /^^J^l^yj^^^ wondered, if anything more were needed to end tne Si playing at living, than to stop domg at all-to gve up and be drifted out. I invariably came back to *^i*did not start, as some invalids would have done, at a snlash and spatter in the stream. My nerves seemed Lo weak to be^irritable. But my fingers held my knees harder and my eyelids parted in time to see the eddies close uWn^^^ that had fallen midway between the two banks. With a sense of languid annoyance, I exerted myself so far as to turn my head and look for "tTlf girl stood upon a flat stone Burrounded by water lying about a yard from the hither shore. Her Teft hand was mied with pebbles, and these she pro- ceeded to fUng, with extreme deliberation and unfeminme dexterity as far as she could into the brook, waiting unt Ithe circle made by each had " dispersed itself to nought" be^^^ ^--''^' ^r^ ''TZy.T. mad^e ;ith the forecast of a Philosopher, not with the reckless hilarity of the mere baby she looked to be. When both hands were emptied, she stood Perfectly stUl, her fingers interlocked, still watchmg the glidmg water. MY LITTLE LOVE. 15 chirped breath, to the the un- m one's editated ^hat was I? How current And the bt of the inally, I end the t all — to e back to done, at !8 seemed my knees be eddies tween the )yance, I . look for lunded by ore. Her she pro- nfeminine k, waiting 1 itself to hrow was >t with the :ed to be. fectly still, ling water. At last she stooped as if impelled by a resistless temptation gathering her frock about her that it Zht ri J/^ ^^lu^'^^^'. ^^^ "^^^^ a« if ^^^ would gather a handful oi the shming gravel strewn about the base of the stone, and barely covered by the ripples. She leaned T '^^/.?^ ^ '^P^^*^^ *« '^^ her lose her balance and undid the loose knot of legs and hands in readiness for the rescue should the accident occur. In another brfii r'*''^^ Tl^^'^ ^^^i^' h^"«hi^g ^^^ water from her finger-tips. Putting her hands behind her back, she rungTgrattrd"^ ^^ '^^^^^' '^''^' ^^^ "P- *^^ The grave wistfulness of the face now turned toward me interested me sufficiently to fix my attention upon of LTir'!;*''.r^ *? ^^^^P ^^ motionless in mycoTr^ bv th? d^r '' *^f f^"^'^^^ ^°* ^' ^"ghtened away \IaIJ W '^' -^^^ .'^^ ^^' ^^* ^1«^^- She was, I Ind brnnL '''V'' • '^ ^^^'^ ^^^ ^^^bs, an Sval face and wblt« i ««mpl^^ion, set off by a pink muslin frock back fro^r''; ?'' hair, dark and thick, was combed back from her forehead and bound with pink ribbon fX for'mV^'t"'' *^""^' like agypsey's^erebeautl- Pb /p^ n?. .i^^i^^^ ^0 I'ustic, or forest child, I con- cluded promptly after a study of these "points," simple border of^t"' '' "^^ "* ^^^^ ^^^^^^ she^eemed on the border of the woodland stream. Nor was mv mental ^^wL'y^t^^^ her-'' What is she lookfng Jt?^' but What 18 she thinking of?" ' w^eh niTr'''''' '71^ ^ '^^-^''^ i" *he tree against JlanL t A ''T'^ *^' '^^i^ «f abstraction. She S'S «? ' ^f^ "^'"^^ "'^1^' *he^ «h^ bowed W «rlor '^r!5'^ ^1^^'" *^^* surprised me more than her appearance had ; bounded lightly back to the b«.nl. waked aireetly up to me, and offered her hand:""""' Orood-mornmg, sir ! I hope you are better." 16 MY LITTLE LOVE. ^^^^H i ' 1' i: 1 ! 1 ^^^^^^^B ^^^^^^B Hi Hi 1 ■ \r 1 4 ^^^^^^H 1 i • s*' " How do you know that I have been sick ?" asked I, smiling at her artless politeness. " We heard there was a sick gentleman from the city boarding at Mr. Gaskin's house. And you are so thin and white I knew it must be you. I dare say you will be well very soon. Papa says this country is very healthy. I wouldn't worry about myself if I was in ^^our place." * I smiled now because I could not retain my gravity under the quaint counselling. " Thank you for your good wishes. I cannot be sure that the country ah: will do me good, but you are very kind to care about it at all. What were you worrying over, standing upon the rock down there and staring the water out of countenance ? " " I wasn't worrying." She managed the double r rather awkwardly, a touch of baby patois that was odd in her grandmotherly mode of address. ** I was only thinking hard. Don't you believe there must be the beautifuUest kind of sand and grave? in heaven ? " I tried not to look amused under her questioning eyes. " I don't know. I shouldn't like to say that there is, or is not. I never was there." " Course not !" a touch of disdain in the solemn nod. " Nobody ever went to heaven and camed — came — back beceps" (except) "Moses and Elijah. They wouldn't have done it either only to see the dear Saviour. On the mountain, you remember. I'm pretty certain there must be loads and piles of sand and gravel in heaven, for they are just the nicest things in the world to play with, and mamma says I mustn't, without they are dry 1.3 bones." " That is a little hard— isn't it ?" said I, sympathis- ingly, for her visage expressed deep dejection. ** I should say, now, that they were as clean as they are pretty." She shook her wise little head. " 'T won't do to take things from the looks of them. They get fearfully wet, you see, staying under the water, MY LITTLE LOVE. 17 dry * E^/ ff^'"]^ ^"* ^^^"^^^^ «tonos when they're white dress with ?hem and Tan v H i ^^^ ?^ ^^ "^^« Aunt Evy's bowl Sho 1 %^ ^'"^ i'^'^'^ *^ 1'^* ^"to tellini? her how ihpv i ^"^ V^^^^ "^ ^^^' ^"^ ^'^ been 8tonef,anS she saM^shrhn.^'^' ."\^"^*,^ «^ P^^«i«"« fectlyiovelyl Trey^te'too-'' ''"'* *^"^ "^^^ P^ sweMXso^^ '^'"^^^^ *^^"^^^^ - t^^ -gl^ that ''But mamma scolded-did she?" queried I the daLiCe fn the^;,i '' ^'""f ^ ^" P^* *« ^^d in chickens and children "mlT' ^^f ^'T'^^' ^^^' ^«d singing ou? of^doors Mam'r nl ' '^"''^' ^^^^^^^ ^^^ promises, so I can't wlS^»^^''T,.^^'' ^^^t sl^e the gravd bed Bes^-dp^ f''" "-nodding backward at 'twou'ld be' alham^e'^^^The^S'TL'r^^'*' ^^^ girl to keep her word t" ^/^"^^^ * fj^st such a great though ' I aai rTv fiV. <^ame awf^jj ^^^^ forgetting remembered^ OhT horZ-'lf* ^^*" *^^^ ''^^'^ before I fully harTtodo%.^;^^l^^*,^^^'^ ' "^^•' ^* ^« ^-- fraSsstoXt'^'ST^/' J^r *^ fi-^ fa- do wrong. You look iikP fn 'if * ^n'^^' ^°" «ft^« girl. I L't ^hinuVat y S "^^Tot't" ™.^ say sharp or cross things/' ^ ^^'"P-' ^°<^ Another shrug. ° ' bomed ; that 1 didu'tsee JfA'!t\:Zt ^ 18 »»'» LITTLE TiOVK. i t It! 1 for. Tliat wtts wickca-ilownriKht. And last wook I earned her." ''UliaVcurBcd hor bo areadfiilly that she wont to mamma about it. Mamma mad*^ me ank her pardon ; P'!^'li"?ir'dcaB papa's munt be respecting juvenile "^t^L i!''^ He'lau,hed when Mary wasn't Ic^k- inc t him, 80-8 not to hurt her foehnj^s 1 .s^^^pose. Bu wa'nn't she angry with me ! She told jnamma ^vhat 1 said was the worstest cuvKe anybody e^vihl v ish "What did you say?" curious to get at the phiasc ology of this terrific malediction. It was difticul o 'magine that the lips I was looking at had ever been ^X^^\.^ to the ship that brouglit you over ' 'I was very bad, I .sNi>-pose, but she had thrown away the nest of sweet little tield-mice Joe Bragdon Sfd for me in the meadows and sli^ e^ ^d t^^^ « prnvtnrs ' That's why I cursed her. I d do it again . kSdC up fil'ily in oyls and colour, a«a 'loubh^^^^^^^^^^ l,pr finders I'orcibly npon her palms. It was hateiui . " aCe with you entirely. She ought to have been sunk with the ship. And this tnornmg-what was the """'iTwas the dear :,t. darlingest hop-toad y,a ever sa .^! Tpnncrht it last night and made i^ ■ ^v>^ giass ...ic. cotton in an old cig^r-box that the smeii had gotten out of and gave it a sSpper of flies and t ed some old lace overthe top to keep him from smmldenni^, and put it TnL my M ba'ck againstthe wall where he ough -ah. ve been safe. She found it while I was m the I'rn-yard, digging worms for his breakfast. When I ^■t,me bad- 'ae box was empty." , Her voice faltered, and she winked fast, two or thxc. times. )i week I wont to pardon ; MY LITTLE LOVR. Id nile juvo m't look- ose. But Di what 1 1." 3 phrasc- ifficult to ever l)oen aight you id thrown Bragdon lied them it again !" (ling down hateful!" have heen it was the I ever sa ,v ! grass UV.C1 gotten out ae old lace and put it e he ought was in the . When I ro or three .r.fn iT ^''' ^''^^' '^'' «'"^' I ^^« enough to tret Ti.ln" ' /i "'"^ "P % ChriHtian's houno with hastes. 81 le 7ht ^'''''''''li'^ }''' ^"""*^^ twitching in a sly sm le, while her eyelids droope big, even when she's at home, and my big brother lives away off in Cincinnati and has got a baby of his own. Baby I MY LITTLE LOVE, 21 ainst the ng in the ame near 3d in the } all wet. idmirable come and after that. jt propor- aggestion, I a birch- ns, bomb- table size } barracks il'itecture. yard, and mounted 3 these, ith a tall •, stepping nble. " I hings, but i. I say! Dme down joming up axing fin- ?orth talk- ne to the is to"* big, lives away vn. Baby Evy is just learning to walk, and Eobby is only two- and-a-half, besides having the croup and can't run about beceps where the ground is even and dry. We could have jolly times— you and me— and, indeed, I will be ever so good." I passed my hand over her hair ; searched the depths ol such eyes as I have never seen in another face. I had scarcely noticed until then how rarely beautiful they were. Gray with inky rings edging the irids that might have been the encircling shadow of the long, black lashes, they were fathomless springs of softness and light. "Go through a feUow's if she knowed what he was thinking about, let alone what he's sayin'," said a rouah yeoman of them, once. ^ A page of word-painting would not have described them better. They enforced a truthful answer from me, free fi-om equivocation and banter. " I shall be glad if you will take me for your friend Every morning, when I am well enough and the weather is pleasant, I dl be here to meet you." A horn rang out shrill and importunate from the direction of the farmhouse. I pulled out my watch incredulously. It was twelve o clock. CHAPTER II. AILSIE DARLING. FOUND, next morning, a less precipituous path from the Gaskin homestead to the " crick," as ^^ Ezra called it, than that into which I had stuni bled the preceding day. It was a faintly- worn trail winding around a shoulder of Maple Hill, and skirting the water for some distance below the trysting rock. Advancing quietly by this, I perceived that I was not first at the rendezvous, and was at my "friend's" elbow before she suspected my ap- proach. She was bending forward with a sort of re- strained eagerness in attitude and profile, that warned me not to speak or move abruptly. Directly beneath Gibraltar was a miniature cove, deeper and darker than the main stream. Pendant grasses fringed it, and the stones lining it were green with moss. Beyond was a patch of water-lillies. Stooping to look over the child's head at whatever it might be that riveted her notice, I saw the reflection of her intent face upon the pool, and that it changed as mine fell beside it. She turned partly around, hand uplifted, every feature alive with excitement and welcome. With the other hand she pointed to the shadiest recess of the cove, where lay a fine brook-trout. A chance pencil of light refracted by the sparkling mirror that held our faces in almost un- wavering lines, struck athwart his spotted back, shim- mered down his silverv sides. Green moss and brown opalme water were the background on which he shone ill royal beauty, motionless as a painted king with all his regalia on. MY LITTLE LOVE. 28 tuous path crick," as had stum- intly-worn [aple Hill, lice below by this, I 8, and was d my ap- !ort of re- at warned y beneath irker than t, and the ind was a the child's • notice, I pool, and le turned alive with hand she lere lay a fracted by Imost un- ,ck, shim- nd brown he shone y with all I rod in hand In one secS luT{^TtbroZlt% him this ever-so-Iong. ""w^A a ll^utyT """^''"^ I assented heartily. addin/:r_'' -Hn .r^,. n 'nnd of fish about here 9''^ ^^" ^^^''^ '"^ *^^* onl'S: oTht Lt1n*S;K?e" " ^-'^^ "" poinLlfotteVod '''"!??jf™'- "f mine, like him." wouldn't hav ruTLy f^rif %''"'*? "«"• ., «« body elae had come He isnTfondT^? ''""'''' '^ "»• tell you something," sinkiXZiJtl'^''^'''^- ■ ^'" whisnpv " TT^ • r ."^^"^e> iier voice to a mysterious 3d fairy""'!? thrSIT\^'^^^^^ to a Lh'^a fairy will come alonlz Z^ / ^^^^.^^^d days, a good and he wilirmp oTt^^Ahi *^"f ^^^^ ''^^ ^'^^ wand, all buttoned uZithscJw df*'' '''/ ^'i^^!^ '^*^" ^^'^^t them?adoubTerw." diamonds,-didn't you see "What if I should be the good fairv 9" t o, " I have a magic wand hnur,7 alTl ., ^ ^"gg^sted. |1 ■; «> liil 24 MY LITTLE LOVE. I " If you do ! if you do !" she protested, stamping her foot, and eyeing me with aversion. " I will never for- give you, never ! never !" The tears rushed up and put out the fires. She col- lapsed into a heap upon the grass, sobbing that she had not believed I could be so cruel ! And to her previous tame trout that knew and loved her ! She thought I looked good and kind. " My dear little friend," )^P fain to plead on bended knee, " listen to me ! if yoii^BB stop crying, I will pro- mise never to fish in this pool, or on this side of the stream, another time. Do you hear me ?" She nodded behind the white apron, now nearly wet through. " Tell all your particular acquaintances among the trout to wear a pink ribbon around their throats when they go out walking." She laughed between her sobs. " Fish don't walk. They swim. They are not am- pherlnis like bullfrogs." " When they go out swimming, then, and I will never try to catch them — only touch my hat to them and go on." Down went the apron, and she was rummaging in her pocket, drawing out, first a handkerchief, next a doll's cape, some printed slips from newspapers, a stumpy cedar pencil, a pair of blunt-edged scissors, finally a slender roll of paper, from which she carefully extracted the object she sought. " See what I have ! Mamma gave me the ribbon. I made the flag all by rny lone self ! " I could credit it when I examined the treasure — two square inches of red, white and blue ribbon, put to- gether with an unnecessary quantity of irregular stitches, and fastened more securely than neatly to an old knit- ting-needle. I praised the tri-color warmly, and we sealed our reconciliation by planting it upon the chief -•liijjt- MY LITTLE LOVE. fcamping her 11 never for- 3. She col- ihat she had ler previous e thought I d on bended ;, I will pro- side of the V nearly wet among the hroats when ire not am- I will never bhem and go laging in her lext a doll's !, a stumpy rs, finally a lly extracted le ribbon. I ■easure — two bon, put to- iilar stitches, [in old knit- tnly, and we pon the chief tower of Gibraltar, i„ place of tke withered carding 25 tt ^o'"". t^e sea^rSXtUT= Setf "Mary bothered me, st^a w].o+ t if I would tell her I S JB^. w?* { ""^^ making. As I think sometimes sh jHf J^ ^^^'"^^'^ ^^ *^at girl is f yon always do as you'd^SjeTy?'^ °^* ^^^^^^ ' ^o ''Not itelfhV'Tn.^'?;''^^ 4^-d I -ekly. I suppose evetyrody'S"^^^^^^^^^^ ''Yet ^°°**^f;,^f you would thaU/,.„ She chanted it in s naaoi • gust with the Jame mae Wv^fir^ ^Se-^^"™ "^ ^is- thafral-' ''"^-''''»'* « ? Maybe you'd better try it, : wafhis;?^ t^p^ '; r'St "r '?*° '">'* ^^e' pout I asied : -'Do vou lik^t? i •""'^^ f™™ 'one and "To read poetrv ,1„ *° ^™™ verses?" . thing else unJer ufe st rV^lT ' ^^?'^^ «"'- -"y you something I waaV,v;„„ . ™''' ^''''•' ""'' my tellina just now? lluIdtT^e*" myself, ^vhen yl eaS? iaivofing, one foot bracedaJw '''''^. ^^'^^"g and •'>ck ovpr.Jiov,^: X, ''^^^^.fi agamst a projection -* ^'- ^■ng the pool. HeTlalCibr tossed I > ; 'llil MY LITTLE LOVE. t „pon the ground,' and her very hair seemed to gleam and stir with her animated action. I had expected a jingle of nursery rhymes-Mrs Bar- baUld at the best; but to my astonishment she rushed into Percival's "Coral Grove : " «' Deep in the waves is a coral grove Where the purple mullet and gold-fish rove. LOW. lome 'Least 'twill do out right in the ("Trout's all the same, ^^^ just as well, only'twouldn't BHBo verse, I sttp-pose.) ^^ There the sea-flower spreads its leaves of blue. 1 That never are wet with falling dew, But in bright and changeful beauty shine Far down in the green and glassy bnne. ("Isn't that exactly like? Right down there— don't you see? where my prince was lying?) The floor is of sand, like the mountain drift And the pearl-sheUs spangle the flmty snow— ("That isn't quite so true, for mme has green and brown stones in the bottom. But only hear this!) The water is calm and still below For the winds and waves are absent there. And the sands are bright as the stars that glow In the mo-ti-on-less fields of upper air. There, with its waving blades of green, The sea-flag streams through the silent water, And the crimson leaf of the dulse is ^een To blush like a banner bathed m slaughter— (I knew how to per-nounce that word because it rhymes with * water.') There— t (swinging her arms to and fro) —with a light and easy motion The fan-choral sweeps through the clear deep sea, And the yellow and scarlet tufts of ocean Are bending like corn on the upland lea. I '! there— don't # MY LITTLE LOVE. Has n^ade The top o/TJ?^"^ «P^^^* °f ^torn^H And— P °' *^e ^aves his own." SSri^r ^^^^ ^^-O' ^- ^^- ^ar. ana each syllable as it glZit herfc "'"' "''"'''"S Where the waC"'*,,""' e°W«"h rove, Through ™e SXg" wta""?";^ ^ g. ^ "'e« of the choral grow " twig, the sand ihatTad^Udden"l°''\r''' " ''^'^'""k fortress i„to the moat ™ ^""" *^« wall of the nonslnsl !"''"** ' "^^ poetry !-none of your babyish kas'natoL??trf *r„',ri''!*<' fi»-t Wnd." replied ^"■^gling of admiratTon and ' t f '■^'''"'■^'"S ^'' with a lure was uncanny, wh°"esh; .f?'"™°- The crea- • toe of luminous air) by the anfr^t V ""^ ''"' •^"mmded 'eeing, "when she shut wT -' r^'^' absolutely Ktrayed. There had been' "LI": ^l -*''■'" *^ wordi been tears' onlerfaSaTsh: I! w I I t cSc MY LITTLE LOVE. deluded. 0.eUironeii.or.^^c^^^^^^Ti holding the I'-^nil?"!','^^"'"- „ 8h"was ^ ;„ a very ^^^^B^^^-^- e«; read anywhere m the Bib e by ^^\ ^^^ose chap- That is-'moBt ^^r^^^'^rSon km^^ and Deut-er- ters full of jaggedy ^^^^^!,^^XnTwhy they were put on-o-my ; 1 never could unders^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^ ^^^ ^^ into the Bible. I'm glad I ^^«^* ^^^^^ fi^st chapter of had to write those P^^^^; ,^^,T^,^ed how to be sensibler Matthew. But V^ovjeh^^^'^^^^^ about such things before they wrote x There are only two chapterB of names m « Who taught you ail tms / Mamma, most times, .. Ho ^ to read-do you mean ? J^^^^^^'^ ^^^.t Evy sometimes, Aunt Evy ; I read and spell ^^^ every day when we are at^^o-^;^/^ ,,Uged to let like my learnmg to read, but mam . ^ ^^^^ j ^as nie do it-I was «^t\ ™oTd lam ^" ^'^^'^ ^'-'^ little. When I am ^'^^^J'^'l^f^^ approve of any kmd andmusic she says Papa doesnjPP^^^^^^^ ^^[7Zl':drh^t\«daWtber ''approved" of ^^ SKs cleared b,t^^^^^ " =tmi"ht. out." as she said satisnemj, v. j there '^as a eUght bree.e "^-Ay "«f ^^^.^ooped m a at the hand B than it n a very d beautQ- ary solici- yourself ? irprise. ^ "Why, id I could [ was five, those chap- ad Deut-er- ^ were put e men who chapter of be sensibler Testament. most times, Aunt Eyy did not quite )bliged to let f when I was begin French e of any kind ipproved oi the flag stood artly because tg «' set" upon drooped in a ship-shape at MY LITTLE LOVE. 19 ped into her head last ^S"'\l'''" **"" '"'«' P°P- bower in the woods and ?i^ v We were to build a there altogether soLediv f'~*''° '"""™? -"ve wore to burn down oTbloTAve" ""'^ g'™'!!™'^ house Tenny rate 'twould be derii^f"". ''f ""y'l'mg-elsed. " had heard of counlt X- '" ''.''•'"'"''•" ^'"^ houses the year round-fLTn *^ l""'','? ''™'' '" hush There was a pietre in^ 'book J T"'^' '"f » ''*'=»'<'•" ti-ee. Or was that he name' n! t'™"' "' \^'^"ym "Filgrim's Progress" in i^nfL "'^ !""" who wrote Any way, it wal somethi^^g 1^"' A r' *''%8°«P^1? roots grew ail the way down froi^thp r J,'''"'' ™""''' "'s comical to see the little Zlv!^. u , '"'''• ^ ""s too ■ And people were cooktgl rnt^lnd'li'"''-^'''*'',''''™' ing and saying their nravers^L 1k''''P'"S ''"^ •*=>"<=■ and cunning as couU be Tb?/ "''"" "' comfortable there, on the hill ThatloolJA TVf fe^P-'-vine back call-it tree. WoVd it f,V„ f'f^ ''''<' » what-do-you- Of course I wen eauaL f '" '''" ?P *"'' '""^at it ? -y long legs alrlrmraS l^S' oTh '"^'"'^'!'^' of converting a Yanlteo „,„„ • ' '*' *'"' enterprise tough monnfain-asri^ „«Sr-J'"l .Tiering "^^ a banyan I persuaded myself thaT 1 1't f ^\^?^T neck and aches in shnnljivT j ? , ^ot a crick in the nature ; that Cs too nrt'olross^'f,"'" °' '''' ^ood er. I beheve now that T «L, u u *?^. '"'«'"' Petition- boulders into the creek hid Z '"'''' '^'"'^ *° l"^"™ 'on a stone bridge bSltacroifnfr'?.^ "^ ^^'l' '^ h''™ guiled was I Already byherLtl,-^' ?"""■ .''<'''' «» ^■ worked harder than^I did' "^^# imperialism. She away the cnt boughs as the^'^fj^ "P, =""• ''^anng There were gapsT he roSf%„^7^? ^A' ^T^ •''"'f^ sideralifi vine ho/1 ^--i- . , .^^^ ^"^-^' which the mco"- that we should remelythe^lfeeT™'- J\ '^» ''^<'^««'''7 t-. by weaving .t&^t ^ Z^T.^^ ■r 30 MY LITTLE LOVE. I! k "^ottChS tSrpocket came a bunch of string, ftfeftter?- 1 could not hint at, scarcely think o *''^\?::t7;Ta:u:a;it\uild the bower to-day." ^-ifhafnoi hurt me; I shall be aU right again, *'' ' hC wouldn't mind lending me your Me," she resumed pe-uasively. " I will be careful not to break "'" Do^t'cut your fingers -" was my caution in passing " ?7S^;;iid tl7odl7nothing it it was dull." Wth that, srretired from sight, but not out of ""Twas wiUing to rest. I was really very tired and bleeding grapevine and trampled ferns, ^^f ."PP'Y" tiikle of the water were soothing, not dulling, as on MY LITTLE LOVE. gj to herself, told me that I wn«^ ? •''''' ''"* ^'^^^ sweetly The rustling came nete/nowl^^^ ^^^'^tudl drowsily aware that some sort^f f ^!''\ ^"^ ^ ^a« going on at the back o^Jhe , otl.f1 "fr^^^ery was croonmg was intermitted when 1 1 ' ^ . *^'''^* *^^ ^^eet eniered-chiming in again w'?h hTuT "^ "^^ ^^^^^^ when she withdrew in the^j. )■ ^""^^^ «^ *^^e water covert. By-and-bv T a! ^'^f ^^^^ of the evergreen snatches of Vhat sfc warTd^'lt"^-^"^^' *^ '''^^'^^^ agam and again, shaping i self «n J^.- """^ *"^^' «"»g then subsiding into a musinoi '^^^^^^^es, into words! suddenly, as s^e tugged at L^.^^f' S^^^^' «^a«i«g gathered. ^ It was ncfa chad's son^ 'I'l *^' ^IT^ '^' our acquaintanceshin fbnf u ^^ -t learned later in Evy's/\nd that th^ ttL l^^^^J^^/^^e of "Aun? after happening upon tWords in f, ^^'^ ^* ^^'' ^^^^ ma's books" which had fll«n ^ ^^""^ "one of mam- Grove." ^ ^^"^ ^^so given her the ''Coral I^*^"y/o^. thou falling river Like a dream that dies away Down the ocean gliding-- ' the fleet footsteps went SUo'th'ttt^'St'^"'' •• K««e. bloom .„a tt„ ,j ^ '"/"<"' plantation. the r;pt?tf bt tSlflp^teta- '"^ ^^''<'- ^~- tally a peculiar undnlatmff .L "' ''fPeating faith- second line ended, the sound mflr '" -"l*^ "^'"^ 'he of the distance upon the worT- fl^! "°*^.'''^ ^"'"'ces remembered for many a d^ th., «' "*'' '»° effect I the recurrence of thl * „-? '''^'?.f' er. I waited f„r straining my ears" toleaAenXTi, f'"!'™ Pleasure, ofthe summer air, amorgte^Lf^X^v^™^^^^ mmmm^mmm 82 MY LITTLE LOVE. ti I corae yet without a tho-.Rht of the ' dnftinR out that Td been the retrain of heart and pul^eB yesterday. Not l"at I wa» awakening from the lethargic reaction wl^cl was tU dregs of the fever. This won d not ad- Slte^Vattture r ZtT^^^^^^^^^ L^tho lassHude {had been -"tent shouW swa low up win and enerov. Perhaps it was one of *« di^''^"'^. °J ivaresceirof which 'doctors and friends had prated 'Thand touched my arm; warm, pure breath fanned '"^. Wmvi you sit on the sofa ? It is eyer so much "'^hich''harbeeT-?o«fse"t','-'a little while before. . P'<-Cw'youhaye worked!" I »aid, m self-reproachM gratttudej-l did not dream that you were doing this -..Twa^b^eU^f^pr/^.^^^ ir^cr in her alee as she capered around me, too mucn "g:t^r;e^'ugh1^Vbtd.'TL^^^^^ cut aU I could ?each. And the lounge is very short. MY LITTLE LOVK. 33 Hofl^TlTj" if pientv':;?""'"- , ^hat moans a small in« her gently ?o"my'4,o "Zfwrj' ""^' """■" ''""'• rany yet awliile-not i ntil „.„t , •* ,''""' ^^P""' ""m- keeping." "'' "'^ '""■'>' «''«l«d to house- coming orSalX;- "'"■"'""*"''■ "J^-^P« 1«1>- He's waia\;;gr^:;,;;!;ixss'f ^^ '» ^ -"- « me, as did her vXnVlmt . ^*"''8Ve. and reminded with polysyllables wl at a babv 7"' ""'^"^""^ ^'"^'lo Yet I did /ot put my atm ah^t 1:;™!^"^"" Ti down by me on the tabouref Tf t vf J t ^^^^ nestled then as' after I ImeWher better f^'' i!"^' ^''^ P°«^*^^^ arisen and walked \X fee was f Tf ' '^^^S dignity m her bearing and look with «]i i /^''f ^ ^^ speech, that wouldhavp tn„.?i f'.t^^"^,^^^ ^^^ freedom of her inborn ladylld irm^t « ' '".^'\* ^^^^ takes into considemtion her '%iv v""^ ^^.'"'^ ^^^^ ««e Eve/' and my manly Z-oSv nl. ^f? ^'^'* Christmas old, but I would not Im^cWt^^^^^^^^ kiss her. The right to bnii f i ^^^'^ ^^ "^^ ^^lee, or was the utmo7Ltnt Ti^Zt^' Ll"'^ |^f ?- been vouchsafed to her chose?''S[end ^t 7h?^^ ^^^? pur mtercoursB. .Fortunatelv fm +i. ' ^\*^lis stage of mtimacy I gleaned thtLet^^^^^^^ ^' o^ her teach the lesson to others W+i. •/ ^^^^ ^^^^ hautem: they could not Stue t'^ehStet"" "' 1 asS^dSSeTSSiSr '»™' ^- '•^ -t^" I dinntr-ti'm^'lt TpeS^ ^"".i^S «" Saturday at , first, that I couU't S^i^'^f "^^ , I. thought! at [enough now." i --'"•.:/ ^ue thiuugh u. it's bad "You love him very dearly, then?" 34 MY LITTLE LOVE. "Love him ! I would be burned up alive, chopped into little bits with a hatchet, and never say a word-if he wanted me to, or it would do him any good! She uttered it in a subdued tone, with gesture but the concentrated passion of a woman's heart was m the Xnse face I pray never to see it in another as young, i sh?ver^^^^^ the ridiculous fancies that made me do it the next second. - That would be the last thing he would want you to do," I returned, jocularly. ''You could not love him, if it were possible for him to be so cruel. ^ ., .. -I should love papa if he beat me to death Like the little boy of An-ti-och I read of ^ the History of the Martyrs' They whipped him until he died because he loved Jesus. It was a rough way of getting to heaven but I don't suppose that mattered much after he got there, and it didn't last long. My papa is never cruel to anvbodv and he loves me almost as much as I do Z-^'^Xning to the livelier theme. "Heisthe very bestest man ever was. I am gomg to marry him when I am grown!" "Marry him!" I echoed laughing. She caught me up, defiantly "Course I shall! I must have a husband, you know, and I love him a thousand times bet er than I ever can anybody else. Mamma will be getting sort of old by that time, and he will want me to nde and walk with ^'"But won't he be getting old, l^i^f l^.*9f ^'' ,, .. ^ "Papa! He's so big and strong, I think hell hve a bundled years. I hope so, or that God will let me die when he does. I've often thought that would be a nice Blan for all of a family to die m a bunch, and there P _^,^,'.5t be an-1-'^ V left in be sorry. My sister Mmnie aied oh, a long time ago, and mamma takes me in her Tap not on SuSday evenings, and talks to me about her, My LITTLE LOVE. 35 w'nVSst^tT?>^.'^''^ '0 --. -thout her confidence was the sensoHv! • ?T™' °' 'l^'' sabred already talked of the Cw'« «""''^™ .*"^'""' ^^^ " Thi« i» Ti, *? °^ conversation with a snap satJd'riSrh:^;rl:7or/T"°' --^ «»'" time I was roIm un ?n m,f ^^ '^'"' ^'""' '"-monw. It is Mrs GaskfrsTold^Z'/r/'hS 11''' ".?''■'"' will be wondering where von nr« t^„ f. , ; Mamma it queer that wellve ndtthoSht t'o A""'*-''''**- I«n't names? Mine is Barry Haye" """ another's ^.^^My name is Ailsie." she r;t™d in prompt simpli- ;;El6ie?" I repeated. fathfr'''wt'''r'^:ofchm:r:nd\^ ' "^^ ^^--J ''bose Papa is Mr. DaZgt'T.'lTm LrDSl."^'" '^'- —.a»»j.--«. »<« - - << > S'"^ ti f >""."-" M P ^Wl'm ' iy ' r g^ CHAPTER III. RAIN UPON THE ROOF. T was colourless light, and late in coming, that crept through the windows of my eastward chamber on Friday morning. The sauce pi- quante of Ezra's breakfast was the gratulation, oft-ropeated and dwelt upon with much chuckling and smacking of lips, that "the early hay m . Squire's south medder he'd been so stuck-up about, was cut yestidday, every spear on it,' whi st his !-Ezra's,-would not be ready for the scythe " afore middle o' next week." . , , -That's what comes o' book farming,'' responded his helpmeet. *' To hear Squire talk you'd think the r was a y?ar o' corn in every grain o' dust if a person would only read up faithful on agricultoore, and chimis- Ty and sech-like fol-de-rols. Its jist as well he should be learned a lesson by the ways o' Providence, wunst m a while. He has it easy enough, a sight too easy tor £yrowth in grace, most times." '-The OK knoweth his owner and the ass his master s crib ' ' piped the grand-dame, mumbling and mouthing over her " rye'n Injun " mess. " Deary me ! my jints a^he like 'twas going to be fallin' weather. And the smoke drawed down the kitchen chimbley for quite a spell this mornin'. How's the wind, Ezry ? ^'straight out east. Couldn't be wuss fur them as is foru'd with their grass. All sorts o' signs of all-day T 1- -A +v^- «v;«i,n«a " rjmTi+iTia tbrouffh a win- ram. LoUiS. Uh tac cHiuiiviii.', i' - — o ; — j' 11, v„«v. dow that commanded an unappetizmg view of the barn yard. " If ever you see 'em a-straggim' 'round regard- MY LITTLE LOVE. 87 stiddv rn^n \^f^P''\^omm' like this, look out for a 8 zMr cftokln ^!f^T' 5V*- 'What's the odds? ' aloiethis ere job IS through with. Mought list's well torn ' S- "^r^ ^?.f ^' ?^^^^^'« ^'^^g'l^r 'cording to us torn That's about the ticket, Mr. Have?" val nf h,-r>, '""'' ^'^- '^ ^«etiou« before since my arri- Indexhlarr'l- ^'u^^'S '! ^^* «^^«^^d *« ^Btonish sZokK«f+ "^^ u He laughed boisterously, and " There's fbrrV^/ ™^"^ ^^*^ *^^ ^^^* «^^t^^«e : lueres the first drops, sure's vou're Imrn nn^ t am't a teapot! What's L time o'Sy ma ? '' Hs J name for the wife who had never bo%e him a hSd Seven-an-a-quarter, sure's gun's iron! I sed so' ' Eain Sain'rdo^rT^-'/."^?-'; ^^- S^^i^' -« l^«w -^ grass am t down I km take life comfortable." difiPo^fi? ""* *^''^''^ ^^ S^^^*^'^ «ver his neighbour's eJuaX ir.l'''^. ^'' ?r ^^^"^i*y fr««^ damigewas Zrf/oT J ^""^1 ^^T^lti^g to me. I did a little sum in mental and moral arithmetic while I turned the sauare ui my Plate, in quest of a corner vulnerable to knifp field o7tW^-"'?^\*^ *^^*^- I^ the wetting of ona pn n *J\Squire's hay afforded him such exquisUe SSlof^rb^'"'*^ '''' ^^^^^*^ heaven would he liXnini ^ .u^ P/osperous man's house and barns by una out at my leisure and to my bewildermenf fbnf [prosperitv. esneciallv th- offl„.-,_'^„.iJ^" • ^^^^ that lof intfllUffor,* ««♦" — •'• • "^"^^ce wniun is the result Hod^e'« nn.* ^?*''P"««' ^« always a noisome stench in Hodges nostrils, and resented as a pointed reflectioS (:l'^%i. .![ 1 . b ill 38 MY LITTLE LOVE. upon his estate of intellectual and social underlinghood, which cannot be condoned or forgiven. " Squire's a main smart man," maundered the old mother, with the fatal facility possessed in a superemi- nent degree by superannuated grandmothers of saying the wrong thing in the nick of time. " A proper nice man. So's his wife. Em'ly Barrow she was. Ther' ain't no such purty girls these days as ther' used to was. Well, well I Time flies and the poor ye have always with you. She come of a prime family, did Em'ly. I guess none on 'em '11 disgrace the name. She alius had a bright eye in her head, and a sweet word in her mouth — had Em'ly." " Ther' ain't many things easier did nor to be pious 'n ppp'lar when a person's got both their pockets full," pronounced her son. " Nor to carry yer head high when you hain't never hed no trouble to bring it low," was his wife's appendix. "I hain't no opinion of high-flyers, no matter how civil- spoken they be. ' A haughty sperrit before a fall.' Ther' ain't one of them Darlings but is too high-strung for comfort." ** * Man is born to trouble as the sparks fly upward,' " quoted the irrelevant grand-dame. The Gaskin memory was an arsenal of Scripture texts, used more frequently in the devil's work of " all uncharitableness " than in any other. ** The Darlings ! " The obnoxious Squire was proba- bly the ** Grandpapa " at whose house Ailsie was spend- ing the summer. I checked my motion to quit the table and give up the matutinal meal as an ignominious fail- ure ; helped myself to another mottled saleratus biscuit and kept my ears open. My meeting with Ailsie had been the only break in the dreary aim of my country sojourn, and whatever related to her family history could not be devoid of interest. Even the back-biting chit-chat MY LITTLE LOVE. gg " Ther's the olV I ^ -^ m-doors. "^ you know him, Mr!* Cy7?f ^'& ^'7' ^"* ^^^'- her scalpel pending the appeal to mo ''f suspended likely you must 'a' heard of pJ i 't. A^^^^ay, it's the same city. He's soL/] • ^ -'^'Z ^^"^^"^' ^i^^n' in can't rightly say what Wl f iu *^" ^""^^^^ ^^ne-I " West Ingy mrchanf i ' *^^"^^' ^*'« woollings." husband. '^St's as nil? ''^^'- *'' ' " ^^^^^^ted her things." ^""^ ' '^' ""'Sh as wimmin gits to most ^^^'-^^^^^^^ -^erbred igno- application so far^as I have had nn "' ^ '"/^ ^^ ""^^ '^^^I ^°g. The less a man Ws ot .nST^''-^^ more nearly he annrnv,'^ * 'xi ^^^ ^^r himself— the the lower aLmals-the ^o- ^ ''''^'"^^^^ Acuities of pate of the mental powers 0?^^*'""^*"^"' '' ^i« ^^ti- belonging by thraSeS of 1 T' ^^P^^^ally of those carriage to^his beXfe^te '"''' '' *^^ '^^"^^^^ ^^ his motYef :;iri ^eb^^g^r^!^^ -^^^ observed jest so-allers ! But as T^fin ' ^^\«^^^ted pa was hard with us, men wnnM 1 ""^ ^^^^ they're too come feedin' tme Ih iin^^Vff^' «^^^* '*hout us! conscience. T^., ^t p^n Mr'^^R ''^*^ ^^^ ^ ^««d' another used to say the samP fV ^^^''^'- ^^ Poor jest the same. She was a^l?^^^ ""^'^ '^' ^^^^ alive, Ther's nothin' truer Jhm Zf,r"^^^\?y ^^*^^^ ^as Hr. Haynes." ^"^ *^^* *^^:>^ - ^all run that read chance to answer my questfon " ^' ^' ^^'""'^ ^^^ ^0 40 MY LITTLE LOVE. .i 11 "Guess he ain't sech a big bug as he'd hev people think," grunted the gratified Ezra. " For all he swells 'round sc when he comes to the country. A tadpole ii make more splash in a mud-puddle than a bull-frog will into a miU-pond. It's Hkely you'll run agm him some- wheres this summer. He ain't nowise sociable with us plain folks, but he may pay you some .'tention, seein you're one of his kind-like. The hull kit 'n boozle on 'em air stayin' to the Squire's for quite a spell. ^ "Hev you found out yit whether they're payin board or not ?" questioned the wife eagerly. ^ " Stan's to reason they'd orter,' was the answer. i was kinder soundin' Jabe Wyckoff 'bout it, last mght. He's been workin' there some considerable this sprmg and summer. He 'lowed he'd never seen no money pass between em, nor heerd no talk o' bills, but that dont prove nothin' ! They're a desprit close-mouthed set. The "stiddy rain" predicted by Ezra and his intel- leetualpeer, "Mr. Chicken," lasted all that day and the next, and my state of body and mmd had, by Saturday night, passed over the jagged bonds of desperation into the mire and darkness of despair. I had read such books as my sister had packed in spare corners of my trunk to keep other properties fi-om "ridmg to their own damage and that of their neighbours, until I was nearly Wind. They were, for the most part, hght liter- ature of the frothiest order, selected, I imagined, far st, because my mind was supposed to be in need ot dissi- pation and distraction ; secondly, because pamphlets were less likely to tumble my shirt-bosoms and rub holes in my cloth Sunday-suit than stiff-backed and sharp-edged volumes. Two days of tbiB cooling diet so effectually dissipated such powers of thought as had survived six weeks of fever and six days of country recreation, that I was in danger of permanent distrac- 'T'made no pretensions to "keeping the run" of the hev people 11 he swells . tadpole '11 ill-frog will him some- ble with us tion, seein' l' boozle on ai." layin' board nswer. " I last night, this spring money pass t that don't thed set." id his intel- day and the Dy Satmrday leration into i read such »rner8 of my ag " to their , until I was t, light liter- agined, first, eed of dissi- e pamphlets ms and rub f-backed and Doling diet so ught as had 8 of country ^nent distrac- run " of the MY LITTLE LOVE. ^j various stories. Plnfa fif +v,^„ incidents and < J™ J *:::7wMhTi' """fr'T' pulpy mass of mv brain i;i,„tr' '"'", '«»Pf!ct to the Bchdar's ideas of the Me LZ-'T f-l"'? ^j"'* ^ass '■ floating around lool^ sometw S ",''■ f '"'''™°> *fy room, hestrewed wX v,^ ' " •"'''*J"''e paste." '■ novels," than Zch noi^h^inf il ""' P"l>le-coyered niore stde; witrthe su en » 1:^.^'° '^'' "»"" >>« Blunting roof, and the some«™„ f * ™'? "1'°° *h« jate drip from the 'etlvT,.„. "1' """''time delibe- V top o^f the ^rcVhSa nf ZlV w^I^ "'"'" 'egrees preferable to the scenes am =„^-'t iV^* """"y have never marvelled a the stm^iTyl^/f/"" ''^'''i I., a^rage country mind since JhS'L™' fZlTJ ,«cs-fSi:r«s's:r^"-' ve been rearly daik when oni rfi r'" -'l ■''"y^' ■"»«' casements. A snacTlh^t «^! i "i* «1'":d'stant from Mm , i '^ MY LITTLE LOVE. kitchen, the fire being " comfortin' to her bones of a damp day," she informed me with unflinchmg regularity three times per diem, and on as many other occasions as I chanced to encounter her. She rattled m cupboard corners with a very quilly turkey-wing to get out the dust ; rattled inside the pots with a stick tied to a wet rag and rattled the covers in patting them on, rattled plate upon plate and dish against dish ; always dropped the stove covers upon the hearth before rattling them into their places ; knocked down the shovel and tongs twenty times a day, and made so much rattling m get ting them again into position that one might have sus- pected her of practising tongs-and-bones for an Ethio- pian serenade ; rattled chairs over tables and tables over the floor; broom, dustpan, scrubbing-pail and brush over everything, until I, condemned to hear all through the thin flooring, was diabolically tempted to wish that the death-rattle might make a seasonable abatement of the nuisance. I could have borne it better, if she had not talked to herself incessantly, when alone. Once passing along the entry on my way to the well for a pitcher of cool water, I. saw as well as heard her through the kitchen door, which was ajar. Her head was tied up in a blue handkerchief and she bad on a chocolate calico gown. Her glasses were on the tip of her nose, and while she scoured a milkpail with rattling nails and knuckles, she jabbered in this fashion: " Myry Coles said so, and she'd orter know ; Myry was a spry girl's ever was. Eighteousness and truth meet together. My ole granny always held out there weren't no manner of use in putting a mite of salt into soft soap. I never see sich another to make butter and hive bees. Ontil the land be des'late and the cities 'thout inhabitant. Ther's no gittin' 'round comfortin' Sr.viptpr like that, let Ezrv say what he likes. They might talk to me till Doomsday 'n' nobody shouldn't make me say 's how blue vit'ril ain't equinomical fur to MY LITTLE LOVE. 43 dye yarn and carpet-ratrs Avirl« +V.-. . Hannah Jones -ihe was Don fnl v "" ?'^?"'^ «^^^"- wife. His second wis a S^v '"Thfr';^ *^^^^ Dviioman. He didn't set no mmfn -.u ^ ^"^* ^^^ a . Nobody ever intimMZTS ^jf" u"'"' ^""^ ^''''' insane. Sl.e was reputed atU^^^J^^^^^^ was geners to be "wonderfnl ^mot^ / I kinsfolk and con- I regained -y cSl Tn^tS^' 'Ti^^^^^^^^ ,^«*: - tliat gave me the choice betwppn +1,^ x ?**^^^^ ^^air left and the big barn o^^ *^' P'i*^ *« ^^^d on my two-Jeaved doors^of Xch I^LM^^^~l^^«"g^ ^^^ ;tenng about" the Zskv -+ ' ""^ ""^ "P^*" |8leeves-I entered mjon^^W^"''':, '\ ^'' «^rt- ealculation of the causes wht^T^^''.^ "^^^ inspiriting senile maundering ?hatipV^^ '''^''''^ *^^ ^^^bit of l>ei.g the object o? rfffctionlt'e venerS^^ '"^*^^^ «^ |her surroundings and by thp W ^ u * <^^amped by fhat by which her husband and tns and f. ^^^^«^«od, Msociates "set no store "--thp rf-?-^??,"'"^^«««line ambition had narrowed yearly „n Jl"' /^^*^««ght and irown into autumnal fuInefsVi^ll ""M ^^^ht have Ihrivelled husk in which the dp«^ i.^''*^ ^^^ ^^^^o^e a k«ely, without order or seauetp ^^'^^^« ^^ ideas lay Uder that everythLg eL\S,/°°^ ^^^ soul ! what ier son would be no better at ftl^ """^^^ ^^^ *o«ch? y which he did ''set stoip. »f '^'^^^^"- His piety, rthodox Church^wou Id be «'« «^ '!i^". ™^^ i^ an , AU this time the TaTn poured ^'"^a^^^ ^^^niulated. pof, spattered, gurgled and ^1?. !??t^^ "^^^ *^^ l^ouse- f e wooden guttrfxactly ^y^^^^^^ *^^ ^''^^ i^ e shingled porch. Snd nZ?^ ''!^?°^' ^^^^ "Pou e landscapes was buf sei^.^^^^^^^^^^^ oopmg veil of cloud, anTS^ of fi^ ""'^T «^ *^« Needed by others when tW I. f ^""^ '^''*' ^"ickly hder the superincumfi *^eT4^^^^^^ the earth PJ ashamed to confess my utter ^Ir^ ^?isture. I am 11 considered was the Z I thenTnd ^^^^^^ «^^«^ 1 men and there committed 44 MY LITTLK LGVB. to the register of memory, that I would abjure farm- houses and the denizens thereof, for the brief remainder of my unnaturally worthless existence. Had I been but a degree stronger in body, and, as a consequence, in moral courage, or had my city home been more alluring, I should have fled incontinently by Saturday morning s stage, and braved my father's wrath at the violation of my tacit pledge, to give country air a fair trial. I ought to be ashamed to own that I called the longing for the sprightly companionship that had enlivened two fore- noons of the week "puerile," judged myself to have sunk very low in the scale of reason and taste, for thinking that the Gaskin home-stead itself might be endurable even in wet weather, were Ailsie one of the inmates. Saturday night came at last. I had despaired of ever seeing it, a dozen times that day, and I went to bed early, to be kept awake for hours by the rattling "rain upon the roof," and the noisier water- spout above my window. I seemed to have dozed but a few minutes in a discursive miserable manner, when the rising sun shot a volley of gold-tipped arrows between my eyelids. It was Sunday morning, fresh and glorious, but so wet in meadow and footpath, so mu:y as to highways, that neither I nor the Gaskins ventured beyond the yard-gate in the forenoon. My sister had slipped in some rehgious periodicals and papers, furnished doubtless by my step- mother, among the novels. I nodded over a batch of these at one end of the porch shaded by the "Matrimony- vine," while Ezra snored outright and outrageously in his arm-chair at the other, Zion's Herald and Gospel Trumpet spread over his face to keep off the flies. The "women-folks," Ezra's nomenclature for mother and wife, meanwhile clashed and clattered over the roaring hot cooking-stove, getting up the "big dinner" of the week. It was past three o'clock, and the afternoon, although warm, still held the freshness of the two-days' storm MY LITTLE LOVE. 45 The swoien crePk^on '•*^''^?^ ^''^'' ^'^^'^ ^^ti^s. that I emil^ r,nf Zj *i,^ "^ . ''«'=anse I was sorry attacLe^ ^"^d some M J'/„ ™,? '^^ ^'^itO^S-need choRpn li»„;„r „ V»-'^nf«sqne. Ihe situation was well and I hilf^ natural avenue open to the creek side Spin "L'^oC'tSt 't: *'r 'J"^^^ s rM *?'t *-'i -'dtil'-iruTttZd™? woJ d'be p^dent L r^ ""' ?°. ''^^ P'^""-"^'" ^^^ ' wildernts': 5„nr^^^^^^^^^^ '""^^ *" «'^ tr £95?!"- -- -^^^ held her hand, and wSked n the «„! i,?™."^T° ie,ve" y eo- -4 "'' '""^ "''y 8!ladly, before I could f r 46 MY LITTLE LOVE. is; "This is papa! " said my "friend," gravely gracious during the ceremony of introduction. "Papa, this is the kind gentleman I told you about— Mr. Barry,"— pausing and looking to me for the rest. " Haye," I supplied, smiling. Mr. Darling took me up: "As I anticipated! I met your father, with whom I have had a business acquaintance for some years, in the city on Friday. He told me that you were boarding near us for the summer. T should have sought you in fulfillment of my promise to him, even had not my little daughter here told me of your goodness to her. She has reported such wonderful things of your joint achievements in fortification and bower-building that her mother and myself fear she may have been troublesome." I denied this with equal politeness and truth, adding to Ailsie that I had missed her dolefully in her absence. "Not more than she has her new friend," said her father. " She was positive, scripture to the contrary, that a second Noachian deluge had begun." After a few minutes had been given to lamentation over the effaced fort and rejoicing that the arbor was rather improved than injured by the; rain, Mr. Darling turned again to Ailsie. He was evidently very proud as well as fond of htr. " My daughter, will you deliver mamma's message, or shall I?" She repeated it as prettily as she had performed the introduction. Mrs. Darling sent, with her compliments to me, an invitation to take tea and pass the night at her father-in-law's. ^ " You are to stay all night because the evening air isn't good for invaliders," Ailsie explained." Nevertheless, we passed the interval between tea and bed-time upon the broad porch running along the south ironi 01 iii'c x/iiiimg iiumosteaa. xhe lamiiy proper con- Bisted of the elder Darling and his wife, as fine speci- MY LITTLE LOVE. rely gracious *apa, this is r. Barry," — ing took me srith whom I yeava, in the ire boarding Light you in aot my little o her. She your joint ing that her oublesome." uth, adding aer absence. I," said her le contrary, lamentation e arbor was Mr. Darling sry proud as 's message, rformed the ompliments ;he night at evening air 3en tea and g the south proper con- i fine speci- 47 Sirptjcid and\f^''^^«"^^ manor-house could nave proauced, and their youngest son. Wvnant « anxr Lmry l',r ''' *^^'--t-n. The rLToi- a lafgl fn^ f f}^^^^^ were out in the great world with famihes and homes of their own ' humdrnrrTK ''^''?u ' ^^^"^ ^ ^^^^^^^ variety in our humdrum life is thq visit of our son and his homp reasures," remarked lovely old Mrs. Clingto Se" and how pleasantly the sound of children^ \ oiV^ brings back thoughts of the time when I had all mv httle flock about my knees everv evening La^I i ^ was never still during the day '^ ^' ^ *^' ^'°"'' thaTr;«^f^''^'^ ^^^^^^ .'?*"'"^^^ *^^ affectionate smile that rested upon her, with Baby Evy in her Ian and Bobby hangmg upon the back of her chai? ^ hubbub'"''rbo'If^ grandmother who would tolerate the aSi W^^lt' ^''^ ^^^"^^' Mr. Haye, how do- and scervi:f./?rr^^ *« ^'~'^^ mountain a r nlaPn «fW ?i ^'" ^^^P^*^^^*^ of this blessed resting- place after close rooms and streets in the city ! " While her elders talked, Ailsie sat upon a stool bp if ol miiht inZ f ^y ^^°^-«hair, perfectly quiet,' and ented f«/l ^^'^""i^-'" ^^^^^enance, entirely con- tented. As the sun sank into a sea of such transmrprif goldenness as belongs to June evenings and n'r^t^^^^^^^ he Ty^tdTheT!? '^^"^f/^^"' P-^Ie Zr ^gtnst the vaHev^ HpL T.i"""'^ ^"*^ ^^^^"^^ ^^iU^^^B in mered n?!;. ^fy ^T^. *^''''' "P°^ ^^^ P^^ms, glim- Sr?pe andTovil r^^* ^'^'.f ^''^ "P°^ ^''^^^t ^^^ brow 01 ripe and royal nature ; the gleam of lake or pond or t;am'''soor?h"^ '""t r" country of\3untaS la^ A ^ • x^°' *^® *ree-shadows on the lawn grew into renewed distinctness ; the dusky mother bedecked her self with ornaments of ^ihr.y in.....^ r\..-r^^^, Z^^^: outliupH nf ihc. r^^, i. '■ mo..rad VI -^oid; the hard awav th«i wl ^«,V^*ains were softened, and farther away than when they had seemed to close, dark and ff^' I'f 48 MY LITTLE LOVE. lofty, in upon us with the withdrawal of the sun. But in the valleys the shadows never stirred, and the gorges roVhtJT''" w/T*^^-^^^^ gloom, 'even whe'nfh t^ns oSd Inn^?? 1^' ^'^'' ^"^ ^^^*^ «^ *1^^ WO^^^ed hill- tops and looked full upon us. The smaller children were sent to bed, and the tones of the group left upon the porch were lo;er, made gen' scene. The genial flow of conversation, with its exnui- site flavour of refined breeding and genuine good ,? Hreside to the time-worn traveller, was punctuated S o7Th:T''"'''' Y r''' '^^'^ these^he sacred hS Mend Tb^n^^ '^'^' t-."' f ^^^ '^'^^'^^ ^itl^ ms iriend. The advancing tide of moonlight flowed in ^^l ffj^""" '^**^°g ^^^r^«* ^^^ edge of the piazza washed the hem of Ailsie's white dress! crept upTth^ hand lying with lax, still fingers upon her lap -onward and higher until it showed h?r face, paled by the chaste lustre and brought out the sheen on the ri^ of dark hair tossed back f^om her forehead. She was gaziiig steadily upward, her thoughts further awarthan h^ shadowy Ime of the most distant hills. Chfld h won- dermgs, the outreaching of an immortal soul beg nX to be reverently conscious of what it might be-what reach and enjoy-were in the look upon which none o us who were observant of her dared remark. bilTf 'Tfu^f *?' feeling-fraught rests to which I lamily habit on Sabbath evenings. The sound was scarcely more than a measured breath at first, Tnd seemed to escape her involuntarily. The words were audible presently, and the movement more alsured It was a chant ; a Gregorian, with which we were all fami- f Tu . ,.e motiier jomcd in softly with a sweet second father and uncle followed, upbearing the chiTd voice into the sun. But and the gorges ven when the he wooded hill- and the tones er, made gen- the hour and with its exqui- line good-will, s and his own J punctuated, ese the sacred speaketh with ight flowed in >f the piazza, ept up to the lap; onward by the chaste pples of dark 3 was gazing ^ay than the 'hildish won- )ul beginning ht be — what hich none of t 3 to which I rding to the sound was ^t first, and words were assured. It ere all fami- Feet second, Id-voice into MY LITTLE LOVE. 49 capable?'' ^""^ '^'"''^^^ '^ ""^''^ ^ ^^^ ^^^ ^^^^^^^^ it " I will Uffc up mine eyes unto the liiUs ib rom whence cometh my help My help cometh from the Lord, Which made heaven and earth. He will not suffer thy feet to be moved ; He that keepeth Israel shall not slumber'- Behold I He that keepeth Israel " Shall neither slumber nor sleep. Ine Lord is thy keeper ■ The Lord is thy shadow upon thy right hand. The sun shall not smite thee by day Nor the moon by night. The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil. He shall preserve thy soul ; The Lord shall preserve thy going out A ud thy coming in from this time forth. And even forevermore. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son. And to the Holy Ghost ! As it was in the beginning, Is now and ever shall be, World without end I Amen ! " the^'chnVwho'hni'T', "'"• Hr^^"^ '"""''« 'he stars, lue cinm Who had led us m the service of nraise nrnoo siently, shook bands with me, kissed the Xrs still Z'ZZ'J'''"'''''' '"■■ 8"'""e ^'«P - mere Sob S of TO?ir 'bllv '"^ • **'? ^ ^member this, the beginning ot your holy mnustry to my undisciplined spirit the tenderness and grace of your unconscious bSL of the things of the better life and showing them S me moTdivT'sid:'?,!'.' f 'P'T? '^-' I ™rduTand':om! Luon Clay beside the fine clearness of your soul— tea rq say for me what words have never expressed ! CHAPTER IV. "PAPA?" 'llh! Tvr *^^'' \'^^^*^ ^^*^^ ^y introduction ZTap!- #t' ""! ^ '"^^^^ i" *tie country, lim dvpfn P^''^^ P^'^'^^' ^^*^ ^^^1 baskets and lips dyed as darkly as were our fingers. °^^ was as plump and brown as & nartrid^p and as fleet of foot amidst stubble and brambles I^ IClt di^^^^^^^^^^^ ''' ^^^ dragged me over stot r^.M' 7- i u .""''^ ^P^^gy marshes by the shortest route which she knew as well as any crow that flew- and, I was inclined to think, like thebirds of thelir by motinct— to the " big piece " ' deZSiot" '' "'^*'' ^^'^^ '' ^^- «h^ — d our I gZ'''''" ''" ''^'" ^^"^ ^'* **'""" •'" ^"^^ ^^1 *b^ answer I found it to be a square half-mile of wild rn^nb^rrv vines packed as closely together as they could grow an^ it d« Tl^ ^'"^'T ^''"^ ^^' ''^^ ^^d encompassing high and^rdt' 'w^b'nd ^T'^ '^''^'^ ^^^^ briar8,Ya?es and iruit. We had made a picnic of our iaunt takina llTrti^^Z^ I'^r' b^«k^*«' ^«d dutifulirempS ried jungle. We had famous appetites, both of us -c«, ,ma .D„ jjtoea ol conTaleaceuee lor evervthintr ediblp was mighty upon me. Ezra had ceased to c»f at my MY LITTLE LOVE. 51 she named our all the answer disrelish of such "huUsome vittles" as stale "rye'n Injun 'and fried pork with the rind on, and my discus- sion, after a two-mile walk, of Mrs. Darling's cold chicken, flaky biscuits, and the '* wonders," well-named tor then- crispness and flavour, would have been a study to any one but a hungry man— or child. "There are so many berries we needn't pick any beceps the very biggest," said sage Ailsie. , But even when we followed this rule we were not long m piling our baskets until not another would stay on the hear '' _ "If 'owd on the tops we shall have raspberry jam, X oi,served, and was rewarded for my bad pun by the flash of eyes and teeth that never failed to applaud anything approximating humour. Home we trudged in great spirits. My knees were somewhat unsteady from stooping to the level of the berry-bushes, but Ailsie did not flag in step or tongue. ' '1 .u"""^^ "?"* '*''''^S " ^" tete-^-tetes. In company , with three or four others, although these might be mem- ' fhn^o T^ ?n^^^' '^^ ^^' 1^«« *^lkative as a rule I than are most intelligent, sprightly children, in like cir- ^ cumstances. A nonpareil of a listener, she was appa- rently so much engrossed in gathering information, silting It, and storing away in her retentive memory what was worth preserving, that she had no leisure for communicating her own views and feelings. Her great gray eyes lost nothing that was to be seen, and her ears [and wits were as acute. To-day her chatter was illimitable, receiving impetus at every yard from bird, beast, leaf and stSne. ^Her taste for natural history was a passion, and her love for all dumb creatures exceeded the bounds of gentlest i^.,* "i r,^"-^' ^^^ opeeiaity mat summer, if an h«vZna^''* '^ '^ -5^^^' ^^ ^'' ^^^S^ ^o'^ld be said to inave one, — was spiders. IHMitf 52 MY LITTLE LOVE. m.l?/'' «?'T' '^ *^T ^" ^^ *^^ ^^y-*i«^« I can't lh% S u^'^ discoursed to me in the thick of a bram bly field, where dewberries were to be had by the bushei lor the picking. -You wouldn't believe that eveiv morning, when there's a heavy dew, the who e of'tld^ held Ms as If it was covered with ;hite Tace WWto al^::!^ taiint^^ pearls strung on it", 1"^!™ n a uieastpin and pair of ear-rings Aunt Evv has— wln>n and shiny as frost. I used to make beheve that ,' fames had been washing their balwLtes a d had hung txiem out to dry. Now, see here ! this is what Pd like o know! the webs wouldn't be here 'less he spiders had put them on the grass and bushes to catch flreVand knats and lady-bugs and thincr« Tl,o+'a h f i , about spiders Ly^^Xkni tfngs l^tl * HaS^^ in/fLfl"^' and grasshoppers before they are grown and butterflies that aren't strong enough to break mil of +?,. cobwebs. I wouldn't hardl/believf it til^^^^^^^^^^^ • II lj^^,^\l?^ punished them properly ?" No Why should I be cruel because thev were ? Specially as they didn't know any better, and as the to7' Fofan th"it 'r" "^^"^"^' ""'' £' n^tur w r roi all tnat, it s an udv natnrp Rnf «« t gyri *" \f r"' ' '""^ » tame one" n'a ulZoZ tilted „p tbe leastest b t at the sMe m', he conld hreX A beauty-yellow with black stripes like a ti^er ^V,!l' eyes hke yel ow beads. He wasn't'^so very tam? either -irencK and his tame spider in prison. Well ' T Wi^A myverybesttoteadi him to eat bread and ugar and Zl^u -^^ ^'^' °''' ^^«^- ^"*' Wess you ! he fust n^ouMntf He was real obstinate about it! I can^t heln hoping he would have behaved better when heTot weH acquainted with me. I .«^-pose he was shy at fiTs Wi.Tr Vi — ^ 1% -^i^o\t, Detufe he learned anvthinff Why, there must be a thousand spiders hiding some-' 3 day-time I can't > thick of a brara- had by the bushel 3lieve that every the whole of this hite lace. White n it", like those on fc Evy has— white beheve that the dresses and had .' this is what I'd 3 'less the spiders to catch flies and bat's the trouble eat. Harmless V are grown, and break out of the MY LITTLE LOVE. 58 11 I caught them ?" tuse they were ? tter, and as the 'is their nature But as I was 1 tumbler once, e could breathe, ke a tiger, and ?ry tame either, g about Baron Well I I tried and sugar and you ! he just t. I can't help len he got well IS shy at first. Liied anything. 1 hiding some- jvhere m this very meadow. You've seen the fine threads Hiat catch on your eye-lashed and tickle your nose when ^ou re riding or walking in the woods ? They're spiders' u .u 1,*°^ queer what they do with themselves hen they hear us coming. It must be fun to see them icamper to hide and better fun for them than plaving lag. But come here when you may, you'll never see so uch as the toe of a daddy-longlegs." •^^^1! ?T^^ *° ^^ P^^**3^ ^^11 'ised to their ways " I '^1 •; ^ n ?°".^ver been here before? Or are the a bits ot all colonies of spiders alike ?" The field was nearly half a mile from the house, and was surprised at her familiarity with the ground. ^.,1 nnrir? w'"" u ^?^^P^ ^^^^8« "^^ sometimes, .^nd once Uncle Wy when he was out hunting for wood- lockers They aren't a mite hke wood-peckers, you know, beceps their long bills. But they live upon jrorms too Only they fish them up out of wet ground ks ead of tappmg on trees to make them run ^ut to see What s the matter. And twice I ran away. That was •efore I knew how wrong and disobedientish it was ver and ever so many weeks ago. Before I sot ■cquamted with you or had ever been to Maple Hill, not ery many days after we came to grandpa's You must lave suspected that I was a runaway child the firstTime ou saw me— didn't you ? " tL^^^V^'M^^H^ *^^^^' Ailsie? Unless that your '^r li?t?« r^lf ^^ r^ 'T ^"«^ ^hat becamH ioTr that vtf. ' ^ . ^ '"''/""^ ^'''' ^'''' ^^d beha- Pn f // I A^?""^ ^ wood-cutter's or farmer's child, Tk^X.^Gas^S^s,^^^ '^^"-^^"^^ "-- *« *^^ '1^'lkitTni^v '"^'^^^ ^'^ '^ happened," she began ■uthTrlbp m" ^.^' '?!J''' ^^y ^h^" ^^^ cause of caf p7 *l\' J^^^^^c*^^ of thoRP Bho loved was to be vin- cated Mary used to take Bobby and baby and me It walking, and stay all the morning^ ' There's nothing 64 MY LITTLE LOVE. tlJ f ''''T^''^ ^i'^ ^^^ rambling about the beautiful woods for doing the innocent crayturs good, ma'am!' she d say to mamma. And this was the^ay she went wool °U'l country and rambling in the beautiful IZt . / 7 "^T* '*'^^'^^* ^« «^^ «««ld waddle to the mmeexactikle place every blessed morning, and settled herself down on a stone-when she had sprtd her shawi nnd t"w^i^%'^v,^^' i^^-' ^'^''^^' by the pasture-fence, nSi f^r P^ '^■''f'^ P^"'"« ^«^ ^^^ sister-in-law's bed- qmlt the hve-long forenoon." much amus^r """" '''''' '''''''' *^"^^^'" ^^*^^^"P*^^ ^' "Course you have! She says it's the 'garden-spot of the f^rrum-that fence-corner ! ' So Eobby used to of nphCT^r^ *^^^ }? *^' ^^^^P' ^^^ throw wee bits ot pebbles at the cows that were too far off for him to chase or hit, and never got tired of looking at the two baby horses.' That's what he calls colts. Baby wf.r ^7^""* *^ 'l^^P ^^ *^^ ^^gg^^' and Mary sewed b ack and green and red and blue and white pieces hig- gledy-piggedy m what she called her 'Irish chain,' and ! u^ .•? T '^' ^^^^■^' machiee-e-e I ' to bal- and her- self until I was sick and tired of hearing her stuff and nonsense. She can't turn a tune to save her life. I ZZ 111. ^^'^ t''' ""^ *^" ^^^^^ d"^P «f red hair wl }u^ ''^.??'' ^^^^y'^ hea^i being tied up 'with a bunch of blue ribbons!'" !» «« « We both stopped to laugh. We were in the road, now, and I proposed a rest on a turfy bank while the story went on. Eeleased from the duty of carrying the berry-basket she would not resign to me except when we were climbing fences, Ailsie's stained hands played a conspicuous part in Illustrating the remainder of the narrative. Her hat was thrown beside her on t.he ffJ^u ,u. ^f ^^' ^^^"^ complexion and mobile face gave her the look of a Spanish gitana. MY LITTLE LOVE. )ut the beautiful 8 good, ma'am!' he way she went : in the beautiful Id waddle to the oing, and settled spread her shawl le pasture-fence, )ter-in-law's bed- ," interrupted I, he 'garden-spot ) Eobby used to i throw wee bits • off for him to dng at the two s colts. Baby ind Mary sewed ^hite pieces hig- :ish chain,' and bal " and her- » her stuff and tve her life. I r, what can the np of red hair ied up 'with a 3 in the road, )ank while the )f carrying the e except when hands played iiainder of the e her on the id mobile face 55 I ^T^A""? *^^ ^^oP ^^ *^^ ^'^^k' I feasted my eyes while 1 listened. She always interested me, but to-dav 1 was m the humour to be entertained, or she was unus- fually piquante. I '' All this was dull music for me, as you may sup-pose, land I got into a way of gomg off by myself down to the giver Then I made up ex-plo-ding exper-ditions "—a Weath-struggle with both words— "and in one of these I lappened upon the creek that runs by Maple Hill and Bmpties mto the river just before you get to the bridge Every day I went a little further until I got to Fairy jand. After tuat I always stopped there. That's the my 1 got acquainted with my disguised prince. I used to sit on a stone and watch him and he never minded le any more than he would another fish. At last I met I said affec- f^ou. "On a happy day for me, Ailsie, dear," fionately. ' Her eyes shone, and she touched the back of mv l^UnZ J"'' empurpled finger-tips-a swift gesturj, uii 01 tender meaning. kZ^!J^ ^""^1]°,/?^ ^ '^y ^^^'^ • T^e second day I Cv nn/?".^^^^^^'^^ my tongue when I went back to |lary, and I ta ked so much about how nice and kind |ou were, and what you had helped me- to do, and what |reat things we were going to do, that she began toTook fcghtened-I couldn't guess what about untU she saM Lo .ft T*^ ""^^ ^^ ^"^« *^^* I iiate-it always gans ha she wants to get around me about sS Jing— Ye d better not be gpeaking too free to yer I » ll' mebbe, forbid yer gomg the morrow.' ^ 1 told her all about him yesterday " I aniVl '' ar,A #ie gave me the ribbon for our flag.'' ' ^ 1,., r,.e jy aiu, J CI poor muoeent, and she nut n are lot of questions to me about it, last night ifwas md wurruk I had to kape her from ondirstandin' that 56 MY LITTLE LOVK. ye had strayed so far,— that 'twas the crick, not the nver where ye-d been building yer bush-house and what-not, and that I wasn't forninst ye, all the while. Ah! but she 8 a particler leddy, yer mamma is, and wirra ! wirra ! wher's the use of botherin' the dear leddy wid shtories of what's goh' on all over the farrm, at all at all. Miss Ailsie ? '" My laugh at the capital mimicry of the Irish girl's voice and brogue did not move the narrator to mirth, bhe was m thorough earnest with her explanation of the suspicious circumstances attending our introduction, ^^^ut 1 aian t care much. I dnn'f ]iho '"We?e vou it ifr„Tf ' "''"? **'*^ '» your mouth." Mone?" asked T " TK '" '"""^'"' ''''™' ^e country, our age :p„M J^e '^^J^' ""'^ ^^''^^ °^ foesni; trouble tbpm tvt^tt, ± .-^'''J- -^Qyooa} tnat Iwake all «?«!.+ .■' *^^^ ^« dreadful ! I lie waice all mght, sometimes, thinking about fire and 68 MY LITTLE LOVE. ^ m lit bugglers and kitsnappers and drunken men till I am scared out of my senses. I'm a million times more afraid of a drunken man tlian I would be of a gristle bear. One chased me, once." *' Ailsie ! a grizzly bear ? " I could not win her to smile or scold at my willful misconstruction of he said pertly or, as it sounded to her father, who was fms^lf an enthusiastic sportsman. Lin P' tin ^"^ 5°* let ^e hear you speak in that tone pam! he ordered sternly. "That is a splendid fellow!" \ f m \ 60 MY LITTLE LOVE. to his brother, who drew out and held up to general view the last treasure of the basket and the liandsomest ol all. " He must weigh at least two pounds." "The gem of the collection!" said the captor, hand- ling him with fond triumph, brushing a bit of grass from his silver skin and stroking his fins. " Yet I did not catch another within a quarter of a mile of him. And when I came to think of it, the uarvel was how he chanced to be there, not that he had the pool all to him- self. Father ! did you ever hear of taking trout below the falls in Yawpo creek ? I hooked this prize in a hollow just at the foot of Maple Hill. Tf he had had the wit to keep still, I never should have thought of stopping there. But he rose at a dragon-Hy as I came in sight, and missed him, diving back to his hiding-place under the rock, to wait for another. ' All the better for me, old chap !' said I, and in less than two minutes, I whipped one across the pool which was as much to his taste it seemed — " " Where did you say you caught him ?" asked Ailsic, pressing forward, with circling eyes and failing colour. "Directly below what you call your bower, girhe! You must have noticed the place. It looks like a spring, shut in by stones, except on one side." A scream interrupted him. Ailsie had dropped her berry-basket, and was fairly dancing with anger and distress. " It was my beauty, my prince ! my dear little tame ■ trout !" she cried. " Mr. Barry ! do you see what this bad, bad man has done ? I wish you had fallen in your- self and been drowned !" " Ailsie !" " I do, papa ! He is a cruel monster ! He's worse than a canni&aZZ ! I'll never, never like him, or speak to hina again. And to fool the dear Httle fellow with a make-beheve di'agon-iiy, just to yank him out with a hook ! Its too sinful and shameful to think of !" MY LITTLE LOVE. up to general view ;he haiidsoraest of unds." I tlie captor, hand- a bit of grass from "Yet I did not nile of him. And i,rvel was how he he pool all to him- aking trout below is prize in a hollow lad had the wit to t of stopping there, me in sight, and g-place under tlu' better for me, old inutes, I whipped luch to his taste it n ?" asked Ailwic, id failing colour. )ur bower, girlin! iooks like a spring, had dropped her : with anger and dear little tamo you see what thin id fallen in your- }ter ! He's worse him, or speak to btle fellow with a him out with a think of!" 61 Her mother tried to lead her away, but she resisted in er frenzy, wrmging her hands and shrieking out fr.sh 'XntT^il' ^^^^^ ''-'''' ^- ^-^ ^-k-d and Ailsie ! hush this mom .nt ! ,r,o you hear mn f Or. your room and stay thei , mitil v i are wlllil L ? ;our uncle's pardon. ^Not . ...d Vl I w" ^o^^ ' ^^ iK^wru^ng hps were framin • ^,:..,,, .^.^ 'J^l With one wild sob she rushed away and in ih. ocked pause during w^hicli we stooTLkfn g S oL mother we could hear her stout walking- shoe sstoriZ^ i>^ the staircase and along the upper hallt Lr S Wynant was so^-ry and puzzled ; Pressley more d,-« b S - ^" - - S^ "-^o; ,ou. eon. ^nat on of the conspiracy of spoilers," I said fretted ipodtion to shirk censuf: r4onlS" "d" t"^ !> W.U hew me patiently while^ plead Vclienit « i- S i 62 MY LITTLE LOVE. cause. I believe that I understand better than anyone else here the reasons for what you considered an unpro- voked paroxysm of temper, whereas she is chafing under actual bereavement." I told, then, the history of my introduction to the dis- guised prince, the imaginary friendship between him and his human visitor, describing her grief when 1 hinted at the possibility of my catching him, my pledge not to attempt i., and the many stories she had confided to mo ot his mtelhgence and tameness. Warming into true partisan sympathy with the telling, I looked down with actaal pity upon the dead beauty lying stark upon the sward, and bethought me of the green-and-brown nook cool and deep, with shade of tree and rock, from which he had been ravished. " Pure fancy you may say," I concluded, speaking as much to myself as to those about me. " But those of us who have studied Ailsie do not need to be reminded how • much of her world and her life hes in the realm created ' by her imagination." My appeal was not without instant and visible effect 1 he eyes of grandmother and mother were moist : Squire Darling -guessed," bluntly, that "if nobody felt iore ^ like eating the baby's plaything than he did. it would'nt be worth while to cook it." Wynant's concern would have been ludicrous had we not been more or less partal jrs in it. " It does sppm like a blamed shame !" he confessed, turning the slam "prince " over on the soft grass, com- punction m visage and touch. " Why didn't somebody drop me a hint to steer clear of that particular hole'? An^^for the poor little fool to fling himself right in mv teeth was the unluckiest stroke of all. I say, Presslev what if I comfort her by promising to bury him with the ?i?^'7/^u ..'^^'^ ^^^ ^^^^® '^ *o»^^-s*one to his memory? Aouirtnt me composition of the epitaph mitigate mat- ters somewhat ?" MY LITTLE LOVE. 63 udicrous had we I Pressley's sternness did not relax. It "^^^«f |ifs behaved inexcusably!" he said shortlv suspected he could not trust himself to ma^ words* don -or-''' ''' ^'' ^""^* "^^ ^'^ ^'' un Je's par-' He walked off,-perhaps to cool his wrath-perhans [to nurse his resolution. pernaps j It was a wretchedly uncomfortable evening. We all Isat upon the porch in the moonlight and trio o comfort lourselves as upon other moonhghted nights bX the reary jocularity of jests and the palpable machinery^ o^^ the commonplaces each felt in duty bound to keep goina in the swing of question and reply, would have movfdus |to genume amusement had our liearts been less heavv Ihe absence of the bhthe figure that should hive beYn lilittmg from one to the other with merry badinage or shv ^aress or sitting with still hands and musing Face that Required not the interpretation of spoC hmguaL oJ Binging with the moonlight on her upl& oXXuc^^^ Jlh/r\^r^7"'^^^^'^^«^^^^ hold our breath ^ith delight and awe-this was the sadder burden upon thought and spirit for the vision the missing her con ured up,-our pet, weeping as from the sluSewa^^ of «" breaking heart upon her little bed up-laks w Lping lo P^-Ltior'&t^'' ^" ''''''' ^'^'' 'SI .,„j . • ? ', . "' *<• "'« arguments witli which qhs gd striven to bnng her into compliance with her Sher's "I tremble to think what the end may be " said the fhe :r't; ™""''?? '-'i.''™'^™1- ^menade upon uffersT^iu 3' ^"**/"'"»'-y counseUor. " Pressley [teSftuV^M'wmr[i^« i h it 64 MY LITTLE LOVE. p-owled Wynan - If I had my way she should be down here on the double quick, hearing me say how sorry I am hat I ever learned to cast a fly. You don't believe, Annie, that he 11 really—punish her if she don't come in to his measures? By George! if he should lay the hrm !'' ^^'''* ''^'''' ^^^' ^'^ P^'^'^^ ^'^ ^'^^^ ^or It was a family quarrel with which I should have had no concern, but my blood ran first cold, then, like liquid tire at the suggestion of such brutality. .„u •r!S^-'^^''l^-^'^'''''^'^'''P^'l^e' before I could con- sult with discretion. k1uT/-!!S^'''"'JT*I'''\'^^^^''^ ^"™-^- I «^w tbe Squire shake his white head m earnest disapproval, whether of parental disciplme or of unwarrantable interference with the same, I did not ask. '' How still the night is !" observed Pressley, in a tone of serene mdifierence, returning to the porcii. -You can hear the roar of the mill-dam, two miles off." No one offered a reply to this remark addressed to the company at large. Since he did not deign to notice the £Tfi '. ^l^l^^f,«i»»' or to sooth the perturbation which was the fruit of his harshness, we were not disposed to second his motion toward conciliation. We were be- having like sulky children, but the revolt was general nnZl f/''^^ ^'""""^ "" ^^*. ".^^*' '^ *^^ ^^^^^e do not come up fiom the river by midnight," he pursued, coolly ignor- ing our ,ulence. J h ^^'■ .v^l'^ T^"- ^r^ -r* "1'^" ^'^ ^iP« when something white and noiseless floated around the shaded corner of the house. It was Ailsie,— a wrapper of her mother's wT r 7'1 ^^;,^i^^ht-dress, her feet bare and her hands clenched tightly upon the traihng drapery gather- ed up and held against her breast to leave her steps free She paid no attention to the sitters in the background.* 1 doubt if she was aware of our presence. Her father m MY LITTLE LOVE. he should be down say how sorry I Yon don't believe, she don't come in e should lay the mch his head for should have had I, then, like liquid fore I could con- r saw the Squire roval, whether of interference with ressley, in a tone le porch. "You miles off." addressed to the ign to notice the rturbation which not disposed to 1. We were be- lt was general, eeze do not comi! ned, coolly ignor- svhen something haded corner of of her mother's t bare and her drapery gather- ;^e her steps free, he background. se. Her father 65 .* stood upon the upper step of the porch, and she went directly up to him. '; Papa ?" catching her breath in the rapidity of her articulation. " You wouldn't have me tell a he ? How can I 3ay that I am sorry for w,.at I said to Uncle Wv n I am not?' *'' Wynant started forward. His sister-in-law held him down. The moon showed us every line of the tear- blotched visage, deathly pallid, but for these stains : che wide, imploring eyes hlled with such agony and such love as made my heart ache to look upon ; as wrings it more keenly to recall. The father's features were in the threaten^ ''"'"'' "^'' ''''''''' ^'^^ ^'*°'' ^"^ ''^^ r ^u* you ought to be sorry, Ailsie. That you are not, shows that you are not subdued; that you are ob- stinate in your naughtiness. I can have nothing to sav or do with you until you ca-e sorry, and will say so." f . 1?^ •. ^S?"f^e*hi?g was in her throat, and she had to swallow It before going on. - 1 have been thinking it all over If a wicked man was to kil^ me by mistake, for somebody else b child would you fed like asking his pardon if you aid call him a few Lad names ? " There was a subdued rustle in the background of feel- mg, or suppressed applause. ' M '^^^i'^, ridiculous, Ailsie ? A fish is not a child." Nevertheless his hand moved to his mouth to cover J^^twitching I did not believe was a disposition to nn3Tr T^^ • ^'^'^ ^"^ I'^^^^ ^^^«^1^ «F^n the beloved name at the begmning of each argument. - It seems W ni>.''i^f.V' .^""T^ ^'''' ^^' ^ 8"°^^ ^a^- Bu* I did like jmy poor ittle trout very much, and I had such happy [times making up stories about him that I got almost to behevmg they were true. And «n rr,o«., +u;.,„„ t "__" SFen ?w *"f ' '' '^"^' thisTummer; ha^eTi^Coi S ^,aken away from me. Not big things, of course, that m 66 MY LITTLE LOVE. TofCw r?" ^'^ ' ^" ""'' ^"^^ ^ -^*^ big girl, yet, PiteouF little mousie ! She had never looked so baby- upon onrorhT/ T^' ^^^ ^^^ ^^«*^"^^ ^^^ ^'^1 eTrLity%f he^itT." '" ''' '"^" ^^ *^^ ' ' ^^-Pa •' I am sorry that I vexed you. Ever so sorrv ' I hurts me dreadfully when you are angry w?th me' ^ ^},%«k jo"^ Pa>don, ilfty-a hundred times !" in^lv rJ^H^nni" f • ' r^ ^^^^^-gl^ter. You were exceed- ingly rude and unkmd c ^/,.ur uncle who was not to blame for what he had doAe. You gave wly to your *ZT.h?^"i'^/"^ shamefully, and called hTm names drn« w^'^ *° remember. I am mortified that my Hnd n«lf ? r^- '°^"^J^ *^ '''^y *^^* «1^« was naughty and ask his forgiveness for her behaviour to him " ^ bhe shrank as if he had slapped her in the face at the charge of cowardice, but did not lose her ground finnT«?f '°r.?^"'' "r ^^^ P^^^^ded it, caSe her hnal attempt at honourable compromise :Fapa ! I will forgive him ! Won't that do as well ? " self itg'er. "''^ ^^^'^""*' "^"^^^ *« restrain him- His brother strove vainly to make himself heard amid simultaneous acclamation and noisy cappiSrof hands from the spectators of the painful scene^^^ feeing him waver, and encouraged by our svmnathv "Papa! Papa!" ful^an^iTJf r;T'^i'^ ^^ '^''^' intonation of reproach- again ^ - tenderness, until she began to sob might an^-n W '"^ f^ ^''^'' ^^^ ^^^^ ^^^^ ^W as he might an infant, and we saw neither of them again that m ery big girl, yet, CHAPTER V. HEADACHE AND DIPLOMACY. „, HAD anticipated some disagreeable scenes at ^ my boarding house, as the consequence of my intimacy with the Gaskins' "high-strung" neigh- bours. But the pious and censorious trio so far adopted the policy of the children of this gener- ation, as to regard with extreme leniency my preference for the flesh-pots of Egypt— to wit, the savory fare that graced Mrs. Darling's board— over the tough and salted meats that were in sober literal- ness the pieces de resistance of the Gaskin menu ; and for the profane and foolish babblings of the society in which 1 discussed the daintily-cooked viands, over the talk that seasoned yet more unpalatably, the corned beef and pork, cabbage and onions, salt fish, waxy potatoes and heavy bread, not forgetting the - biled dinners " in which Ezra s soul delighted. If the supposition ^md not been too wild to be nurtured into belief, I could hnve fancied that they respected their lodger the more because of the favour with which he was received at the objec- tionable Squire's ; that they rolled as a sweet morsel under their tongues the complaints they vented to neighbourhood visitors as to - how little tb v saw of Mr. Haye, now that the Squire's folks were i.J.r crazy after him But twasn't to be wondered at, considerin'. L' It "^S'r u"?^ 5!"''' ^^^^^ ^^^ fi^di^' «ut and cour- i .b f.i?'^'* fash'nab e strangers ; "-in short, that they basked f.hPir bfilo arv«ir, ^^«4.„„x_ji__ • ,, £ ^^ " "" vnfl^«+"iT "'■ ''"".^^ ^v^"''^''^"^^ 1^ ^^e feeble glare hosts ""^ importance upon them as my ^1^" 11 f 'l\ Ilf ' !|li MY LITTLE LOVE. than half my time awav frnr.^ -i^r ^^'^^'^'^S more sumably, w4 somo'r/mt " ..^^^ f- acy. Not that I wa. deceived by^iis^Sr rr-'r'"- forbearance into the persuas on tb f ft , ChrLst^.^ mean joalousies wprp r .f ! t^ ''* ^'^V ''^^^« ^f BmaJl, of the elde anrM« ''^'''''''^^'■^*^"^' tho breast^ gran, aame hr/norhSle Thj,^\?^^-^ ^^'^^^"l-^^^^^ j.^^ i^^J ).., although born in the same walk in shoaS'!::?''!^ ii?^:;f ^^' ^" its lengtJ, and breath-I meaning^ ti;^^^|^,-^-J^^i;;aW mg, my announcempn+ +w . f " *' ^^^ morn- to m^Z^fa imZT ^^^'/toPPi^g bo close the smell of 8tS and brJ?"?'""'" ?^ anew with his corduroy tfowseTs'anrcr^l^'Ss'"'^. » "^ pity, now— a n't it ? For I m«]ZZ. j T; .1 ^™ ^ » spree or racketing otmi^toriZ^^^^l^^^'i''"'^' never see the time I could a„ ^ff ^ °>'^'' ^"^ *''-'^»y- I easy conscience, and Tfve'thf fa'rS Ts' ''?*. "" gentleman-farmer and m,,t„„ • ? ■ , . ' °1«ii'e'8 a sweat of his fa?e •CorZ^„ ^£ "" book-larnin' for the ao manys runZ' a^te Goo'd b::^X, ""«-" the square 'bout these thmeBY™?i , ^'^^^^ '"' sick ! Ef you feel to IntTs^nd any ° /°^''''"' sages, or anything to vour fnVnl Y '*' °'"^^^- manage to ge't ■em^herj,""m hot ' -m ' . ''f'-^'/i vvnen it cQiuet • fco my way." ^ -«-... './a«uiii • y refrsuaed irom t Sf'Bnding more for lodgings, pre- gbug"coiifeder- aow of Chriatiai t' coals of smaJI, ithii) tlio breasts the ^:harp-eyed f irn^'zid bum- were immeasur- le same walk in and breath— I I illowness — the 'Jet, one morn- :-headache pre- cq) of coffee, ) to lie at full van cleared up. >pping so close me anew with forth freely by 3- " That's a •t there's some for to-day. I urin', with an ut Squire's a larnin' for the igled religion n't always on ock powerful us'S; or mes- ■' '3rick, I'll -r. I ain't :)mmodatia' MY LITTLE LOVE. 69 fo,•l!I^^^^J^"' ^ ^V^ ""? message to send," I answered, faintly holdmg my breath as long as I could. By the time the clatter of his shambling feet upon the gravel walk had died away, and before the effluvia had begun to depart, his wife called to me from the kit- chen wmdow. "I 'spose we'll have the pleasure of yer company to dinner. Mr. H., seem' as how you can't git away /ery She chuckled spitefully over the dish she was wiping ZV^l ^'^?^^-d^^^'« ^ri^kled visage peered at mf ,' under her elbow, to see what the laugh was about Perceiving my prostrate condition, she 'hobbled out to cTe'st "^^^'""^ asthmatically in her shrunken "Bilious— be ye?" stooping to scan my skin throush her glasses. - Deary me! And the almond-ree shfll brought low. Guess ye must 'a' got kinder stirred up trampoosin' round so much in the sun. I never had Z S'"" ^^*b^«e kitin' ways. People allers on the go for pomps and vanity, and the pride of the flesh. Ye're dreadful yaller ! I shouldn't 4onder a mite ef ye was gom; to have the janders. All ye can do is to^trHo T^ vou^a ?^^^^^^^^ %^^ ^ P^*i^-* disperSn? Ihe young hons lack and suffer hunger, ye mind. And If at any time you feel that a cup 'o tea-sage or c^t Z' '.' P^^^ff^l' or boughten tea-would comfort yer '' Thank you!" I said, again, stifling a groan. leges'!'^' '' ""'"'^ ^""^ '^' ^'^ ^^* «"g^* lier "privi- ^' Young folks think old people fools," she pursued breathing more rattlinglv in hev eP-ne^C"- 'm' Mkskmw young people to be fools ! Many's the time I ve heavd my gi-anny say that. It's enough to puHl .r' II ! I 70 MY LITTLE LOVE. Ill' ' horse « SL f *u ^^ ^''"''^ '"""^^ ^^^- A w^iP ^o^ the He al'so that i« In^f- ^^^ ^ ''^ ^'' *^^ ^^^^'^ ^^«k. lie aiso that is slothful m his work is brother to him that IS a great waster. We have scripter for^/'L Z what you will, ther' ain't no rubbin' that out You're young, and gay, and flighty now, but for alTyou tnow Z y'u'irL't'' '* 'r'- r^''^'' y^ should'Zr iTe tea, you II let me or Liza Jane know. I hone we arp She rattled her old bones back to her dan»hter-in-lnw eve to mv'^l'^^T ''^^*'°8 "" »>? feather bed ^tthari Feathers ! ugh ! How my unquiet stomach nrotested against entenng that low-browed chamber agSn and still more strenuously against laying my head and no^e upon the never too fragrant pillow until driven °o Tt bv sheerest necessi y I rolled off the bench and staggered el hilnllsr"""","'*'''^"''''''^'^ I stretchefmy self helpless as a log, on the grass, mor,-> miserable me un'S:„t"""P''^'''""1^™"'«^'"™' '^^^ ha™ made me, unless it were sea-sickness. Nobody discovered me in the covert of a clumn of lilac-bushes, and being out of hearing of the shrill dack of my tormentors' tongues, I did not lift my head untn Zn^ Tb^ Tt' r.^ "^^^°' ^^^^ discLantly for dinner. Then I but dragged my heavy limbs to tbp kitchen door to say that I wanted nothing t? eat and his, although a - b'iled dinner" reeked ifountafnous^ m front of Mrs. Ezra, who "did " the carving Eetreat^ mg incontinently before inquiries and odour!' I made a the s"er*o? i': ''T'' '"i" '•'' ^^^^' exha^sterupon tne steps of a small porch in the north gablr and rather cooler at this hour, than the easteri? - stoon " I thmk 1 dozed, with my head laid upon a chaSthat 5 ^? many bad turns. A whip for the •r the fool's back. s brother to him ter for that. Say hat out. You're for all you know, should want the . I hope we are ) do our jeuty by daughter-in-law, her bed, with an ame, the strokes )mach protested iber again, and ^ head, and nose, driven to it by !h and staggered I stretched my- moir^ miserable ►uld have made of a clump of the shrill clack my head until iscordantly, for y hmbs to the ng to eat, and mountainously ving. Eetreat- our, I made a "ihausted, upon th gable, and item •■ stoop." y a chair that MY LITTLE LOVE. 71 >"?i happened to be there— a green wooden chair with an arched back, slender spokes supporting the curve, and an mexphcable projecting hump exactly in the middle of the edge of the seat. I am quite sure no one came near me for a long while. I knew it grew hotter every min- ute, and the air seemed to close like an invisible thumb and linger, upon my nostrils, occasionally obliging me to open my mouth to get my breath. Perhaps it is because I had never been ill before, that I recollect with curious distinctness the physical experi- ences of that year. It was assuredly for this reason that they appeared to me exceptional while undergoing them They ought to have made a man of me, or so I argued, that day, within my drunken brain. They were a part and I hoped devoutly there was nothing worse behind, of the discipline of hfe. With something akin totheraaudlm gravity of the tipsy philosopher, who prone lu the gutter, or backed up by a lamp-post, pro-' ceedH to the study of the analogy between -the leaves that have their time to fall," and " I "_I analyzed and moralized upon my sensations. I was in the fumess of affliction or, as the teeth of pain tore at the reticulated nerves of my scalp, threshed and winnowed. Or, alter- ing the hgure at the bidding of my heaving diaphragm, tossed by contrary winds and chopping seas. Once there rushed over me, in a lucid interval, such a yearn- mgfor sight and touch of the mother who had died when I was five years old, that I could have wept aloud with lonlmess and home-sickness. I have never, since the summer that taught me so much, spoken lightlv of bodily anguish or underrated the weight of its influence upon human character and immortal destinies H.therto, I had believed that the bent of my mind and taste lay decid. y in the direction of psychological and metaphysical : .search. TJndpr t.hp anoVm— + -* -e- Bonal suiiering I unclosed my eyes to the truirthat'the most intricate lines of these were so intertwisted with ti" 72 KY LITTLE LOVE. the sjibtle laws and analogies of phvsioloirv thaf ihc^.r inc latter if m my choice of a profession for life T nr,',1f'?1 ^'^^'y/'"- '■"■■- '^ beneficently for others ought not to regret Inat the furnace, threshinR floor aid stormy waves were to me, for the tiie, horribfe realities S i^s ,rtf -•>;;' "^^r^^ urmK, iitinius! of Caesar's fever-dried lins ^nc<\c n.. new and awful meaning. He arose superio7to the fear head and la'vT^' ^^"1 '"^ ^'^^^^ '"^^ robe a. out hi nead and lay down as to natural slumber at the foot nf gre^t Pompey's statue. The girlish cry to h s attendL? was the peevish protest of cowed nat/r wCto tt dust by a master mightier than death-Disease All oHitr T^r'^Pr'"™ "'°«»» and flltuatin con -xieecenee, there had been growine within m,. iC convictmn that he who .should arrh!mself?orhati Itml CrtoTl"' '";rT "appinessTd usXln mJu^A- } """i'-''. ^'?8*8«' ">« Michael of moral mould m direct conflict -.th the devil and his angels headfche' d Th-r "'i •■^^"l™, "ob^rently whilf sick- perfected wort *'>f,'?'""«J. a»,d demoralization was its penected work. But one definite thought found footing in my con. ■,,„,sness. If this atti.kZd suDer3 upon the fevc- of two moutlis bofore.I sWld Smbt ax ^•' andYwr°"""'-!r* " *" ^^^wt i^^l S nr; ^-g-- ■','^ttor Of JCglSfn""'? rg^ie'sVa-ck^r;^ """ '"^ ^^^^^-^ ^--^^^ Aiid still thfi air errew h'->+ff\v ^~a ~^-- v ^ 1 -. 5*^^ ii'-'uiur aiiu mure iirr-iHhiw ■I'hD leaves and green bells of the hop-vines dlSg over bysiology that they I by the student of rofession for life I 3ently for others, I ilireshing lioor, and 9, horrible realities, ly manhood. They circumstance this " Give me some Iried lips took on uperior to the fear his robe about his nber at the foot of ry to his attendauu ure hep 'en to the til — Disease. All ss and fluctuating tig within mo the himself for battle 88 and usefulness, possible to man, if Michael of moral and his angels, ently while sick- ralization was its ght found footing had supervened should, iindoubt- ) to the outcher's bat case, I should g dissolution. T of strength that th the pain that esto from which I re iiieiess. The is climbing over MY LITTLE LOVE. 73 the porch, hung motionless, save when jarred bv the vX^l^T '^r,^^ ^"°^' ^^ *^^ *«r*^r«d turn of my whole body. The grasshoppers sang in the parched hiirf m a shrill key that pierced my ears like fine?w^ted b ' 'on thrnn^r t''""''^''' ^^^^^^ ™d, the others KL- "^^^V^^' *^^ irregular arch made by the drooping vines above the steps, was visible a section of hky like white steel for hardp. ss and gleam, that smote me blind whenever 1 raised my swollen Hds On?e I Ibethought me that decease in a bed-room, even under a [Bianting roof and upon a feather-bed, wo Jd be more iecorous and would seem more creditable when reSt d l?ark t Z7 '°^"T "^ %^^^«P^P^r, than to be found ^tark— could I ever be cold ?— like a defunct cur th«f aad crept under the vines to breathe his last unmo ^ted by curiosity or taunts. But I thought aZ of .nd"4tTthf Zr *'^ sloping wall, anTlhe'^r'aVe *na .^eiJs ot the kitchen invading doors ami windows inr probable visits of mother and daughter-hi-?aw inu lay st, ' awaiting merciful insensibilityf ' Ir, Th! f ^ .-n^'^^^' '''' *^^ ^^^^y ^oad, harshly audible fiiiiu uou.se. I here was a murmur of voices— n living? CO !oq„y, and the wheels went on down the hill The U would never J^ave meant anything, but that tl.o tcorched grass crackled, presently, as tider a rabb ! pght'oUhVskf ""' ''''''' betw^^enmeand^he^'cti "Oh!" Jsei ?e7 fs^Z'Tt^""^ ^''l'''' ^^^"g^* ^e to at)alm« In +V, VP'lioMing my temples between mv Eerr;"4';n7v^^^^^^^^^ ^'' '^' ^^-^ lides in^pface ^ ^^ ^ ""'^"^^ ^^ ^""P *^^ «"»dered "Oh!" reiterated the sweet voice. "You are sick? 74 MY LITTLE LOVE. What can T do for vnn 9 wu j-j „ grandpa's.' Or send /e word r^ *'^' ^''" '""°'' «" It was not worth wHiIq " t ■■ " A«n T' ''''^'' It -r &?;?•• '""• rect'XtmyTrt'SedtT^"''^'"''^^^^^ and groaned abjectly. *"" ""^ """'""g ""^ad. glare tha't wriS^-S/^'S'/^Vr 'fr,""" could return, she lawi l.nv fii/ji. ;, ■^^lo^'e the heat instead of th^ careslg'fi ™f '"'"d^erchief over them ^pedt^^'i'to" t seldr op::td"fr?nt f'^^r' -" knocked imperatively '^ °' '*'""'• w''«''<' she that s de of the honiT^^^. • "^ ?^ ^^.*^^ P^^^i^ around ache. I ..^-pos rZldnTf .f ^^^^"% ^^^h a head- for fear of worrying you and ! • ^^" ^^^*^^°g ^^^^^ i* nursing him. He^is^ verv tS'^'''? ^°\*^^ *^°^We of other people." "^^ Particular about troubling con'^^rlarry hlr ^^^^^^^^ ^* -^ delicate "He oi7ahf f« i.„ n°°^^^8 sensibihties. very bad"dt ase lnd'm':n d^' ^^ ''^''^'"">« - « nurse themselves If it^ t" * "pderstand how to too much trouble mayn't T J,'^ '"'l^' ?"**>"« ?»" to ■ parlour and lay him do * LnTl^™/"'" ">»' "i™ He shan't bother vou Z^ '^ *u* '°^» ''»' awMe? th_eleastest pa^^lcffouro' ZI^ 't ^^U^Z^^^P -•e o. hmi until my uncle calls by forme'." '" ^^^ i m^ dfl't you come to laged to get out. B nothing ! " ', I subsided into ay bursting head, two chubby cool if from fever and Before the heat 3rchief over them ' whispered, and ; door, where she Beming to enfold e which followed ihe summons, a Ailsie Darling. )w, to pay a call tie porch around Uy with a head- uything about it a the trouble of ibout troubling i at my delicate i. t headache is a Jrstand how to putting you to into that nice I- for a while ? your furniture ^ Id r MY LITTLE LOVE. 75 M liio CO i;a£6 In the east stoop did you say ?" interrogated Mrs. Ezra m unpromising accents. " What's to hender him from going up to his own room and laving down like a Christian onto as good a feather bed as any sick man or 7frJ"T] 'y'rV ^^'^^''' '^' ^^-^^' "^ade It «; iW Tecii: J^rs!" '^^ ^" ^ ^^^^^^^- ' ^^-'* - «P- " Mv^W p' ^T^ iB dizzy," answered the other voice. mnv^ f 71 ^""T ""^^r ^^' "'"^^ headaches, and she can't move hardly— her head swims so badly " ;' Yer Aunt Evy ! Who's she ? Ther ain't none o'yer ItLT^^^^^^^^^ --'" --^^^ conversatS " She is my mamma's sister." " Ah ! married or single ?" Hnf ^v^^^'"'* married. I sup-^oBe she must be single, liut she is very nice.' ^ " What's her last name ?" " Miss Mar," laconically. ^ " Young or old'? I "I don't think she's quite either." ' .,™f*.^^^«l^anged direction of the sounds, I judged that Ailsie had backed off the steps, keeping her S toed to the catechist-also keeping her temp^ well in " I may take Mr. Haye into the parlour, mayn't I ?" she^^contmued. Mt looks very cool and pleasant in lamnfd"""* ^'^^^^^^ satisfaction and sarcasm from my J.' ^^^°?g^* ^^ely you was nsed to sech fine doin's in town and over to gran'pa's you wouldn't care to look Z my parlour, let alone set down mto it." go m veT/muciV' "''^ ^^^^^^t^ble. I should like to The diplomatist was still backing nearer to me but consistent m her policy of civility. " I will run around 76 MY LITTLE LOVE. tne toct that the permission she had taken for OTnnt»,l had not been accorded, either directly or by implfcaSon bla.Tn' hot sun " ' "" "' ""'^ "' '"*«"■ ''^^'^ *» *l'e She led the way. I followed, not too steadily flame coloured mists dancing before my eves X v™. f ^ thump of a steam-engfne in my biain Aill T ,^ my hand, planting hfr feet wTh gr«Tcare n theZi ? that she stayed my steps and averted possible disasters «wZ7tT"""'- ^'"' P"'°" ha/been swept and Zil"^ ^'°"™' '*. '"^'"K the allotted day of the w*ek for the performance of this solemn eeremonv Ti. J„ • was deliciously cool after the furnace rSon of n without, and the darkness was yeTmorrdeSlf Thl sofa wascovered with hair-cloth (of cour^elfn^'r " as glass ; bnt when Ailsie had broughra p\Cw f 'oS^S? bed, and spread over the cotton sUp encaZ^ Tt^I smoo h hnen handkerchief which had MLdfoWed met the glaring porch, I let down the leaden ^ ery I™" mrtmpreX7th''»?fb™"''r'y "P°° «' yet binding sn«^h^t;t*\ru'^^^^^^^^^^ 1 CHAPTER VI. HOW THE OLD TREE FELL. ^Y eyelids ached and were flabby, requiring an effort of will, as well as of muscle, to raise them. Succeeding in the attempt when the engine-play ceased to strike sparks like lurid pyrotechny through or athwart my eye-balls, I saw that Mrs. Craskm had added to the favour of admit- tmg me to the -best room" that of leaving us to our own devices. In the cool dusk of the quiet parlour, my little guardian stood by me, watchful of every gesture waiting patiently until I was ready to be spoken to. ' lou are an angel, Ailsie ! " She put her hand upon my mouth. I held it there. inel said my mentor, in the accent of a prude of >\nH l,''^l?f~''' '''■ "^^^^ ^'' S^**i^g ^i-lir-i-ous. or T « W? vf 1.T 'S'?'^''"- ^^'^ ^^^^«* ^^^^^^ properly, W t n "J^^'^'^ *^ ^^ ^^^y- ^^^'^^P^ i^ would be just as well for me to call Mrs. Gaskin back. If you would i^^r-fer her nursing, you have only to say the word. 1 professed penitence, and engaged to be preter- naturally docile if she would stay by me. ^ ;' And not call in the dragon!" I subjoined. Ihat IS unthankful!" I was admonished. "Tennv rate the dragon's den isn't a bad place." Ihe quaint deftness of her small preparations for the Dusiness ol the atternoon was something to see. if one's siiuii was Hplitting, his stomach void and rebellious. J^irst, she bowed a pair of the solid wooden shutters to let m a crack of light. This must be kept out of my 78 MY LITTLE LOVE. Hi S» ^Ih between me and the na™™^^ ™8 pulled betwixt two vvorked wTff7' N^^'' she made choice opposite tronranothev»t*r''' "*"'l"'8 ^° ^«<=tly one might hTvebelkvedl; "'""""'' of thehearthstoni floor. The slieetion w ,! ^ T' /r^"'' '*»* *» *te looJied long at one tZ »f '"^'°' ^ *™8''*- She wrought if verrcrot-stit, lif?"*'- ^^? P""^™' crewels, upon the &«tw„„„ *">,«g8fes8iTely vivid Washington Upon the M„^ medallion head of Gen. was a pirrot and tLl 1„ ?T' "l? companion design, settling her white Lt ! Tf ""Ts" "> ""^ «i^ sitting ^ ''""* "•'O"' her for a protracted aCrJI ^'^h:?.^ it^iTyi 7!n ?"" '''' ^^'<^ "P here^rjhffrl.^ T/^yo^idti''? t^""- ^^^^^ while her lips wLrdemSrf "^ ?" ^'??? '" "^^^ ^J''^. nothing on the tableTh«t' 1> .f t ?"'"* '" ''''*''• 'here's tionary, an Almanac ^T;, ?''"?"" ^^''"''"''^ Wc" Gotosleep,m7de« ™M1 n,T"f ?™"? family Bible, come to nurTe vr' Or 'M^ l''"'"™ ^ "" -™" '"■"ty face-" you canXlt y™7eye?t'yti.h7;,:i' T T your loved Mrs. Gaski^n watdfng oC™; ""'' P'"'" " ^ porch and the wooden hntlZ 1^ ™""'^' 8° '«'* *« the the middle My rasoecM 1^,1 "'*"' "'"' «'" '"""P *» an impression LyoTAife"'"'^ ''""' *" ''"^ '"'"'e moreVi-cSr^^l^Tify^r." ^"^''"•'^- «"* - wiS^«^^ihS:ii-LHng:j^,^i-^-o^^« iilM'f MY LITTLE LOVE. 79 magnetic soothing along the nerves. Pretty soon she laid it back gently on the sofa and tiptoed to the mantel, where she had espied a fan. Even in her manner of using it she was unlike other children ; evinced more tact and skill than are possessed by most professional nurses. The cooler air was a zephyr that did not lift a hair. The fan never came so near me as to tickle my face, or creak in my ear. It was a wide-bespread feather machme, however, and lest the weight should weary her wrist, I arrested the action. " Would you mind singing to me, girlie ? I begin to be sleepy." She sang as naturally as she breathed. I have spoken of her voice as one of singular compass and sweetness, and being joined to a quick ear, it had gained for her at this early age the reputation of a musical prodigy. Her parents were careful that praises of the rare gift should be dealt out judiciously to her. If she surmised what was likely to be in the future the value of her talent, she concealed it well. Her vocalization was as artless as that of a woodthrush. That day, after two or three modern ballads, she sang Kathleen O'More. Strange as it may seem, I had never heard it before. 1 was falling asleep as she began to croon it, very lowly, that she might not recall me from the misty land. "My love, still I think that I see her once more, But ah, she has left me her loss to deplore— My own little Kathleen, my sweet little Kathleen, My Kathleen O'More!" The rest was as simple. A poor little tale, trite and bald in terms, common enough in the happening, but this child's rendering made of it a succession of "pic- tures from life." The gentle milkmaid, "her hair frlnsav blai^k her eyes dark blue;" the pensive figure on'the cottage door- step; the smitten flower never lifted after the sweep of the 80 MT LITTLE LOVE. m '\ it and mouldering wall vp? ! IT ""! yew-tree or mossy his nest and h^op^ed l^gh% ^nT^r ,*^^ ''""'^ ''^^ een's grave ; these I saw witho nf f ? ?f' ^^, ^^^^ K^**^" the songstress was fond of ^1.^ tlie' making believe" tant means of securing ^^-^f ^^^«?dmg as an impor- world. secunng enjoj^ment m this work-a-day -g' ZVe^d "^^'^^^-^^^^^ without open- and most pathetic s^kekh^"*'"^ appropriated the last ' I am glad vou Mho i+ n • she said earnestly. ' j cL rll'! T T^ ^^^^"'i*^ •' " for ' Tathleen ' when I was i"T H^? ^'^^'""S mamma used to rock meTo sken wiC ^^^' *° ^'^ ^^^ i*- She didn't understand it ZnluJ7^^^-r,' ^°"^«^ ^ to hear her/ sings it to mp «^ ^^y -ah ! you ought you know, in ^erfoom wh^n weTwo?^^' ,,^* t^iligit, selves by the fire. It's ifke seeiLTf ' ''l*^^^ ^^ «^r- smg It to many people It'« nn?^/ ' ^''^'':^ ^^*- ^ don't She wandered off to somPtMn ^f ^ly privatest songs." remember aright and T?pT^ ^ '"""^ S^«*«i^ air If I ^ The strangeft iigSt /ev" 'siw^ '^ ^^' ^^^«* ^^ i*- I was aroused from the depth. IfT' v *^^ ^^^"^ ^hen fiuaaen noise-I could no? o/ j"?^'^^ slumber by a shutters of one wLd^w wertp'en ^!*f T^.^hat. /h^ the sparsely clothed bmnchpf nV ""'If^^ ^^ ^^ were drawn black and motionless u'n T i^^^ ^^erry-tree, sepia, yet with a colZT^uffYn^^^^^^ done in was very curious. E^^i^thtfi '7 ^^^^^^^^^ rested upon, and I could not m^p *^,^"g.uiy eyes nor where I was, until a fuU ^f., f "u T^^* '^ "^^^^t, lay gazing at the fantastic cartZ«Af ^^'-''^ ' ««iy nation. The four comlr^ Tit T^ *^^ weird illumi- gloom. Every o^ct ftL m^ddf^ T ""''' ^^^'^ witL distinct. The spider-lels of fTp ? ?^ ' T^' unnaturally shadows upon tC !L -^ . *^^ eentre-table cast cmnk^^ P n .11. .ed .au green arabesques of the "caV: MY LITTLE LOVE. 81 pet. " Holy Bible " on the cover of tLe ponderous volume that had the place of honour on the tttble was in letters that flamed as the characters traced by the fin- ger of God upon the first tables of the law may have burned under Moses' eyes. The clear brown of Ailsie's complexion was bronzed, and there were tawny glints on her hair that did not belong there. She did not observe, directly, that I was awake, but remained perfectly still, looking at the cloud, the appa- rent source of the baleful radiance, that had wrought such transfiguration. Now and then, she drew a deep breath, in awed interest— not alarm. She started as I touched her folded hands. " You have waked up ! Good ! I couldn't bear to look at you. You were not at all like yourself, but pale and yellow, more like a brass head papa has in the hbrary at home than my dear Mr. Barry." She drew her stool close? to me ; took m^ hand and leaned her cheek confidingly upon it. " Were you afraid ?" I enquired. " We are going to have a thunder-storm. But you are quite safe, little bird. She smiled brightly. " I never thought of being frightened. I am rather fond of thunder-storms. Mamma and I watch them rising over the mountains from her windows. It's grand ! She says they are no more dan- gerous than the sunshine. People get struck by the sun 'most any time in town, in the hot weather. It lightened once, a while ago, and there was one thunder. It was that woke you up, I sup-i^ose. Is your head Detter / "Much, thank you! You and sleep have cured me. ^m only weak and giddy. The pain has nearly gone." bhan't I ask Mrs. Gaskin for something for vou to eat '?" o J '■'■ No, dear. There is time enough for that. I shall be most comfortable lying here and watching the storm 82 MT LITTLE LOVE. We we™ S il*? ''^^"^' "' '^« a™ oa^t about her moodf the supreme favotora1r„:n ^ %™'y ^°ig» night. ' °' "^^ *' parting for the ha;e"ornI?^^^..?r:Sr-.:-'' ? hwiness to again ! Look at th»t „u ? a ■?^^'"'^ '^ '^^ lightning flish comes itrealy eeS^dtt^'r^*''' T' """^ t"-^ frightened out of its wtts» ''"'''* *" °^^''- »= ^^ little'^? haitft''"''' ^"^ '°'*°'" ^•'^ '»««'^<'- ".What waI^VrXTerdr%"''J^r« *° *"» """gh^ Caterpillars' ue^tB-sLiZ'l"^ ^I " ''<''^'^' ''"™- ttJfn7niel2--""-^^^^^ Ez'™ ha'dtid one d:?' when1,-''''7 ?T' ^^^ '^-^^^" the "litter " /aX t^iel^Tat'l C' '"'"^"""^'' °' " FiftroTvelrf :» "* '^h°"*'" l""^'^^ **>« "^ -"other, bjishefe o'Sffi cherTes'tTo "if VT "?'!"» Mother-in-law w«.« .^»" "i^/,™'" '*■ '?8t and last. Cherries. Many7the%-oiic~orri7,S Ima were to tt about her. ht take the very benign iing for the use we are ^hen we can ice. Don't ippiness to e lightning ft time the over, as if ^. ".What he boughs ier brown, ling black branches, peice-meal I, through )f its kind, end of the ' as large ith a dull fc awhile," plained of i mother, a million and last, ad dryin' i' yerself MY LITTLE LOVE. 83 with them whitehearts, Ezry, when you was a little chap. Deary me ! how time goes ! The righteous run- neth into it, and is safe. Yes, yes !" " I kinder hate to stick the axe into it, yit," pursued Ezra, ignoring, in the lordship of manhood, the reminis- cences of her who bore him. " It'll be easif^r cut, come winter, when the sap's run down, and I shan't be so plaguey hard pushed with other work. Winter's the time for cuttin' timber. It's powerful hefty business in hot weather." And I had been so foolish as to credit the thrifty fellow for a moment with some touch of tender regard for the venerable warder that had guarded the Dutch- hipped roof of his forefathers when he was a baby ! The thunder succeeded the lightning quite at its leisure. A sullen growl, waxing into as sullen a roar — very irregular on the descending scale, as if it had half a mind to turn back and repeat the performance — subsided finally into a grumble somewhere far ofif to the eastward. "Sounds like a barrel rolling downstairs with a 'boo- ump!" for the landings and bottom," said Ailsie aptly. The air was more stifling instead of cooler, after the flash and report. The storm was working itself up to the point of angry outburst with ominous slowness. The yellow-green leaves wilted until they lay flat upon the stems. The gnarled bole and decrepit boughs were drawn more sharply upon the sepia background, up which darker billows began to surge majestically. I fancied I could detect sulphurous odors in the atmos- phere, and when I passed my hand over Ailsie's hair it clung to my fingers, then flew off as at the alternate touch of the poles of an electrical machine. The tempest would be something to be remembered when it did come. To divert my companion's mind from observation of these phenomena, I pointed to a huge "hunk" of ginger- bread in a plate set on a chair near by. # M i! ^ ': t m I I' 84 MY LITTLE LOVE. <<• lyou is that for me? '^''" ^"""^ ^''"'" ^"^^^^^^ ^ i,,-«!i^^i^^^'? ^"? S^^S^^^^ead around in mv nockpft A r nL tw u ,^"l"g when she wasn't any bigaerthan hen she said Lai V,'^ F""'^* «''' '" ">e'anf •' And J: was chokmg with laughter, she has ""Th".* ""'■!''"8 ™°8' •'<'«• n i« only a way «nA TA .Tl noraing was dreadful hungry work Xplcrownfd ?V r' '" P'y ^ ^P"^"' ''"d '»»^ aUhe ™7d'\~i:'';:Zn::d' iftn?r ^^- ^'^^ riatd^? 7L<'^.^ -4.i:?^rat.sth "L^ souVsfouiAe mKt ™^ '''''». ^■^^'o'-i '"e the Ubera^ must have read a teat de^:rBile' !^'^'^''^\ She many verses that don't fit " ' *° '■<'°>™>'« «» wi?;jir&Teir:5^;-^^^^^^^^^^ Old and t;"n.air ZHt :L^ ^^dX ^''Z MY LITTLE LOVE. 85 3r, is that t scouted the smile )cket ! A aw, gave ire she is ned any- iderella's we read at. She bat chair er throat that she :ger than i.' And dliness,' d, 'No, ide. But ' a way 7 work, i at the ' She king a be way liberal I. She iber so twinkled le's so s. She opened the shutters 'for fear I should get lo. ome ' sitting in the dark ; that was how I found out the. was going to be a shower. I shouldn't have minded eating the gingerbread to please her, but mamma doesn't like to have me eat sweet things between meals. I didn't like to hurt the old lady's feelings, so I told her she might leave It there, and if I got hungry enough maybe 1 d eat it. Or, perhaps, you'd take a piece." 1 -1, lightning flashed nearer and faster. The sooty billows suffused the broad surface of the cloud-curtain and, from time to time, a cut like the sweep of a fiery cimetar split it from top to bottom. The sulphurous fumes were stronger, and the darkness closed in upon us until Ailsie's face with its great solemn eyes, was lifted out of the gloom like a brave, bright flower, ever turned to heaven. There seemed to be no need of me to reiterate, " You are quite safe, darling," but I said it, not yet compre- hending how one so young should not be terrified by the portents ot a tremendous battle in the air. "I know!" she answered calmly; "f was thinking how nice it was that my text this morning should have been • Thou shalt not be afraid of the terror that walk- eth by night, nor the arrow that flieth by day." It was just as if God intended it. The lightning put me in mmd of arrows. It is very comfortable to remember the verse just now. God doesn't ever say things he doesn t mean, you know." , The latch-knob rattled, and the grand-dame bustled m, her cap-strings flying in the draught created by opening the door. ^ "For the land sakes !" she ejaculated, slurrying ^^^tI^.H r^"^"^ ^"^ *^^ shutters she had unbarred! What ud Liza Jane say ef she was to find this open. and thfir' o.c\ m^W 'op on«lT o l^lr>— ~" „ I ttiu 4. "il-ii" J ~" "-^^ " DiOw iia xiuvur was! The turribillest storm ! Well ! well ! the night cometh in which no man can work !" 86 MY LITTLE LOVE. -f rLTf ^"^Sging at the support holdin- up the sash —a rusty nail which stuck fast in its hole foLtafn'Z^t'' ^'^P l^er checking Ailsie, who sprang the sof« «« T Wf -r?; f ^ P"**^"S ^'' b^^""d ie on seem^r n"^?!;^''^*^^ 1^"^^' ^'^ ^" this)-when the air seemed to take fire all around me, at once, and I was hurled violently backward to the floor If I was stunned, it was but for a second, for Ailsie's scream was yet ringing in my ears when I opentd my eyes upon hers My head was in her arms; overthrown of T«' ?A 1' ?^' "^T ^^^P'^ ^« *^^^ ^igl^t and left tabl/b«d ^ ^V"""' ^^ "" "^'^^^y ^^^- The centre- nn«P 1 fv ^rf T T^^' *^^ g^^^* Sible .mother. Close to this last, her head almost resting upon its open page, was the body of the grand-dame. ^ Ihe cherry-tj e was cloven from crown to root, but it was no more dr >• inan was she. • the sash 10 sprang id me on nkful for >n the air Qd I was r Ailsie's ened my 3rthrown and left I centre - another, upon its 't, but it i CHAPTER VIT. TROTH-PLIGHT. A.CATION and convalescent laziness were over. I was back in my place in college and home* studymg m earnest, and, Aunt Evy insisted (* always a little too much for my strength, inas- ^ much as m addition to the cramming requisite '^^y ' *^ ?.^^^ "P for lost time, I had commenced Tf T J*^^*^^"S medicine out of lecture hours. • If I had my way," said my privileged censor, I would seal up your medical treatises for twelve months and stamp upon each seal, '• Festina lenter My censor— for one of the great blessings of mv life had come to me Ailsie's Aunt Evy was mine also, by aaoption, and of love. The Darlings' house was nomin- ally my second home; in reality, it was the first in whatever went to make up the best and dearest elements of a heart heaven. And the " Innermost "—(a thous- and thanks to Frederika Bremer for the word !) of the Darhng household, was " Aunt Evy's room." We three— she, Ailsie and I— were enjoying the glow of her wood-fire, the cheerier as the twilight advancod one raw winter's eve ing. It was the 16th of December! a date I have reason to recoUect. Aunt Evy's knitting- work lay on her lap, and there was still sufficient day- hght to shmv that it was a pretty fabric of red and white worsted. The tiny hands were notably clever in such cunning and tasteful manufactures. To this day, the g - WU..Q paxLi-.uiaxiy mgcuiouBor aamty m %he way of knitting, netting or crocheting, reminds me of ^>. IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-S) A <. .5^^^, {< r/j f/- 1.0 I.I Vi IM 111125 1^ 2.2 - 1^ iiiii^ Hf I4£ 12.0 11:25 ■ 1.4 18 1.6 i w Photographic Sciences Corporation # rtV ^ F ^ ^\ '^ V .^\ '^>. 6^ '1.'^ f<^ 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. M580 (716) 872-4503 // % fr-i m 88 MY LITTLE LOVE. I:'. seafoam '' /hZl ^^^- l^i'^^?^ ^^ ^^^at she styled " a o coquetry P^Z T^^' ^^'^^ ^i'^"* ^''^' ^"^^^ ^P^cie H«>; Ir S' • ^"^6 *hat she had fashioned it- coJuet- had wrouirht Hkp fn^vl ' / ^''^'' "^ "*^^*^^' ^^^^^^s that AnYf p "^^^^ wonders, so many years aeone f l,.^v. .?''-^-''? "^""^ «"^^" ^"^1 Blight-- Queen Mab' " her brother-m-law had dubbed lier-and ve?y fra^ k . She divided her time between the homes of bpr fwn fourths otZyZ '^:i,Vz "X^z^ 9 blazmg logs, and her window-stand of flXs Her pet old-ma.d,emB," she said they were, .^rilnsiated il MY LITTLE LOVE. styled "a nd a specie it ; eoquet- ^as thrown >ure white, it least, so : heart and cent man- and cared 'lands that ■s agone ! 3en Mab," ry fragile. the time raised her >f a figure ; )\v showed and lus- 3y-and-by 1 to cease 1 the use •tainties ? iime after pleasure had gone to be well ^ her two le on the )r three- Bcontent. recipient satisfied uld have ace, with rs. Her maiaivu 89 / was alwavs handsoniP -.iiJ /,. + ^"*' ^^^ ^^ess fault." ^ '''^'^ ^^"^ Sloom of a genteel family Jt ^iStS^'' "^r^"S^^^ ^- - «--y upon the heartran i t V ^^^^^^T-^'^^^''^^ ''^^ *^^^ ^aze v4io needed cot ^e a ^ds™^^^ ^,^,««^:* «f those to consult aboufclress mi u^^^^^ f "^'^'^^"^ '^^"^ and nui oil ;i 1 ^°«^f"er. The children trooned in .. T ,,^''ty f''« "" P'l-ssing dear." slm «ai.! once to m„ I -™y ki^uw which is the mother-Mrs. jZingoTl. 90 MY LITTLE LOVE. S r. f' t It Ah, that is quite a different matter. She But Ailsie ? is my twin ! I could easily comprehend, when I knew her well, the nature and strength of the tie ; as easily trace in the niece's peculiar phraseology her habits of thought— especially in the mixture of sparkling fun and profound- est earnestness that was a never-old entertainment to me— the formative agency of the aunt's companionship and teachings. " If people would not excruciate my taste and sensi- bilities by calling the most original child born into the world during this century— 'old-fashioned,' it would be a relief and a boon," she complained. "When her fash- ion is all her own, and uncopyable !" She was inclined to be quiet, on this evening in mid- December, lying in the invalid's chair which she had asked me to lower for her, when she stopped knitting,— only saying a word, here and there, to show that she heard and enjoyed what was going on between Ailsie and myself, or laughing— the soft, liquid gurgle of amuse- ment that was more like infantine glee than the mh of one who had lived in this world forty years, and could "just remember " what it was to be free' from pain. Ailsie and I were having what she denominated " one of our good talks." It was not every day, or every week, that she condescended to accept a seat upon my knee! She never did it when others besides Aunt Evy were by, being, at once, the least shy and the most modest child I ever saw. To-night, she had invited herself to occupy that perch, and while she talked, played with my hands, my sleeve-buttons and those of my coat— counting, ** rich man, poor man, merchant, thief," up one sidei and down the other, varying the entertainment by an occasional pull at my hair if I teased or contradicted her. " All the leaves must be off the bower," she ing. "And the creek frozen. And the trout was say- -/ f\f\f\V i I er. She well, the ce in the lought — •rofound- iment to nionship d sensi- into the TOuld be bar fash- in mid- she had itting,— that she ilsie and amus-' le mh ad could lin. 3d " one ry week, y knee. ;vere by, st child > occupy r hands, )unting, tie side, t by an ted her. as ^ay- -=(poor MY LITTLE LOVE. 91 i beds with lace c„rta"r a^dtnSX! ^"'^ ''''' '» upon it"^'' pleased her fancy, and the pautd to cogitate ha;Vor ^reiL?: £'ttr^'2^ ■' *"^>' -'*-"■' houses under Ri-ound wl ftl' f "'',' ""™"'"' ''Wi^ the. with silC ..AJtJXr!'^^-''"' "-" in;L"nram^gl'^4'?.'',rrr^j,""; ''"'- *<• "™ fee. " It ahai! be™ ."oW t ' ' Z'' ^ ^ "l c.thf ^ house, and wLowsr^Ttl,: C'Ld' «""'"' *''^ "In every room ?" tu;btet:';;;vt,trbodr'pe:ks^- i^r ^"i- ^^t^siti^^^my^^m^ mti«tBtt«iW»''' ■■i 92 MY LITTLE LOVE. I'- * III Wish, not forgetting a damp corner in the garden for a select number of lovely hop-toads, and a garret, where the spiders' webs shall never be disturbed. As to pianos, and such-like trifles, they will be a drug. You won't be able to move without catching your dress in a harpstring or treading upon a guitar." " Who will play upon them all ?" " Aunt Evy and you and I." "Ah! you will live with us too— will you? That would be splendid !" "If you will let me," I responded, seriously. "But you will have to marry me first." I expected a cuff or a tweak of the ear. But she stopped trifling with my coat-buttons, and became pro- foundly meditative, her head on one side, her eyes a'^ain upon the coals. ° Aunt Evy's laugh disturbed the brown study. " What do you say to that, Midget ?" " I don't know but what it might do very well '" she answered, with unflattering hesitation. " I shall have to marry somebody. And so many people advise me not to marry papa. They say it 'tisn't custom-er-rary. Mamma might feel badly about it, too. It ivould be something like Leah and Eachel. I am very fond of you, and you would treat me well. I did think once I would marry a minister. They are poor as poverty, al- ways, but they don't drink ! I've been afraid, all my life, I should marry a dmnkerd. Papa read at prayers this morning, about the men persessed with devils that tore their clothes and were " exceeding fierce." I think that's the matter with drunkerds. It's just the way they behave. They are persessed with devils." " By spirits, certainly," said I, jocularly. She was immovably grave. " It would be better for me to die, now, while I'm sure to go to heaven, than to grow up and marry a man who was persessed." MY LITTLE LOVE. 98 (( That "But Always the same bugbear!" murmured Aunt Evv to me. I ask myself, often, what it can portend." ^ lou had better take me, Ailsie," I urged. "I'll sign^the pledge to-morrow. Let me see ! How does it • We do not think We'll ever drink Brandy or rum, Or anything that makes drunk come.' ^^'' I promise it all if you'll say that you will marry She ruminated yet more solemnly, weighing the pro- posal as Its moment deserved. ^ "IsJtould like to get it off my mind for ^ood and nil " felZ'^^'t' ''/* '^^'^^^ ^^-^* botie??1o'ur o^r gent emen have begged me to marry them. Very nice gentlemen, too. Good enough for anybody's levers But I had papa in my head, and hadn't been told any of them^?^^ r* *tT '^' ^^'' ''^"' I ^^^^^^'* like any 1a rf ^r.^ '^" •^'°"- You suit me uncommonly The wodd of y,^'''^" ^""' ""^ '"^'^'^ -^ — - think l.Jln'"'' '^^ T^?i* ^ comfortable arrangement it would be a around, then," piirsuing my advantage. " You the w vli'T'""""^^' r^^' ^ ^^'' ^""* E^^rand think tlitM^oild of papa and mamma. Say you'll take me Ailsie, and get the bother off both our minds " to hpr r^'/'''* -^1"*" '''^^- ^1^" '^"«^ "^ ^^i^'at belonged to her sex was mborn and potent. iection'"""' qi''^'^- wT'^f ^°".^'^ s^y,"y^^s her next ol,- •^ " Zn'f ^!^lu^l^^'} '^'. *^."'* i* ^ ^'-^^ ^"g^g^-^d first." Evv ^T ^V ^*, .l^''^ '" y^"'* ^•^>''" observed Aunt wp« 'fl,. ij . "", ^''^ ?' 3^^^*erday from Clarine." This was the eldest doughter, who was spending the winter with some Western friends. '' I should not be surprised from what she says, if she brought somebody hLeS Wm^Zt'thrt'^' papa's consent to her re'turn wi h mm. iSut that is a secret, for the present." n ]r i ''I ' § 't " 94 5IY LITTLE LO\'E. " Certainly '' iioddinn; sasaciously. " Familv affairs happ;.'' ^'" "'* ' ^^""^^^^^^ ^^"«^^"^^ r/bc very "And you will make me very happy by dvinc me ti handsmnelmiewfer' I reWned to the chS'g"!^ head peSshlv ^ f ,,^«q"^**? ^.^ miniature tossed her neaa pettishly. How nisisting you are ' I havp n geeat mmd to say ' No !'" ' ^ qifp a!ff' T"" 'f '^ *''^""^* ^^ ^* ^^^^'-^ks my heart !" blie got down from my knee. " Stand up !" imperiously. pvJl?!"?'"?' ^f'''? a military attitude, head and should- ers back, hands straight down at my sides. She retii-ed ^ome paces, put her hands behind 'her, and sciut^lzed ouiiy':';;:i:ntir' '^^^ '' '"•'" ^'^ """-^^^^ ^^^^- T rlfnvfT'^^^rf !''**f'' ^^' •^'^"'' P-'^i** «f *l^e ^^argain !" l^^ior fouV'^" ^ ^'^■^'^•^^' '^'^■^' ^- -^ ^-^ - ^-t in "You'll be getting handsomer all the while " Avas hor nex move. She was a mad lover of personal Jeines^ I heard mamma tell Aunt Evy so yesterday. She sa?d you would envolve nito a noble man " " Ailsie you tell-tale !" cried her aunt threateningly. I bowed profoundly. " I shall make it a point, ^viih Sg hour.!^''' ''^^'"""' ^'^' "^""^^ ^^^"*^ ^W shin "No joking ! " she frowned. " There is no fun in this matter. Are you ^./-feck-ly sure that you want to marry me?" -^ ''" I put my hand to my heart. Print's: aLIT.''''' ' --ryyom. image in this bosom, ;; You will always love me as well as vou do now ?" ^ ±Jetter, if that were possible." '• Never be cross or uncomfortable ?" MY LITTLE LOVE. 95 y affairs. l)e very ng me a ^sed her have a rt ! " should- e retired iitinized }d duhi- rgain !" f feet ill was her lehness. >he said fiiinglj, it, with Y shin- in this ant to bosom, w?" Will let me have my own way when it's good for lilt/ 4 " Yes— and when it is not, if you will." "Aunt Evy may live with us?" DecemW "^^^ ^^^* ^^ January to the thirty-first of - " M?^^nT^^*f5, ? ^^^^^ "^eant to be tantalizing— "we'll call it settled." ^ "Seal it with a kiss, Ailsie." She averted her face with coy dignity as I stooped to- ward her and extended her hand to receive the salute. 1 dropped to one knee to perform the act of allegiance, gueen Mab looking on in intense amusement. "I^ knocked at the door and thought I heard Miss Marr s voice say, 'Come in!' said pleasant accents in the rear of the group. "Was I mistaken ? " I was on my feet with a spring. Ailsie snatched away her hand. Even Aunt Evy, who was rarely off her guard, uttered slight exclamation. u'TMxr-^^^.^^® ^ai'^es! you stole in upOn us like a ghost! We did not hear you, but you are none the less welcome on that account. Miss Barnes, allow me to present my friend, Mr. Haye. Barry ! may I trouble you to light the gas?" I gathered from this that Miss Barnes was hardly upon what Mrs. Stowe calls, "a footing of undress intimacy with our small hostess. I had met girls there at twilight whose calls were allowed to run out to the close without other illumination than the rising and fall- mg fire-hght Like other single ladies and invahds, Aunt Evy had "whims," and one of these was the deH- cate gradation of greetings that were always civil and iriendly, from frank affection down to politeness for the sake of politeness and her own self-respect. 1 judged that Miss Barnes stood about midway on the scale 96 MY LITTLE LOVF]. She was very pretty. That I discovered at a glance Her eyes were hazel and marvellously expressive • her hair chestnut; her nose strai-^ht; teeth white and even witL an engaging trick of surprising the beholder bv gleaming m sudden smiles between two red lips, and her complexion was like the petals of a freshly moulded wax ''Pure Parian " said I to myself, noting how faint or laughed. "A perfect piece of workmanship!" both o'ftt'.'/Jr^ ii"" 7^ f^n^ersonal beauty, and used boh of mine to excellent purpose in the ensuing half- hour Perhaps this is why I have such a nebulous recollection of what she talked about. Her voLe was very sweet with round tones, and rather languid modu' lations that were more Southern than Northern. She was apparently an enthusiastic admirer of Aunt Evv goodTfste "" "^"'^"^'^''^ ^^^ ^«* transcend the limits of Ailsie had betaken herself to a stool on the other side of he fireplace from the visitor, and said ndt one word while she stayed. This did not impress me as signifilant at the time because she was subject to these fits of quiet attention, during which the passage of her intelligeht eyes from one speaker to another declared her e?e?v sense to be on the alert. Her withdrawal from S Barnes s vicinity and impenetrable reserve, meant only that she wou d rather look and listen than talk, or be talked to. She wore a crimson dress, that evening, or a tl T'Tf '"''']' ^^*^^ "" ^''^^ '^^"'* *l^'^t f^ll into graceful folds about her knees, and to her ankles, showhig her petty feet. Her Uncle Wynant described her, n sport- ing phrase as " clean limbed," and I thought of it Xn- to Tnh TZr^} ?^^"^^^- Tl^*^ plumpness be longLg to robust childhood did not disguise the trim shapelinesf that promised to become lithe elegance in th^ wo^naiT Her hands were crossed in her lap, and she" sat^perfe^tly I I g h P C£ S€ at ge th th or a glance. sive; her and even bolder by i, and her ilded wax 3w faint, he talked and used ing half- nebulous oice was d modu- •n. She nt Evy, limits of her side le word uificant of quiet elligeht c every n Miss it only or be tg, or a ;raceful ng her sj)ort- ' when- onging eliness ^oman. rfectly MY LITTLE LOVE. I rinr, lu.T ^^^ surpassed by a "moi ripe with the seasoning of ten campaigns the BhadowofT doubt ^t "' 'r^"'.''" ""^' ^0^"^ Haye! the be t „f b?ottr ' arTr'i ff./?^ ' „^'!- *^'- use, lost to tlieir fomiSt „ f ""^ ^°' "" ^'sterly frightful acoiden"s eaU d ■malC"^" ^""^'^ ''^ «'« .Fred used to be a nor,P«„.l, „f °°'''''' engagements.' was 80 vain as to beCe ,„/ T, T"' '?' ""'■ »»<» I place. Now I nLI vlf, * ''",'";''y """^'l "aurp my hodil/present to Sf eyes and "/Z >""""' ""'^"^ ^ "'" * ''V^uttet,^ r? ?T~« --"""^ °^^" eonsideXtTnunL^^^^^^^^^ " ""' ''o ^ou accepted itTe^ri"""* """^ ''''''' -"'-"'. ''"« she i-v;'^rnVcL;rrSat!Ld\rrr^'- "'''' «-'-' grace. Tlie white teefh\?i?„ ■ -1 , •' ^""^ ''"^ wmsome hardly seen bete' it wl' Xe ^t/t'" " 'i"'"""' 'ine pupil he is, Miss Mnn " wt- T f "^"^y '" '*«« "hose cannot do bettertw; """'"ig at Aunt Evy. "Yon seminary of it *tesMrC"'' 1°" «'»<»fes in thi" ates have the m^at en.^^ ?*^^- ^""e of her gradu- get off the nret^e,* ^,".'='>''°'.">g manners, and they do |ey are rt S^han "fud'Tlffi- ^f ^» ^-"^ that their bons mnfo o J ---i" reii tnem »u, buc even at Originates in Ser^cXe'^cS."*" '"'^"''"^ '"''* MMl m MY LITTLE LOVE. "The brain is then the fountain-head of gallantry ?" I said, interrogatively. " Wo stupid men are in the habit of claiming for the homage we pay at the shrine of the fair, the merit of heart-parentage." " That is an exploded error. Every girl in her teens knows better than to trust your fine words, or yourselves. But I must positively go !" I arose with her, and stepped back into a side-room for my hat and overcoat. " If you please !" remonstrated Miss Barnes, a few hur- ried steps bringing her close to me, at my re-appearance. " I beg you will not feel called upon to play deUverer to this forsaken maiden ! I am not tiie least timid, at any time, and this evening I have an eminently courageous lit upon me. Then, there are always the very civil poHcemen to call upon, if one should get nervous. I pre- fer to go home alone ! You may look incredulous, but I do ! I won't flatter you by pretences of shrinking deli- cacy. I am the most candid creature in the universe." She was laughing all over her face. Her eyes were upon mine, and I being so much taller of the "two, she had to raise them at a bewitching angle. Her teeth were a-gleam with fun ; rosy flames flickered through the Parian complexion, and amidst these, two of the archest, divinest dimples that ever ensnared heart and fancy played hide-and-seek. In the "Si/)"ake feeble deny persistl/to Tem.e e 'tTe Z^^Tft ^""''^ longer their own master, „L 7k T . ''""y ^"^ "o against their ever ^Sn^lt ut^tV'T "" "''"" and despite a fnTi«fi^n+;^ °i • ,• . ^^- I was young, and morWd musS ? Zu ^'i?^*^'^ *" dreaminess as over-si sc?ntibhf fo T r ' f^^ ''^""^ '^''" ^^^'^^^^^^ never felt the smntom^T ' '''^'' or 'Y^^^"^*^" ^ ^ad before, even L th? Zlnf^ "" T''^ *« recognize, or puppy.admin ?r- '*^°'' «{ «chool-boy passion their irts I was at tw^.^K '"^ '''^''^ *^ ^^^"^ttes ^nd Caspar Hauser when fo^no^^^^'^'l^^^l^^^*^^ ^' ^^« rounded soles of rsnjrflff^^^ ^T^''^^^ "P«" ^^e ing at the unknown ^o ^,"^ \f '"r.*^^ market-place, blink- petticoat tTreferTedtn;. ^/"^ '^' *^^^ ^ ^^^* ^^ ladies-^you^ones %npl'o?i *"! T''^^' ^^^ ^^^^^^^^d lege, withTTre th';T)f ^^^i'^'^^^^ ^* «^^«ol and col- dehoydom It s oni? l ""'"^^ ^'"^^ ^°°^^«^^ *« hobble- proof onheLmZi.'^''%^r^' .*^ ^^^ ^ convincing snmmer's*tso^"irr ?.rt,^f ^^^^^ -««-- of th^ bad met a popular b'-nrwUf.i'^..^ '"^^^'^n, that I awa,. ana UZ^^^^^I;^^ ^^^^^^ 100 MY LITTLE LOVE. utes before the twin darts from courtesy and dimple penetrated to my vitals, and I fell at her feet as Holo- fernes before Judith, or Sisera before inhospitable Jael. Figuratively. Seen by the outward eye, I stood upright, civilly, yet not servilely insisting upon my right to see my enslaver to the home, honoured beyond all other earthly habitations (but this I said inwardly) in being her abiding-place. More glances, courtesies and dimples were so much superfluous ammunition, but she did not grudge them. I said "Good-night" to Miss Marr, replying incoherently, I dare say, to her query whether I would not return and sup with her. I believe I intimated, and lied, in so doing, that "they" would be disappointed if I did not put in an appearance at home, about tea-time. My hasty response meant nothing beyond aversion to viewingthe blissful Now as limitable by vulgar times and seasons. On the first landing, I recollected that I had not taken leave of Ailsie, nor so much as looked at her in leaving the room. I will be so far just to myself as to assert that I should probably have made some sort of apology to my companion, and run back to repair the slight, had she not been in the middle of a sentence which lasted all the way down-stairs ; an impulse seized — no, touched me, in the lower hall, to call out a pleasant" Good-bye, Ailsie dear !" I should Hke to think that I had opened my 'inouth to do this when Miss Bessie accosted me. ''Have you a pin to spare? The walking is detest- able. I must pin up my dress, if I am to take your arm." Take my arm ! Flexors and extensors were steel at the suggestion. I could have borne her fairy -weight- one hundred and twenty avoirdupois — to the world's end, or hewed through a posse of " very civil policemen." Then the sweet artlessness of the declaration that she was under my protection, the ingenuous acceptance of my escort and all it implied of guard, support, devotion I and dimple eet as Holo- pitable Jael. ye, I stood )on my right [ beyond all nwardly) in iirtesies and ion, but she it" to Miss her query r. I believe hey" would tpearance at sant nothing as limitable ad not taken 3r in leaving as to assert t of apology i slight, had Lch lasted all •no, touched ;" Good-bye, had opened sted me. ag is detest - o take your ^ere steel at iry weight — the world's policemen." on that she iceptance of 3rt, devotion MY LITTLE LOVE. 301 —stamped her as true and noble woman 'Vh. u heats and thrills radiaffna fvn^ +1; T 1 . ^^^ alternate fibres of digits and ned«^^^^^ speech and memorv nl' '"'''* ,'^^^^^^ ^^ ^^ my recollect in S ve'st nlw t'' "^^'A?^ ^ ^^^^^ ^o to elor's ", pincuSnl^shTn'ed or^bVAilsrl' 'l '^^^ Producing it after fnml.i,-r.,rc. ^ j , ^ Ailsie, last week, me anothi gHml^^^^ ^'^^^^ ^^''^^ earned for rose-leaves oVZ'' perfect fcTr'^^ v'^^^^ *^'^ reverently. ^ '^ ^^^^' ^ ^^^^e^l it silently— It was heart-shaped and made of black velvet -wifh -D on one side " TT " r^-^ +u "^a-^^^ veivec, — with gold thread by Aunt Evv But "it^''' """'^"^ ^* ruple fold. TLtSger/tr^ttk W ^7^ round with pins for my um iT^A „h ''?t'^ *'' to this mom'cnt, to m2 up'my mM t„ ""^ ""'' "P them. I held it out tn lin== n ^ '° remove one of have tendered the mlSii^rf ^' T^^^ *« ^ ^o-W my arm, and inriterher t ' s«I^''° ^TP"^ against been prLticab^ to «-t ;„,"■,'''"/ '"*'> *'''''' ^ad it had afked mfto do tS'trifl?n"g w' "^ "''^' """» ^'''^ gloved I'gts'! '"'°""^' P^"'' »' ^ P-'« l-ad with her «now, joined to a mlnf -f ' i'!f ^^"^^ed, taper rolls of hehoid!^ uJdth}^^? '* ""^^^ one's mouth water to tiws and nalnablP l-n,i,,r ' j^y''?'^5 o^ ^un and mri- broadelothL&tlT:vt\:;ilrt'h^- ,i„ttf X. Mi 102 MY LITTLE LOVE. sessing this thing of wonder and beauty, and winning for his heart and home, a joy forever ! My breath went clean away for a whirling second. I held fast to the velvet heart, however, and let my charmer tug with mirthful moues, and pretty puckers of eyebrows, at the pins. Ailsie had pushed them in very far, and the stitches were so near together that they stuck fast, and the pink-tips, backed by the nut-shaped nails, had to pull valiantly to extract them. I had sense enough left not to volunteer the help of lingers that were all thumbs beneath her eyes. Nor coufd I have seen a single pin's head distinctly. Unaided— and unhindered— by me, she pinned up her draperies in the handiest and most modest manner conceivable. Not a thread's width of the white underskirt could be seen, and one had only chance and fleeting glimpses of a jaunty gaiter, ent^isping— such a foot ! "Her feet beneath her petticoat, Like little mice, peep in and out As if they feared the light—" went around and around in a brain that was spinning too fast for safety before their appearance upon the scene. rare Sir John Suckling ! shrewd and kindly wert thou in prophecy as in history of lovely conceits and the mtoxicating effects of beauty. I got the front door open— which was a mercy in itself, and due more to accident than dexterity— and we passed into the outer night together, as truly tctc-a-fcte as we would have been on Juan Fernandez before the discovery of the uncom- fortable footprint in the sand, and this while the streets were resounding with steps and voices. Pressley Dar- ling met us under a street-lamp near his own door, raised his hat to my companion, and looked, I fancied! quizzically at mo. Ho was an incorrigible teaze, but I was invulnerable to fear of persecution from any source while Bessie (I had got to that in my thoughts) "^grasped id winning ng second, nd let my puckers of em in very that they aut- shaped n. I had of lingers or could I lided — and ries in the )le. Not a l1 be seen, ipees of a ,s spmnmg upon the -nd kindly ly conceits the front due more ) the outer have been he uncom- the streets ssley Dar- own door, I fancied, aze, but I my source s) grasped Mr LITTLE LOVE. j^g uTonTeS4iSirr»'-.V'o launching herself WaiteASrthl'' Jf^""'' ^'^™^'=-» ^'''tion Sir over," she «aM on the '«!!;'"•?" '1"^''^°™ *''« ""^^ gafes with he;^ "4 e?e g/uiLfreTf '"/i ^"'"'^ Internally I anpflipmo/; i i.V^ *^® sidewalk, part of fasLon? of tiXl^^t^^ - '^^ sleeved surtouts for the LS^ ^"^ ^e- have been the act of a moml ^^T'^ '^°''^^^ '^ ^^«^1>^ "^^ •''^"^ ^*' *^^* of kindred sou s and moLZ J" *-''*^ ^^ *^e theory that kind of hinrtho e dewV? ^'"^^^' ^"^ ^^^ Providence, should as soon n^T^ ^^"^ ^^^ ^^^^^er by so begintoprepare^Insere *s^;^^^^^^^^^^ *^- - for that union. Tupner sn v.A, ^ ?"? ^""^ mentally, said it, I never sa wTe bo^oV T?T"^ ^^ ^^ wife of thy youth shris nnt~i- -^^'^^ ^'** *^ ^^^^'e a Therefore,yayfo;ier' nT. '^'''^.."^r *^^^ ^^^th. interprets it • 4rav tbnV .. ' ""' ^ '^'**-^ ^^'^^^d of mine have said; ' Prav thnt f 1.^ ^l^'^"' ^^^ he might good a wife.' '' -^ '^^ ^^^'^ "^^y^* be ^ade worthy of so ca%''H:;ipt^^^^^^ I^ enthusiasti- were as captivating as her bfautv of f f ^'' "^. ^''^''"^ of motion. How happened it tw/i -^^ ^""^ P''"*^^^ maiden had lived in the sam! .ifv ^I'J^'^ ''^^^ ^'^diant ever since the worid ^as^n-If ""'^^1 "^F'^^' P^^^^PS the lines of our existeTp hf}^^''^^ ^-^ ^^^ b"'*!^' and there no indexiLl bet^Lrv^^^ T"' r^''^' ^^^' aware that she ...., and near me ? Tn'? ^^^^^^^^^^ given to behold the incarnatfon^? IV. ^5 ^^'^ "^"^ ^* ^« have been expended th?fbnn°\ *^^'^^^^ "P«n which waiting and lonZl This if h' ^''^ ^*"^?^^ ^^ ^'^^^'^ of come into my &om " th/t ' ^''^^.^^n^ and I had hood. ^ ^ngaom m the very sprmgtime of man- Another crossing— moqf. qionm- n«i • supported her over it it «i;nf,TP^ t ^^'.^ "^ all. I ■ITfTT'O? 106 MY LITTLE LOVE. partly compelling her to tread on my instep, while, by taking bath hands, I assisted her in an airy leap to firmer standing-ground. The gaiters came to grief in the transit. She looked dolorously down at them in the yellow light on the farther corner. " Do you never wear India-rubber overshoes?" questi- oned I, as mournful as herself over the damage. " Never if I.can help it ! the great lumbering things ! I walk in them as if shod with lead." I could comprehend how a very light clog would em- barrass the feet that skimmed the puddles like a petrel's. But the instincts of my profession — that-was-to-be — were aroused. "Are you aware that you risk your valuable health — and " — I just made out to say it ! " life itself by getting your shoes damp." ** What a tremendous warning ! and uttered in a tremendous way!" she smiled, her eyes grappling my silly soul, and forcing it to the surface of mine. It took a long time to beat and scrape the clay from the soles and sides of the boots, and we were still within the area of the gamboge light, the fog curtaining us from all but the nearest passers-by. She waited until the task was completed before adding seriously, even sadly : " I may regard life as the choice possession you seem to think it, at some future date. I do not, now." " It is of inestimable value to others ! " returned I, vehemently, as we walked on. *' J' en doute. A qui, par exemple ?" How lucky thaft I understood spoken French ! How awkward that I could not speak it ! My English was the clash of rusty iron, after a silver chime. " To those who love you ! " Was I misled by my own agitation, or did the hand upon my arm shake ? She did not reply directly. When she spoke it was doubtfully. MY LITTLE LOVE. 107 rejoiced to strangle him who T.^^^" I ™"W have upon her. But the ,??), i^ j f°'i^'^ "'*«* loving eves with a heart in his bo om at '" ^' T^'"' N<> one could fail to love he Slv-w™'"'i; """'^ '° '* ™™b sionate, madly. 'onaiy-were he young and pas- to ~''o"uV^:;':Sl»'>«-^th an ohvious effort m— won't you ?'' "^^"^ '« ^^ ^lome .' Come anf Cai;^^^^^^^ in ever, thous- had they given it at all in the cir^™^^^ ^''^' differently, ness was a delicious contras^toTh. ""'"'• ^'' ^'^^^^ that governed her sex as « hL • . ^P^^entionalities par to the inflated i^o?Llte'Cew tw^^^^ ^^^■ You are kind— too kind '" TTp. i ^ '"""^^ ^^^^' me up the steps and her hn,;^ ^^'^^ ^^^^ dragged "I appreciate your jie.t !n V""' "P^,^^ *^^^ bell-knob presum'e to do^yeT lA'ofwTlLl,^^ ' ^^^^"^^ «'^ some other time—" "^ ^^" ^^^^^ me to call at 3,l°^*en and as soon as you like «" ^^ Without nnging th. bell/stXlding the Knob, she you™nuVc:>t.''X;°Cr "^•' C°-e whenever by pleasing yourseiri? ^ru^^ar^'^fifi' ""'^^ ">' now say so without fear or favoifr n " *? <"""«''". this house are sworn enemipl" / ^T "'"' ^^> we in Mymother-you see ? understand 7.^""'' ""'^'"omes. will be glad to receive you Mr H«, ""J'""' '«««- as Miss Mar's friend, and overio^Jl" ""^ ^"^'"' ™<1 cup of hpr cb'^-A '^-- "^erjoyed to see vnu ^rf"!,' o -ther is foggy and ^^'CJt^7r^,1^^:^^^, 'n^-:iCf!JS i 108 MY LITTLE LOVE. you two minutes thereafter, behind his newspaper. My brother * did a-wooing go,' this afternoon, thus obHging you to be here at this hour, * whether your mother would or no.' You behold, before you, the residue of the fam- ily party you dread to encounter. Will you enter — or, go away?" She rang the bell. Of course, I followed her into a lighted and carpeted hall, and obeyed when she showed me that my hat and surtout were to hang uj^on the bronze rack that stood there. "Now!" With the most seraphic smile she had yet bestowed upon her slave, she signaled me to attend her into the parlour. A bald-headed gentleman with gold spectacles astride of his nose, read a newspaper by the centre-table. A lady, with a dressy cap set above a very black front of curls, was dozing in a corner arm-chair. "Papa ! " said Bessie, convoying me to the front. "My friend and Miss Evelyn Marr's very particular friend, Mr. Haye, who most benevolently escorted me home when Fred had forgetten me. He has kindly consented to stay to tea, mamma." She waved me to a seat when the predicted welcomes were over, and saying, "Excuse me for a few minutes!" floated away. Mr. Barnes and I had considered the weather — fog in- cluded — exhaustively, and were edging toward poHtics before the return of the household fairy. I had even had time to collar and shake myself, mentally, and ask my sober consciousness how I got into this house, and what I proposed to myself by staying there. I had in- tended indeiinitively — if my memory were faithful in re- calling resolutions antedating the_beatitude of my Now — to spend this evening with Aunt Evy. I had left upon her table a book I had carried tv her that afternoon, with MY LITTLE LOVE. aper. My s obliging ;her would f the fam- enter — or, I carpeted Y hat and that stood bestowed 3r into the les astride -table. A k front of ront. "My ar friend, me home consented welcomes minutes!" 5r — fog in- rd politics had even T, and ask lOuse, and I had in- hful in re- my Now — left upon noon, with 109 the proposal that I should read if aln.,^ t.. • • supper that verv niah^ l^^ ^J begmmng after parlour was a brlch of fai^lf ^'.!ff '' '\f''- ^^^«e«'« of the invitai^on L tea wi «, i^ ? ^'!- * ^^^ acceptance rules of socL etiquette T Z '""^'^'^'^^ ^^ ^^^ simplest caps and evening lappets Tfinewfw^' '"'"^^^^^^ to this spasm of common senLm^^^P'rP*"^ °^^ on, it was the last seW of X kin J ,^*f -w;^'^"^^* '^ the nine davs's run of fevef """^'^ *^' ^^^ «^ a flood of glory over a^lthpp«ih ^!S^t ^^^^^^ad and the parlou? doLs I Ltd to wT \'''P'^^^S of in that room and inhZfv a ^'^l^^.^^^ born and bred of the year^f my mTlZ ofT^^^^^^ '" *^' '^^^ Mrs. Barnes's turban bv tht thL^' ^°^^"'^ ^'^^ «^ before me, superseranh t in f • T ^T'^ '^^^ ^^ound cape. She TlwaTdre^Pd f^'""^; ''^^ "^^^ ^^^ *""« knowing this t^vorLuU^^^^^^^ ^fffd ^ f^' apparition was doubly dazzUng ' "'''* ^^*"'~ *^« oppositeXsfe': 'Iv'lnnr"'-^' -^"1 "^ ^^^^ --« boLtifu% spLad-SX^^^^^ *^^*. *^^^ *^We was abundance' Helllettr c et^^^^^^^^ %^'' *« —now awake vet cW^^i^ZJa / i ciearly that Mrs. Barnes dish uport^:kteVe"tSrwi[^^^^^^ «™^y urgent than words until T^o^j'-*™ ^*''*"'''^^ ™ore nothing. Most distin .f ! i " "," ™''' '" ^<=<'^i'>^ brosiaffla™u"o/atXr™Sr-''S°"h1 ""-^ ''"'- eontinuaUy catching BesBie's el Ir ' '•' ^ •'"*" -ore ..stful relish o? UteZie^'i:; sl.7TeTad'the 110 MY LITTLE LOVK. tea-tablo conversation to ourselves. Mr. Barnes read all the while he was gulping down cups of scalding tea and bolting fried oysters, and eating custards with a dessert-spoon. His wife was quietly hungry, besides be- ing as dihgently as she was dumbly hospitable. It was very unlike a meal with the Darlings. I noticed that, even then. But the beauteous being exactly across the board, shedding the effulgence of her orbs into my soul, naade amends for all deficiencies, harmonized discrepan- cies. How she would glorify a home of her own ! In the genuine missionary spirit, I panted for the oppor- tunity to see her rightly placed— to make the setting worthy of the gem. The cream of the evening arose for my delectation with our withdrawal from the debris of .the feast, to the parlour. The elders with amiable discretion remained in the supper-room. I did not mcjin to pry into family reserves; but I could not avoid seeing, while bowing to Bessie to procede me from the apartment, that Mr. Barnes passed his cup to his wife for a fifth replenish- ment, and hearing his order to the servant to " bring in another plate of wafHes." It was cleai to me ah-eady, although our acquaintance was not three hours old, that Bessie's will was the law of the household, whenever she chose to exert authority. In view of this, it should, ac- cording to my estimate of my divinity, have been a per- fectly-ordered establishment. Whereas, I cannot deny that the only order of things seemed to be that of liberty of action and bodily solacement. Bessie was the embodiment of both, as she took pos- session of a semi-chair, semi-divan, which she told me was made expressly for her. It was luxurious to a charm— a marvellous construction of springs and pad- ding, rosewood and leaf-brown satin, and her pose within it was also a marvel. We sat in the back-parlour, de- voted, she gave me to understand, to her evenino- use=— " when she cared to be particularly lazy." *' MY LITTLE LOVE. Barnes read jcalding tea irds with a besides be- >le. It was )ticed that, across the to my soul, discrepan- r own ! In the oppor- the setting delectation east, to the emained in nto family i bowing to that Mr. replenish- " bring in lie already, rs old, that enever she should, ac- )een a per- nnot deny b of liberty 3 took pos- le told me rious to a } and pad- )08e within irlour, de- ling use — 111 easy chains Th. w^"'.' ^''^ ^''''^'' ^'' '^^'^'^^^ two theJe were pictures Tn^ ""' ^'"""^ -^'^"^^^ curtailed! statuette of See wffb^ ^2" ^ *'^P'^ ^" ^ ^^^^er, a rug was hire X^olg L^^^^^^ "f- ^- ^V- A fluffy was a stand bearing nv^!/^? a* * ^^ssie's left hand the chandelier were of /.ff? ^7T. ?' ^^'^^^^ of three or CUi^nf J^Lt^^^^^^^^ ,!r' ht: z.zt^'i :rr 1 ^" the" r ?h:;^h'ri dream-and love. ^^^'' '^ ''^''^ *« ^««t and pJo^^?^/-^^^^^" w^^l have a stupid evenfnrr " oo-^ I have some nleasanf Won^ T ' '* *P'*y' '<«■ meeting." P'""^*"' '"ends whom you (^ouU enjoy is a f*d1end"''/r'''^"' '''"^ht," rejoined I. '■ The fog jS^a^g^jdsend. I desire no society except that which I globfsVh"h/"f„^ '^■^" ""^^P^y »°™iling the twin Sfw ts reel a^aTn St!"^ '"'•™'='' " ^^"''8' "« "^ade bibed during my speU of 1™^'. ^:^\^'^^^P'""'* ''*'' o"™' made me pedes were hetlt^ow"^ ''''"'' '"'"' "' *^ »*' abr„ptZ7"" "" '''"""^''" *^ "^^-l '" *•'« -me ber young mistrs'gre'ihi;\rd:;'= '''''"'''■ '» -"- that I a^nTt^a^romr^t-rri^t rJSlhT lia MY r,lTri,B LO\*'«. roRiHtiblo ^mce— " you must ho very agrocahlo— fasci- nating, iiidood, to rocoinpoiiHe me for my possible losses. 1 will grant you live mimitea' grace iu whicli to arranco your ideas." *=* 1 needed it all, and more. The eoal was huai)ed high in the grate; white and violet flames (juivering up to the apex of the pilo : the radiance from the chandelier favoured the finest points the picture beneath, making more pure the com- plexion, darkening the eyes, and casting over neck and the lower part of the face a tender Hush, 1 was not cool enough to see, was the reflection from the sheeny pink •* Cool !" I was a college-boy— raw in years and ex- perience—by nature affectionate, but who hud but lately learned to taste the delights of home and friend- ship Ihe Darlings had " drawn me out," most beno- ticially to myself, so far as my intercourse with them was concerned. For the rest, discretion could come irom experience alone. The streets were unusually quiet. One could imagine the veil of fog closing about the room, in whose glowing centre we sat, to seclude us from curious or indifferent intruders. Bessie, her cheek on her hand, leaned back in her loungmg-chair and studied the rings on the hon ^ that reposed in the pink silk nest of !ier lap, like an a^.' baster cast m jeweller's cotton. I,, from the " conversation-chair" at her right, eat up straight and studied her, in entrancement approximat- ing deliraim, and repeated more love verses to myself .Av n *' "^^^^^^^ *^«^ I liad ever read or heard. T , ,,' : ''^- "": laa««idly sweet voice, presently, and 1 knew the nvx. N>i..mt.. grace was past. 1 laughed foci. hiy. It WPP awkward, this peremptory draft upon my powers of fascination, and I shrieked in- continently m the very glow of gratified vanity, propos- mg, bungimgiy, tiiat we "should have some music '' ioablo — fasci- )S8il)lo losseH. •h to arrange ; white and lie pilo ; tlio Ihu'Ht points ce the com- er neck and vas not cool sheeny pink ars and ex- hud but and friend- moat bene- with them could come uld imagine ose glowing indifferent eaned back >n the hp n 1 like an a»H. ght, sat up pproximat- 1 to myself eard. aently, and Deremptory hrieked in- fcy, propos- nusic." (( MY LITTLK LOVM. I need not ask if you sing, 113 t) jumping up with n parluar . ^"^"'^ '^""'" ^^^^ '^^'^'^ between Bessie did not move so much as her head TI.p «ln Wot a note ! she declared calmly. - I don't know one tune from another. The niano is f.l \T l ruBucu young lady. J can manage Bome dozen nhi-no^i, VrZT!\'"''i "^''^ ■""' *"'» decently r^fc. Except to bo happy all day long. Nor do I lUtnU peoplc'^Don-t^f,^!;:./:'^,^' '"" " '° ''--PP-nting Cn Ti/SallLgi;^ "" ""'™'' -"-»«, with mo." or pai^f??'"' '""'' yo" "'•'' »»' -"-ieal, do yo" drYw '* No, ma'am, answered I meekly. u f am always meek to models, work ?' ■ ^"* ^'''' ^^^ doubtless an adept in fr -.y sai'rl 7 f ""? T"" ^'','' '^ ^^"^''i^ or a crochet needle ' said I, fearfully crushed, but sincere to the death ' IP' 114 MY LITTLE LOVE. mente^'^"'' '^'^'' ^"^ '^^ *^^* ^^^ ^^^^ ^« accomplish, mldar-' ''''^* *^"* ^ ^^^^y« «P^^k the truth, Her laugh pealed out like the springing of a snrav of sleigh-bells, and I joined in heartily. ^ ""^ ^' ^ 'P'^^ ^^ Were ever such naivete and sprightliness suoh mnt-oi vrL nf inLn J^T ''"fP'o^bk did the threadbare manceu- m»B »nnp I •^'"i .""8 "^^'^""^ "Id calculating mam- uerseii to De neither useful nor ornamental i"n iha r^or^ ular acceptation of the term ! '"'^''^'^^''^^^ ^^ *^« P^P" "Do you remember the reply of the Vernmn nnnf She shook her head in charming wilfulness. v.,/ -n^l^^ Ignoramus. I know nothing from books whatt toirto'' pleasure of telling me. f nevTr forget tener, Thatfs.''' "' '''' '' ''''' '' ' '"^^ '^^ ^^o%. I bowed. "The poet answered by asking 'What iq the use of a rose?; ' To smell,' was the reply. ^ And i am good to smell it,' said Hafiz. You have discovered the very poetry of living. Miss Barnes." ^^^^^^^^^^ 1 beheve I have," she said, ingenuously "PpodIp make life so hard and earnest! It is all dollars and cents and pork and beans for the strong mush and molasses for the weak. If I had my way, The wodd th^Teof butr.r ^'^^^ ^^^'^"' ^^^ ^" the^'inhabilaits b«X^ i S'^'i 7°^^' P^**^^» woman, now, would The ''nat'tern '^ '^ buckwheat, and stock'it with bees existence All T ^ ^''' ^''f^^' ^^ ^ ^^^^^^ state of existence. All business and sting. Packing awav honey by the pound for her own use! and grudLTso much as a drop to anybody else." ^^^^^giiig so CHAPTER IX. IN CLOVER. ^hJ'^lT ^^^ ''''M'' ^"^'^ ^* ^leve^ o'clock, ^^ when I tore myself away from the beaming presence enthroned in the leaf-brown Tat^ causeuse, that it was strange I did not lose m^ al^n;f ii^ n^ ''^'^^''^ crossings and blunder nv«-+ ^ ,^S^^^.«* clead walls, m a style that would havp excited damagmg suspicions m the minds of beholders bad there been any. I did not meet a dozen men in thP not but observe the phenomenal appearancf of these ewplungmg suddenly upon the vision at arm's lenS as If projected to the surface of the pea-souHv an nn' tTeVhot-bro^h" ''^ *'^ -reasin^unsZouLTss'^of ine miious broth escape my not ce— a flavour (.« if it had been scorched in the boiling, and kept too long a er ward Pavements and brick walls dripped wtth the unwholsesome steam. It beaded my hat^nd overcoat and clogged my hair. If any germs of the fevTr Tw XyTvSem"^b!f 0$° '"^ f f'^ mo''«thtr:Z^l'nt f^x^^ t-hitt— r fdidTi ^ Z dr^ 3d? M;d tlis -9 '^^er„ door, and felt that the panels streamed-'wUhwTt', vr 116 MY LITTLE LOVE. H I '' Heavens ! what a climate for her to Hve in ' And The hn'in?'' ^"^^^^^vershoes, if nhecanLlpit r Ihe hall lamp was extniguished. I mipht be tolerahlv confident receiving a step-maternal tl^^de at 3 fast pathetically rounded by a recaDituln+inn nf fi various images of dread tha^es Zf ^^^^^ preceding my return, wherein burglars, fal e keys wav side assassins, gambling-hells and heart disease-sTnce fZhnf "^ "'' ^^'^^''^'' build-relieved one another^ n ttt f I'S Tr ^" "^' T''''''^y imagination Never tneless. 1 trod the perversely creaking stairs— soundless by day-with an undismayed spirit. My panoplv wL mJllf i"'? ^^*^^y ^^«^*ed Slopes could hurt or molest me, exceeded my store of credulity. My bed-room was cheerless. The chambermaid hnd b?i f ^ ^'^fmg up" m the forenoon, and nobody had cared or thought to close it. The air tasted and Te'^Yet^SSd^^^^ a dilution of tL'^peat'ot o^t B™ for a innd ? ^'^^^.^^^dy-lamp, and poredh over enoiig\tprorsestp: '^'"^ "^^ ^"^^^^ ^^ ^-* Mr. Gilder did not write "The New DoTr" „»,+ i score of years later, or I should have'lu^Yt no "other priest direct my devotions. Says a saSent cri^c with whom It IS to be presumed the new day of lov?^^^^^^^^ is'thr no onetn^ "^^ ^"^^ ^^^'^^^-^ tYthe volum beautts/^ ' ^' ^ ^°^''' '^" ^^*^^- f""y ^"to its al ^'""uH ^'T r^^^"^^^ ^" i^s boscages of musk-roses and rolled ecstatically upon its spice-beds? ami drunk to divines intoxication of its choice vintage steeped inv self o translucency in its sunsets and rfiigs ^'^ ^' neaw in the recollection that' sie ^^^tm^^^^S^ t^e in! And . help it!" be tolerably le at break- tion of the epless hour ' keys, way- lease — since e another in on. Never- — soundless anoply was t mundane uld hurt or 3rmaid had !8 from the ind nobody tasted and ti-brot out- )oredh over vere quiet " until a t no other ent critic, jf love has he volume y into its usk-roses, I drunk to Jeped my- [ slept to , to exult m entity, MY LITTLR LOVE. 117 lier Louse lavln^^'' r'* 1" ''V' ''^'''^ ^^at, although ler nouse Jay m a direction diametrically opposite to the route I should hav(! taken in order to rpnrh ?nif. punctually for morning prayers,^ parse Urn^Cfo my lectures and re-passed it when the classes were dis missed for the day, at two o'clock. No onTwas vLbi ' about the premises, either time, diligently asTscnned he windows from the attic half-story to the well^sunken _.^sement. A flutter of Mother Barnes's ribCs would lave been some stay to my faintin.^ ^..il. A sectfon of Bessie's shadow upon a window-blind would have been solid comfori. I was left to such mitigatirof Tv thiW as I could wring from contemplation of the sto^^ ste' make ""'' ^"' ^""^' '^ '''' ^«- ^ gaiteTFreS By a blessed slip of her dear frank fnnmin t i, ^ earned at what ho'ur she tooThJltAZTlolti^ tional and m what direction. Three oVlock found *„ dressed withm an inch of my life hauntinrtho . the Barnes house helped to make h^hlf resectable [^^ a divided agony-the dread of being eVed and rTdicuM iiie pretence became the essence of fatuitv when «l.o tripped down to the side-walk with a nod of weTcome 118 MY MTTLR T.OVK. " (Tood-affcornoou ! [ saw vnn rm, i.,r . i -i , .'''koau-vvSlymc, round the corncT?" 1 «„;,1 f,i. •• K "/'•TT, ^'r '""^ ''™ «'"-« "P ti « »t -cT ' '""■ 1,„™ *„ , •"'1' " "Inssioal allusion ? Thon von'll " Not even Dickons ? " msmm \. m \fP^"'^ It all I uiiist bo smcero." ^ sion warranted ' "''^" ^^^^»'•» know in dZ^^o^lf lV5^ T.*^ "V""™"! l»ople gross a -tion-asfl;itin^±tbV^o-;ri^^^^^^^^ Z MY LITTLE LOVK. 119 ethereahzed personality tliat htm ariHon superior to the power of gravitation and the rentraints of friet on Wn wonder. ,n our circunn, why we have nev lone Uhc-f^o and always, , ih ho easy and altogo-ther Ttural and renolve never to descend to the i^morrn-nious st S sten upon the rough earth. We do eorru, down. iZ^o'Z ZrZp."^ '^* ^"^ '^^'^^^'"-^'' -^ -- i- -; J , My time for descent was not vet Thrniirri.,>»* mterview of that day, my mIH li«ht a/aTatlK"/ and my hoel« a« light m my head. Our cmZ ^, -town' had become somewhat accustomed to CeLltaion L mere was a family of inquisitive maiden sisters across he way, as I was informed at a later day, X freauented the street windows with such pertinacitf hTFr^^^^ Barnes had named their domicile "the pL^^^^ in'lS^ IrTii' ^^V'P^^*^^^-^" women t^erwer^'w th- in the pale of Bessie's vmdictiveness. In the main «hn was amiable generous to a fault when g vfn.^did no? rrteXjnti;^'- ''7^'' ^-verybody Shelrry oi resentment for real or supposed injurv was ovpr now, that she could do her opposite neighbours and I ^^^^^^^B i ■ ' ^^H i m J ^m^ ^^^w ^^M I ■■MB i\ ^S \ ^H ^' H M|, ■n ^H f: B ^■L ^Ib ' ' 120 MY LITTLE LOVE. natural enemies no unkinder turn than to display in their sight a new claimant for her favoui- as coSci ously as was compatible with a liberal renderinaof the proprieties, she kept me talking on the thresb^?d^ mak! mg of herself a prettier picture than ever, bV sideW and downcast looks and blushes, palpable eno^ugh to be visible to the lynx-eyed watchers. Without misg ving as to her motives I enjoyed her attitudinizing in good faith as long as she would permit me to stay. ^ I shall hear of this tableau again-probably a dozen times, : she broke off a remark to say, at lengt^h '^ We have given our friends over the way food for a month's gossip-as I meant we should. Since voiT won't rr,.;-'' ' """' '^^P ^^'^ ^*-^-g - the'cdd."'!! She kissed her glove-tips before shutting the door in my face. I accepted the dismission with the feeliW Ihl^ I was bound to be grateful for something I elSd no have brought myself to remind the thSughtless cMld that she had not once invited me into the houe although she was persuaded that she had and that I had refused. I was afraid-I was sure-that I shouW have gone m and again partaken of Mrs. Barnes'sXmed tea, and done fresh voilence to /.. convenances hyre maimng upon the hallowed ground until midnTght less sixty minutes, had she repaired the omission Yet ? convmced myself that there was a strain of he^dc self- abnegation m my forbearing to spur the memory of the LX"'"'/T ' ^^^ *° P^«^ homeward through the gathering dusk, to study up for the morrow's lectures It was a help to my virtuous resolve to keep before me the goal of earthly hope and endeavour-the pros IhLV^' wedding-trip to Europe. Im^ati n t^o be about the business that night-that shoulcl-bring this to pass, I hurried through my supper striving to appea? subhmelv rfiaardleqq -f rv.- ^,- J-^..- ^."^ *'" appear v...r.+u »" --^■^'■•^^^^^ ^'i mj oistur H queries, and mv brother s raillery upon what he described as my - nl display in s conspicu- ering of the bold, mak- 3y sidelong ough to be ; misgiving ig in good •ly a dozen ?tb. *'We a month's you won't cold. Au le door in eeling that could not less child le house, that I had ould have s glorified ;es by re- light less •n. Yet I 3roic self- ry of the 'ough the ectures. Bp before the pros- 3nt to be ring this ;o appear and my ny "un- MY LITTLE LOVE. 121 common heavy dyke "-being slang for a "grand ^Pf who never laid aside business even in his sleeSre™ SfCges'lS ?r ^TV"' '1*°«>'« andTnds'ra mortgages. 1 tried to imitate his m en of genuine in difference, but my forehead flushed darkly at thrusTand equivoque. Mine had never been a vprv ^«^r^f 1 ,^:* I f-bt if I had ever ratedTas^S^^^^^^^^^ until that evening. I sat bowed over my tabi mv head on a fat volume of essays upon Political Economy for a long time after I went to mv room a nrpv +^ T u ' \ fits of rapture and distress aVreoAtrasSh: : enT 'f , She would find my stepmother staid and crabbed • m„ sister hoydemsh; my brother an unscrupulousle'asT my father Btern. I painted her fear, her recoil W aversion her repentance that she had l^elded to mv passionate prayer and resigned maiden freedom h!{ one accompl shment of " beiSg hap^y al" dav lon^^for thety'tf^SitSf '" '" "--S-at itetai/S Sat itad^tXn Z^Z^JI^ Ti^'^ "^ was workSg for X^I^" aT' "™°-'"''' '''''"'"^- ^ o'clock A.M. kept it up until two 9 •51 122 MY LITTLE LOVE. Hamlet presented himself in Ophelia's sewing-room— -T , ^ " his stockings fouled, Ungartered, and down-gyved to his ankle." and was adjudged by the owlish wiseacre Polonious to be mad for love'" Benedick sneered bitterly at the desertion of his whilom companion-in-arms who since he had been smitten by Hero, would "lie ten nights awake, carving the fashion of a new doublet." Claudio in unwitting retaliation, when describing the signs of Benedick s passion for Beatrice, says, "he brushes his hat o mornings. My love took the tidy turn. I discovered, with con- cern, that my every-day coat was getting shiny about the elbows and that the binding was frayed. My step- mother looked well to the ways of her household, but I decided that her laundress should be taken to task for criminal neg ect of my shirt-fronts. The tie of the cravat was the crucial test of patience and resolve to appear wel in the beloved eye, or perish in the struggle. %H?? J?''-^?,'' ^V,^^ *^^^ ^^ ^^^^ Brummell's tableful A ui^^' ^r ^^ ^^^^ ^^ love i* was explicable and pardonable. My hat, like Benedick's, suffered long. The malady would seem, with me, to have struck up- wards as determinedly as Hamlet's love-fit settled in his calves. I had discarded the student's cap in November, my stepmother objecting to it as " rakish." I was not fond of nay stepmother, but I tried, as a general prin- ciple, to keep on the right side of her. To please her, I mounted a beaver, and brushed it occasionally. On the day after my introduction to Elysium-iaf est, the Barnes s back parlour— I took it to the hatter's to be blocked over and ironed. After which deceitful renova- tion, I was continually seeking out stray nooks and chances where and when I could pull it off and poHsh it with my coat-sleeves, or blow the dust from the sleek cylinder, or assure myself, bv ofinlar /Ipm^n-tr^t'on that it needed no such affectionate attention. I ran in I ill MY LITTLE LOVE. iwmg-room — re Polonious itterly at the IS who since e ten nights i." Claudio, the signs of brushes his \, with con- shiny about 1. My step- ehold, but I to task for tie of the d resolve to ihe struggle, ill's tableful plicable and iflfered long. struck up- ettled in his 1 November, I was not 3neral prin- lease her, I ly. On the •id est, the tter's to be bful renova- nooks and ad polish it a the sleek lonstration, I ran in 123 Bessie •■ could live onbmJ^'f:.^^'^ ? j"'' *''<' P''"''^''- What man withlhearHn hif hil '"''i'P''? "'""'"•" in his pocket. .:zzv:^:z7oZa '"""""^ Jmteit7ri„t,^e7rr^^^^^^ was the reddest letter nftl,« 4^ i-*^"' S™''*? had suffered Jatt"nda°L t an'dtom Th rc"in 't^ forenoon. I had found fha t.1o7 -IT ^""^^" ^^ tbe ma Barnes were not nofed cTureWoers^' Cr ,^7" 8ku< overflowed mv anWea- ti,„ <■ ■ ,, ^'""'° sleeve lay upon mv „rm 1 '• \f""»'' "^ ^<"' ™lvet loosened fuTboa slid do;nT« ""' •""I™""' ""'^ ^^^ rested on my knee a si ™i,-,h TT r^''^'^' """' '' I'^t^^"^.---— ^^^ tbeei^iirPetaT^rrr'Li^fXr"^^^^^^^^ ••WshonirnUttc^;,^e™uprn^^«^^^^^^ I I' I MY LITTLE LOVE. I could not correct her when she tripped-in another t would have been blundered-in such trifles. Would statistical and literal starch make her more enchant- mg f w.lhf '- "^r^ " ^^"1? '' ^ ^^**^^ «f °^oment and Trrv I'll ^ "^^""^T^ *h Prayer-book she had let me carry all the way to and from the sanctuarv. About four o'clock, my Sunday dinner having been hear y and my attempted afternoon nap a failure I strolled around-a matter of four furlongs or so-to satisfy myself that all was right with Beauty's Bower linw^"" immense deal of gratuitous police-duty that ^ardk^ofX^^'f ,^ ^^"^'^ ^^^^ I ^^* ^ li^e««ed guardian of the public peace sauntering through my hr^n^tSr'" "' '"" """'' ^''"■'^'"'^' '■■°"- The house ?vas all right-except that upon the steps stood a young man. I inventoried him in the twink W of a jealous eye. Of good height, passable features and ea y carriage ; faultless in each particular of his fashion able apparel he glanced with a kind of keen supercilious- ness at me, flicked his boot with his cane, and drummed with his toe upon the stone step while awaiting the answer to his ring. The sight of him thus and Vere was a personal grievance, yet there was a glimmer of sardonic mirth in my visage as I contemplated his show • of impatience and foresaw the disappointment which Zner fjr'^'t ^''^Tl ^''''' ^^« ^^^i^i^le, until supper time ; afterward she would be at home to but one person, and that not this arrogant dandy. I walked slowly onward purposely and maliciously. I waJciiri. ous to contrast his crestfallen bearing with the confident expectation that had nettled me. The concussion of a closing door, familiar to me as the tinkle of the beU which hung beside it, awoke the Sabbath echoes that Slept on other davs m the mnch fr^^nf'if-f' -*-"~i mi. _ foiled stranger did not overtake me, after receiving his MY LITTLE LOVE. 125 quietus, and I looked over mv shmil^nvf^ «« gone down the street insteaT ^"^ ''" '^ ^^ ^^^ and stood stockstill diimH nrvTo a ^ wheeled lers were fast and TLu Tt I.' , P."'*""' *"*■ .evening. Ensconced in *J,« l"lf'^?i^'^ /-I"''*-"; *hat iieid out her han^ ^uu T" /\^^-»^"wn Kami nest alie here^er-sTeetsmiJeT"'''"* "'"'^' '"^ '''^ «'^^*^«t "f 126 MY LITTLE LOVE. Five minutes late! In another five, my 'not-at- home ' to other people would have been outlawed. You have just saved your distance." **^ thought I might have mistaken mv orders" I replied. " I saw a gentleman upon the froiot steps this afternoon whose countenance seemed to say that vou were at home to him, at least." "I am not responsible for the stamp of masculine conceit upon his face, or any other—" with a curl of the red lip. "But I would have seen him had I been Jw^T^xr* n * ^^ "^^^ ^^^^' ^* ^^-s mamma's pet nephew. Nat Wallace. She had him all to herself for an hour I scolded her well for not awaking me. I used to love Nat dearly when we were at school together. He lives in Philadelphia, now, and we seldom meet." I was miserably mortified, so pitiful did ^y jealousy appear m the light of this simple solution of tne mystery I had made for myself,— so fully had I exposed it by my untimely investigation of the very innocent circumstance of a nephew calling upon his aunt on Sabbath afternoon f iT ^-^^ l^^^f, essayed an apology, but Bessie merci- lully led the talk to some other theme— mercy for which my soul blessed her as the most magnanimous of created mtelligences. i! y CHAPTER X. My ROBIN ADAIB. HAD known Bessie nine days, as 1 have said, and my passion was at flood-tide, when a great ball was given by one of her acquaintances which she was to attend. Since I was not invited, I found myself with a spare evening on my hands rrarlin's ^"^ ^^^""^^ '* ^"^ "^^ ^'^""^^ *^^ ,. 11 ^ri.w T^P''? *^® '*^P« «^ *lie house before I recollected tha I had not seen one of the family since I left Aunt Evy's room in Bessie Barnes's company. I was slightly abashed and more surprised at my apparent remissness I hoped they would not "make a tSie'' about It. Aunt Evy ought to deal gently with me, for knowing Bessie as she did, she must suspect the inevit I rrffbi\'^ir'/."*'"^r5^°^ ^^^ subsequent interview. I rang the bell with wonted boldness, having done noth- To'Z^n 'f °"!f be ashamed. Before it' had ceased eTbitld^^o'm'ebS:^ ^^ ^^^^*^^^ «^^ '^' -- "I said it was your ring! " she cried, a dry sob break- mg her articulation. "We have been 'so unhappy about m know. Then, papa met your father yesterday and he said you were well. What has been the matter? bring'yof "" *" ^"""^ ^^'^ "»■"• She told me lo Jbusyitt^a?;;' "'"'^''- ^^'«' ''^"- ^»^' ^! fl fi d pJ 128 MY LITTLE LOVE. I did not blush at the equivocation, for I recallprl iha ohJjJ^l^ '"'^'^^-'^ ^'''^' I* i«^'* wholesome!" ^'itt'^y "^,^^'^^'^1^' ?^^riging to my hand all the way up stairs -Here he is, Aunt Evy! He has been studv mg himself to death again. He'll have softnirg^an-S bram, if he isn't careful." ^ Aunt Evy's pale face was lighted up by a smile that was motherly m its goodness. Her hLd-clasp bespoke undiminished regard. I began to blame myself in earnest that even an all engrossing love had Sled me into passing forgetfulness^f whal I owed to her ThfL ^PV^""'' ^J"^"' as if fearful of losing me again. The easiest arm-chair was drawn up for me to Aunt Evy s side, and the small lady accepted her place unon T f.H ? f ^^^^^^^ *^eP' While I talked with her aunt L riv r/'^"^' ^T' r*^ *^" l°^g «°b I i^^d remarked m my welcome-almost soundless, but deep-drawn and alow-the ground-swell of spent excitement. It the fourth repetition I tightened my arm about her and pressed my lips silently to her cheek. Both arms went around my neck, her face was hidden for a second upon my breast; then she released herself from my embrace and rushed from the room. ^ emorace P^l'/i?"""* ^f peak your forbearance for her," said Aunt Evy her smile more troubled than I could understand She is not quite mistress of herself to-night. You for * got to take leave of her the last time you were he?e She would not hsten when I remarked upon and tried to explain the omission. ' It's all right ! ' she saiT proudlv 'course he didn't mean anything »' You needn't"^ elf ^e that! Im 'stonished at you, for noticing such a it«e thing. Aunt E Y ! It's 'most as bad as backbiting .'and off she marched, her head as high as a duchess's But she cried herself to sleep that night. Her moth'; f.n.a ner Bleeping when she looked in upon her before retiring, MY LITTLE LOVE. 129 reaUy uneasy by her sdt ud^oterni^Hoa 'Z '"'"*' davs past. She has Hpov. ^^ V.^^S ^^u, for some appetite, or abOUy to Lnlv he^.^lfV' '''^^'''' ^^*^°^* diversion. Each e^nS^he hnf/^ ''''I occupation or window, there, anTw^SciS^i^^^^^^^^^^ you usually come, without saying whom she i/« '.^ ing, or expressing in words her T.^nr^'/f^Pf *' you did nit appear TaZJlf f/'^PP^i^^^ent when tower of observXn when the^hPll , ^^^ T^-^'^^ ^'' of delight she darted do^S stairs She^r^ r*^ " ''^ sitive and idealistic, with, tlth ugh a SttThiir" delicate nervous organization ViL .^^^'^J ^hild, a storm, last summer thi?.f!N:o ^} ''?'^ *^^ ^^^rful checM m'::""' '"'" ■^'"°°*'"^'^ "'-' J^' Aunt Evy "Not a breath of apology nleflsei Tii,-c, • all tfrr-f"".*" ^^ «--"-ous oTo^attnf S ft J. f I, il ^ i MY LITTLE LOVE. chevalier, sans peur et sans reproche, stung me with the smart of unmerited praise. I felt and I said that I was not good enough to be Ailsie 8 hero. I said, furthermore, and felt it no less, that it was a compHment the mediaeval knight himself might have coveted to hold so high a place in her pure and loyal heart. That it ought to make me better, more earnest m seeking that which was true and noble, more prompt to repel what was bad. Saying it, my heart warme^ into softness and my voice was not so firm as I would have had it. As to the shock of last summer, I was pieved to hear that it had left lasting traces, and loth to credit the possibility of enduring harm to a robust merry-hearted child of her agj. " ^^^J^y *^a* token, she is seven years old, this very day ! I interrupted myself to exclaim. " Can this be Christmas Eve ?" uZ^^ }^^^ ^^y-" ^^'^ ^"°* Evy, much amused. Where have your wits been moss-gathering, that you are so far behind the times ? One would think you had been buried alive for the last ten days." ^J coloured, furiously; got up and turned my back to tlie light to conceal my confusion. aZ ^,^",«*T' ^i"^^ '" ^ repeated stupidly. " It is incre- dible ! It has been a long time since we made any account of Christmas at our house. We do have mince- pie and plum-pudding on the 25th of December, but that is about all that distinguishes it from other days. 1 knew the hohdays were near, to be sure. As to there being no lectures to-morrow, it is Saturday, you know L^T''*1"'^^H''^ ^"^y «*^^^ ^ea«o» for the omission! What a dunce I am !" "I verily believe you have been living in the clouds." rejoined Aunt Evy, still laughing. " Where were your eyee that you didn't see "Christmas" stamped in green- ancl-firold. all ovpr flip a]inr»_Tinv,/i«„r« o»> ° 1 was mute, my head hanging upon my chest like any me with the MY LITTLE LOVE. 131 of my own supreme l^pineTaL L.^f/''?'"'"^! J^''^' courage up fo confesB tl^mk^ntsT^iZl "T" ?l was the glamour that had Kyes ear ™f 1 '' *''?' bondage. Nothinc pIsb h^JZ.-'' 5?f J*"* senses m that tL was myltt love's Zm^ Z' t^f'^ come to her empty-handed. Worst S'nnT ^ i ^^^ penny with which to purchasr Hrth /o ' n?^''^* ^ gift. Mv last fivp riniio; 1 -n ? birth-day or Christmas room bouquet An^ 1, i i''" ^^^ «^"' ^^^ ^^^^^^'s ball- a cSld'^ ""^ ^'^^^^^ P^^««^*« ^ere 80 much to you can spare half-an-hour rl,irit,„ +1 "i J ^"*^- ^ Ailsie was mher bed-rnnm ao,-^ td ui.- , I met in the hall nn^ tT ' f^/^^^obbie's nurse, whom straying bird tetw^^^^^^^^ ^'' ^^ ^"^«* «^ *^« picious delay carrv^rw 1*^^ '^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^O'^t sus- my heart smote me remorsefuUv T P*'"' *''-l«''*' *°'' thethoughtwasforrss b'r r:;'„^U'e^ infcs^Tyet SSf" ^"""^^ '^"^ ^ Wi 132 MY LITTLE LOVE. I 1 BJIb U ' i^BiP ' H| 1 ^H^^^B i i \ 1 1 ^M^^^^^^M ■B ! ^^^m |H| i 1 HaaHH ^^^^^^H ^^^^^^H ! h .?^f ?.®®^ ^ thundering blockhead, Ailsie ! You wouldnt believe it, but I never knew that this was Christmas Eve until Aunt Evy told me. There are no children m our house to keep Christmas for. So I never dreamed it was so near. If I had recollected Christmas Eve I couldnt have forgotten that it was your birth- aay. I was on one knee in the middle of the room— the place and attitude m which Bessie had discovered me It salves mv wounded self-respect to reflect that the coincidence did not occur to me at the moment. Ailsie laid hsr arm over my shoulder, leaving one hand m mine. Her beautiful eyes were brimming with pity. Forgot Christmas!" she said. "You never keep Oiiristmas at your house ? I did not know such a thing ever hn opened ! I am afraid it is very wicked. I should nave thought your prayers would have put you in mind. Whf It is our Saviour's Birthday ! Aren't you dread- fully unhappy about it ?" " I am, Ailsie ! Fairly wretched !" Her arm dropped from my neck. She drew awav from me. ^ " I was not joking !" The sad dignity of manner and tone rebuked me into true penitence. u ri-^""?'* ^ ""^^^^ •'" ^ entreated. " I really feel very badly about my stupidity. And I shall believe that you thmk me a wicked fellow, past caring for, if you don't promise before I rise from my knees, to take a long walk with me on the blessed Christmas Day. You shall show me how to keep it." . Pacified and delighted, she assented, and condescend- ed to be lured back to her perch, which she occupied all the time I stayed, her bright, brown head now turned to one side, now to the other, barkening, questioning, ana renlvmff viritb plfin crvana ar^A m---- "^-~ -'^ •' bhe did not offer to exhibit her birthday gifts— a tactful MY LITTLE LOVE. 133 brTugiThi :St!Mir^ ^appreciated. I had 0^ had bee *tri"o^4rte^,^^^^^^^^^^ " So my little wife is seven v^^rs nUvia^iA rx She blushed and laughed. ^ "«'"■ Chan e*" r™: raloL'^u*:"'?.! '° ""' f» «"^^« i« ^o-^e such a thiuTaryour ftSi in"- i^^^.^e^e was but Uuppofe thft-r„„rofthT;„'e"tir ™""^ '"' ""«' ^;i:jnriidr3:„Ti3Vit^,^^^^^^^^ exacly what my age is, even now " ' °* "" P'°P'" to, Jh nV :r 11";^' s '"^"r-"^- " I "-0 that. The trouUe about v„i''- ™ ^"* P"'* "" that I'm afraid you'SJJt fn fh^ ',?« «o awfully old is snip of a child tCl^.f i„ ''''"^';8 of me as a wee stop lovine me ot if „ T"^ anything. Then you'll ashLeTo^f mewh^n vefv cW '"'' '^"'^ "^' y°" ""^^ ^e would be very bid " ^ ™'' P''"""" "« ''?• That est p«rZ t:i ^^^;,^;^^::^:i^^- do trV to leam TlntVj.- ■ *"\ ^ f ''' ''elievc so ! I ttetoseehow m™v£'V'r''\'''8™ri,.^S ^^aH^^ *^^^^^ °P^"^y «^ Jove in all its phrases Z i?^^l*f '''i VT:^ predicates, associate^rase city for feeling and enjoying all these that I should have rated myself as the basest of triflers could I have adJt! ted the remotest chance of my leaving the binding ques- o^°^b^« r^.'^-'? "* *^ ^"^.*- I^ ''^' ^"«i^ for mei^ feel won haf 'IT' ^J' *^"* "^^ "^ ^^^^'« g^^^t P"^^« was won, that my heart was moored for all time. No more hungering and thirsting for the share of love fheZd Father must have ordained as my portion when He toulTb^/Tf^ ^«\haPP-esi Ld forTufferi?g through the affections. No more trivial and baseless S as to the shape in which my fate would puerife^r''''' '"^ *^' '^'^^ ^""^ '^^^^'''* '^^^^' invariably nnl7 ^ i^ *^^ ^'^^^?* S^^^ ^ ^^^^ felt ?" said a youth hflf tn .^f .^^^Jo^our Side !" And he threw up his hat ten feet m the air, catching it as it came down 1 could have laughed, danced, sung in my « glee " while revolving the above thoughts in my mind. If I did not shout " Hurrah for my side !" I felt it Was it tCt'lTn^T"'' Vr.^ ^"^^" y^^'' ^^d experience T.olLZf *^'^^?ilt ^^ ^" incessant propensity to ascertamfor myself hat my treasure was a verity and it:.L^l urchm takes out his new four-blader twenty ^ndlZ ^^^Vf^ *^ 5^'^ '^ ^^^^' P^" o^t a^d polish bni+l *^^,^ade8 and put it back into his pocket, to bum there into mtolerableness in less than five minutes ? CHAPTER XI. (fool's) paradise lost. •sSo^UoZ":]?^ ? "™' ""'' '"8'" "«'""* Bide of the « ^0 t ntlZ;™^'''-'^'^ ^K" °»*- ' I knew the street ami the number and the «pon a corner, "vitH Zor vL /'"'"?,""' ""<' >""" most city hon escan boal ^On «" '™ """T »' " *''™ passing between me in^ +>,n t?„ i ^^^^^ ^^^^^ side street was in f^X IcuX^ ^^^^ the yard low. The floor nf^Z^' ^^V'^'''^ ^^'^'^8 of feet above the level of the LulV'T^^. ""''' "^* '^^ the fence cleared f/ of ! ^■^''^' . ^ ?"* ^^3^ ^^^nd on man's arms and oN^SL^ t P^tbn rt' odious spectacle. The casements werrahi Tml \ poured toward and over me iZ itLJ'^ ' *'"^''® sweet Birl-voieea -tSthl f . tended murmm- of girj voices, and the deeper tones of their attend- 138 MY LITTLE LOVE. ants, With soft bursts of well-bred laughter, and wafts of warm, perfumed air. The phantasmagoria inside the brilliant saloon was bewilderingly gay, streams of prom- enaders flowing down on one side, up the other, like a restless, elliptical rainljow. I looked too far and too eagerly at first, f discredited the evidence of my eyes when, having accustomed themselves to the glare of light, they showed me, on the veranda, so near me I could hear the swish of her robe against the railing her whom I sought. The night was raw, although not very cold, and the dear imprudent creature wore no covering on her head beyond her wealth of chestnut hair and a semi-wreath of roses ; none upon her shoulders except their own fair- ness, which I do not think was pearl-powder. They gleamed in the gas-light like marble. The ivory curves of her arm were white as her dress. Her head was bowed to meet a bouquet she lifted to her face. Which bouquet was not the one I had given her ! This was larger and composed of rarer exotics than was that for which my last "V" had gone. There was never a less mercenary lover than was I, at that epoch, but I calculated, with a sickening pang, that this collec- tion of camelhas, tea-roses, violets, etc., could not have cost less than four times the sum I had impoverished myself to expend— it would seem uselessly. The qualm yielded shghtly to the hope that this might be a bor- rowed treasure. Young girls had a way of exchanging bouquets at parties, for an hour or so. It was not a^ee- able to reflect that careless fingers had toyed with that into whose heart I had breathed vows inaudible, but so hot they ought to have withered the frail blossoms on the spot, before transferring it to Queen Bess's keeping But better thus, than to believe that it lay, slighted and forgotten, on her drebsing^able, or had been stuck by her prudent maid into a pitcher or wash-hand basm A pmk japonica, variegated with white—steml'ess. MY LITTLE LOVE. 139 omen gave me sfrpnafii +« c«„ i «>reatli. The I recomizcd the " N.,r' „i,^ 1 ] • , "J' ^'"^'^o "hen his A,mt Barne» last Lw,„« "« '"'"' ^ ''"*''"' """ '" certainly J avTr turned f„^f^'."T.^''"'' "'"> "'""'W busineajfivedaye since • L •%?"''''l"' ''"^' '''" "^"^ «orry to miss • whom sl,'„ L!j > , T*""" ^'"''«''' ™« wore at school togCher ''™'' '''"'y "•''<'° "'^y an"S;rtS?fo„ S.?lr tr r'"^ ^"" ™«- get ht" aStr"^ '^ ""'"^ '--g'"^ Co'uidn'tyou pla;t,gt:V;'ocrH: :a,- ere^'n^t^"". *^ "«« "^ by it ? The sweet yonth woi M L, i "^•*" ""^ gained in his own, and, 1T5 Jl" n yours^T:", 7 T'-. to regret his absence." ''^ ■' "" ""S"* "ot "Have 1 hinted that I do ? w^* ti,„i x made much diiference to me I don- it" T'^''' ''*™ seriously with my personaTamLlrSen s "'l^r^''^'"''' yo:7HigZ"e"s'^?^LlSg"':it*h"tr" '.';^ ^'"- -''"^ You ma/be thanlfS /o^'ptaettStr "^ J more dangerous. He in inn^i™* suustitute is not infinitely llss tronh^!o "c " "' " P""""^' ^"'l ll 140 MY LITTLE LOVE. met.?T„".tnr''''' *'" "'"'"'" '"" '"^^ ™" I miglit have another Hi«ht of thein if I waited until he circm« polka brought them past my posT of observa tioii ami discovery. I did not stay. ^ '^oioostrva- As I vaulted over the fence to the side-walk some- luT^h^lT'^''''' ^^"i'^ ''''''' ^°^*ifi^d and annoyed ^,mr^ I was ten minutes younger. preni^^esr' L?"^ ^7 °- ^'**^"S "^ ^ gentleman's prtmises! said a gruff voice, simaltaneously with the I confronted the policeman, fiercely 'I am no thief! I went there to see a friend*" ihe word must have hung fire suspiciously for he turned me imgently towards the neares? lar^p-^os iAoJ? ^^J,^«*i«^ to calling of him out, and proving identity, I spose? Might be a case of spoons vou r.^ One like It up town, las week. Night^ of a bang-out party m the house. You may be one Sf the gang "?r all The conscientious fellow had no intention of beine ^ "I will prove my own identity!" I retorted "Hpvp spe'i&,f '"'''' ^"--Wost 12th street!- he "Off my beat! I'm detailed for this here neighbour- MV LITTLE Love. 141 fellow"" !5T/VetisT>S'i"-^'«"''' ^' ""»^'» "- interferin' with young gents' 1 irks Yn„.? ""^ f?^ lively, and I won't boi^' vou " *'^ "^^ P'"'**^ W off ^. *' ''''1 managed it effectively. While tear' ing off my overcoat in the hall. I had a pu-^ '"i of m 142 MY LITTLE LOVE. ' i; elevated to meet his, as she warbled to a thrumping ac- companiment — " Am I not fondly thine own ? Yes I yes ! yes I YES ! ! Am I not fondly thine own ?" " As if a crescendo of affirmatives a mile long could convmce a sane man of a woman's truth !" growled I savagely, mounting to my third-story back, pursued by tlie staccato refi-ain that rose into a shriek of elvish laughter before I muffled it by slamming my door Not that I could keep it out. It was a new song, pre- sented to my sister that evening by her suitor, and when she had sung it all through by herself three times, he joined an execrable base to the strident soprano. Be- tween them they persecuted me to the topmost pitch of distraction. I turn cold and faint, to this hour, when the tortures of that night recur to me. I had struck a light mechanically after closing the Uoor dropped into a chair, and buried my head in my hands. Being but a boy, I should have wept had the anguish b( en more tolerable. As it was, bereft of hope, and without redress ; bruised and shaken by the fall trom bliss to perdition, I suffered as I had loved, uncon- scionably There is a nerve ajar in my long-healed heart while I tell it. There was no well-meaning com- forter near to bid me consider that, whereas I had lived in passable peace and happiness until within a fortnight without knowing her who had wrought for me such rap- ture and such woe, common sense and practical philoso- pliy held out a fair prospect of a return to my normal condition when the paroxysm of disappointment should ^ave passed; that it was opposed to reason and prece- dent that a passion but nine days old should make a total wreck of a human life. I would have pitched £U- phaz the Temanite down-stairs, and sent Bildad and ^opuar 10 Keep him company at the bottom, had they— their native officiousness still in force— taken advantage MY LITTLE LOVE. 143 anf ?>rC^l.f ff '^'i^ *^ §^"«*« «^ Christmas Eve, ?b7lif« f '^ themselves to me, prepared to take up the hne of argumentative disputation. ^ thafTL^^i^' ^^T^^ and through. It was not enough that I had been deceived. I had been also duped There IS deception into which a man can fall withoTiniuir to simpleton. I had been this woman's puppet- made to grimace and posture and jabber at herVhfm ^n^tt was her humane whim to fool me to the top of my bent for her convenience and the diversion of her accepted lover I tore a my hair with hands that would . have^trangled him, if I could have got at him. Every word of his in- "nol 'wr^*' -^ -as re-distilleVcon«^^^ venom— by viewless devils into my cars. I was a col- we'et 7outh '' llnMl T'''' '^" '^^^ ^^^ -"'^ me "L sweet youth, but that was worse than scathing ridicule or opprobrious epithets. I ground my teetl/t^ther she had Tntir^^ V '"^H' *° ^^^^'^^^ *h^ ^^vours sne Had granted me. How, without shame and it now appeared systematically, she had fed the ' flame of th! devotion I had not been able to conceal fromThe hour strronfofT*'!- ^r ^"t*l^««gi^ I was, my demon- strations of the adoration which my soul lay prostrate would have been moderate and decently conventional with 'fl«.f ^'* ''''/^?r' ^^ '^' ^'^^^ ^«t made me dmnk with fla tery, and stolen away sense and prudence ^Wth every glance and word. With all my folly I was not a hSn^f^b' ''^"/'I'l^^^ \^"g^^* at'someVal" x' self Jml bf ^'r^^^^^^^^^^ ^'^ '' throwing her- minfnL ^T tf • Whereas, in my frankest self-com- tTnfT'/i^^"''^^ ""^r^i'^ *^^^*' with a lofty con- tempt for the trammels of etiquette and coquetry, she obeyed the movmgs of her generous hparf. and rn^.i m^ ""I'liT'''.^"' of my ill-des~ert~half-way.' ' ^ '" All the time she had been acting a farce-blasphem- •i 144 MY LITTLE LOVE. story with her loZu ^7 •''i^ 5'^"^ ^'^'^ ^« ^^^ part of a iot nor fi« .• .^""^ f!^''"^ '^^^^ ^^^ ninth pa D a jot, nor the ninety-nmth part of a tittle for audible answers. '^' sometimes compelling " Thou, thou knowest that I Iovp fh^o f" ;,,«• * j xi soprano unfil T .iroa f„- ^ ^ovetnee! msisted the Bol^TenTs'f luet'''"* "''"' ^"^ ''*- » " ->«- Interlude. Second verse, as above. Interlude, No. 2. a-ty ! tang-e-ty ! ■• of the accompanil^n^^o^'^.l'?^: m «e back of my head, probaW the rerr^aXfthf jBMvmm MY LITTLE LOVE. 146 a biunning iJang ! for the most capital " Yes '" heari'r"l' ,^:'^-fy-i" the. tVng Im in the longed endurance-misery, dire and pro- no fire m my room. When at three o'elock, I trielto and numb '" *°'™' ""^ '™''« ^'^^^ «° »«» of cold!'^ ^y'-S came to my mind, "Caught his death I could not have done a wispr fliinfr t Ur. more troublesome complaint'thTdistluLn''* "" " . I pondered the significance of that word also rub weli A "^^ ? * ,^ 'S'S?,* ''™' l-"* it ™ited Life made a^d S ™" , ^'"5* °™^ ^J^'"'' >"»n ™s &;? :ryt ttTater^far'^'-" '^'""P"''"' ^"^ *"« 'For which death is the onlv cnrpi" T Tr.nH^^«^ Sh?n ^:kSft ^^Y ^^' *-teto'be7l!re^^^ "praver;'' /w *• ?.^fP' ^' *^^"S^^* ^^ piayer-the prayers that might have "put me in mind" of othpr Pe'rwt' ^i''' J^l^^^^^/^^l^ristmas was "' '*''' T if ^1 '''''i^^ ""^^ ^^^^ «o ^"cli as repeated " Now I lay me down to sleep," correctly, if I had tried FnT the unceasing echoes were contending for tit ri«ht^t^^ be fondly my own, in alternate bale and Lprano- in staccato accompaniment to every train of mus'ng f ■ f I ^ CHAPTER XII. * THE NINE COLUMN." ^^>rf„?H'""^ ^ •'""'' ^* ""y awakening on Uir stmas morning— even despair cannot lie awake all night at one-and-twenty-was the vbrant tap,,„g of hail against the'^inZs -horror-n:sfni&»';---^^^^^^ to fall asleep again or so much as shut my eyes St»7 appetiteless seff to br^Sftb /intirT' 'l^nt "" w„?„ -j^^.^y father was unpunctual thi^mSning It rn^mSes^;'fef ;*Sg ^^^^ "■" saiV 'To"or^i7nf S'^r 1 f Iibt;door and There was nSg negatte' ab^f'ir'^"'' '".^"y- woman. p„c always^' eS'ilIe^edt U'lnTof tr' -e impression of something that was a tmeCwtu S^^ MY LITTLE LOVE. 14'; ler over-sea- corned. It had all the elements of durability and de- cided flavour, albeit somewhat hard and tough for dailv food. ^ ^ " I am glad somebody is down to breakfast !" she said, knotting the horizontal lines of her forehead, " I sup- pose Christmas is considered a vahd excuse for laziness. It wasn't in my day !" She swept on to the dining-room, like a gust of dryly bitter wind. I was toasting my purpled hands at the library-gate, the only cheerful thing I had seen, that morning, when rxiy sister bounced in. " Isn't this the shabbiest thing ! Good morning, Sir Barry ! I didn't see that you were hero. I thought it was Aleck." "Won't I do as well ?" I aroused myself to say. I was very lonely-hearted, longing, without knowing it, for the sympathy of a true woman. Madge, with her laughing blue eyes and red-gold hair and strawberry cheeks ; who had never had a heart-ache in her life for a more dignified reason than the want of a new dress, or the untimely ruin of a love of a hat ; whose highest idea of sentiment was to sing "Am I not fondly my own?" to Sam Murray in a handsomely upholstered parlour— he in his best .coat and she arrayed in the latest mode;— Madge, who protested that she hated bovs, and treated me as one of the reviled wretches, — was yet my sister, who could recollect our own mother, and must once have loved and petted her baby-brother. "It's nothing I want done! I'm only mad! I do despise meannesa!" She flung a book upon the table with emphasis that made it rebound and fall to the floor. I picked it up, examining the corners to see if they were broken. "Lizzie Swayne Bent it to mc! For a Christmas present ! We have always exchanged gifts since we were school-girls. A stupid, silly book of poetry I Thirk of '■Miaasui' trnvawr '^-, h I i ! 148 MY LITTLE LOVE. he^ahop._ I „as such a S! !°^ '""? 'Jat ™ells of the shop, iwas'sn^ira'i"*'*"' anything that smells of te quilted silk liili T Ti,'"'^'^ <'°'«i<'«. with est white quilted SlTn/iTnTarlv"''? °"'^'''«' -«'' ""tZ"- ^'? I h:! tept « fo/nf™'elf"^ ^^^' »"* -l-iiis IS a handsomp Jmnt " t .j™^"®"- mg the leaves. ^°°^' ^ '^^^' appeasmgly, turn- 't bore no inseriptifi *''' "* ""^ '^^-'^''f' ^ ™w that the"b%-';iiST^oiv'i'^r ^7"y<''' '«'* »re for -not th^ coT'-we both I ',.'"?'''' "' *be retail price week. I an, impecTnL""' ^:^tltl"^f ^"^ y<"' "^^ bookforalittleluS'oflfr ?.*,•• ^ """" " «*<"y- yes terday, and was poor besides sfe I'^fS"* J"^' poetry-books, better than to™ nrH'i''^' books-and "With all my heart' T„{^ 0^"^ ^ '"'™ ''?" to take it on those terms i ^' ^''"^' •>'°" "^ a trnmp the price at any book™ore " "'^^'""' ^'"' <"'" ^^''ertaij. breaSCten toheT"^' ""^Z °" ^^-^t-as a pencilled promise tr^lltel,!"'* ">«i ""y *»*« he. to lie -^ ai CZ'Z lZ^,'j, ^SS MY LITTLE LOVE. 151 I could not help the fever-thimt. I could, by sheer Btress of will, refrain from coins near her re«;.* ti! temptation to sacrifice my m^anlfness" This Idd and I say hat it was more than could have been expected rnXSLtctunrof.'.^ ^""' "»-« "«-«,^arr r y^^i^"^' ^ ^^ declare ! if 'tain't you ' " A hand encased in a woollen mitten was extended to me while it. fellow slapped me on the back. EzmGas- km's lean ace-one cheek distended by a quid of tobacco his ;yinter's beard running to seed ove? h s cMn and meetmg, m a gingery shock, the velvet coat-collar faded to the same hue by time and weather-peered into mine the pale gums showing above the broken line ofTppe; teeth m his grm of welcome. ^^ " TOo'd a thought it ? On a Chris'mas Day too • Sposed ye wer a frolickin' home, or some pte e?se' How air ye, ennyhow ? Folks all well ? " ^ Hardly waiting for the brief replies to these nuenV^ he burst forth with another : queries, n' 1™''*/?'''' ^T'^^^ ^"^8" y^"^ deown here, this time day, and in sech weather ?" " I have been walking,^' said I, stiffly, - and straved down town. I stopped here for a few riinutes to E out of the ram and to look at the water " ^ "Ain't much of a show to-day!" he chuckled trUr, cmg OTer his shoulder at the di/gy wa^te ptttldbf the' The tide was rolling in faster and the uolv sloon creaked at her cable with every plunge. E "ra winS ^ " Come down on that ! Load o' truck, potato^ cib oage and mguns, mostly. Gin'rally send 'em'toteo™ by th skipper, but I run down yesterday to nick i,nT tomb-stun for th' old lady-gran'ma, you mLT Can't tel % I li lit t i 152 MY LITTLE LOVE. cheaper in winter whrZll't' ""^^kco-W be had be alack in monormenL \V. • , ?IT' '"«''^«» """st head. I happen™ to ;,.n, •'""/ '"' *'''' """ 'P«n the white marble, arcarvedt,/5r' " ™ "' ""a* "em- 'In Mem'ry of-V 'Lte • H, """'" ",'''"<'• Even cut in handsome w«h nlenV^'„f " *'f ""'*' '"' '"^dy.' ■ struck a bargain " th the^Il? """i™ ««eceterers. '^I himtotakepartpayinsass"Hn7.°M'''' T*' «''"'*<«' of the kind, he saM bcin' « it . ? "" """ ^°' ""'^m' Wall ! he fi led in th> blank^f"'"'?'^ ""' '' ''^^i^ man. theeartagedeownto h' slooD Inft"' '""' ^'^ ""i^ded night and was atowe, awavP' T"' *" ™°»' ''•'""^d las' be, afore dark. BrstiU vn„ ? * T^\' ™"8 »« """M stone at the dog who S Sd'™r:i ^''^'"^ " """^"^ an- lefrhiml7to'k*i?„'''in,^'"l'T'^ ^'''^ «« all day, town at mv brother's sLi'' / ^ot my dinner up- I'd a' looked in npon ve w. , Jf where to find you aboard of her f^asmoke ^^r """mI'^*^ '^y *° g»>n' opinion of the old lady's 'stun Tff ^'''',i° '"'™ %"' ance sake. She allers k nde. iuk t!. If"'' "i^ ""l™'^'- eo peakin' and off yer feed Ti,„ ?/""'. ''''''^" Vou was takin' a squint at Ter headshm '• ^^' '^'^^' ^'"''^ ""J'? Ier!'":bS"'C,' Tv™ "'^'" "■''«" °f »» •"»•'»>- *-■ '^i-.'whar^r^frvrVn'irrKa?^- MY LITTLE LOVE. 153 Don't seem to to-day neither in words nor in looks, know nough to go in when it rains." He leered ho impudently that I could have slannod his^ean cheeks with a good will. I felt the colour ?Ssh " What do you mean ?" I demanded. - RifW -ff ^^'°^ ^' ^^^^^^^^ yet more impudently Mr H«if ^Y ^'''^' '*'^^^^*'« y«^ ki^ and stay S 'em Ti vonTg "^'^ ^'^^ ^^ y°^^S ^'''' the best on /r^f n ^S 1.^^ ?''^'' ^'go^n It a ige^/6' too hard I mis- trust. Good-bye! No offence, I hope ! Lor'' " T il ""^^A ^*u* ^^ *''^"^S «^ ^i« snickei^ng, by this but as ho^^^V'™'' ^ ^^^".^^ *^^ ^«g 4ea^ his 'starved thatkcket r '"'''"" ^""^^^ command'him to '' hdd with^lL'Je "^iHl r^ '^ ^^^Pi^g "^y engagement Willi Aiisie. 1 was not conscious of recoUectina it l.„f hr^ai"„¥r''"^"P^ * T«'' ""'^ «f the fas Skting he n.rllTT'T''''??' ""O *" tlie street in wh ch motbnlT i'™''- ^.^ ^^•'"'""ected were vohtion and Thenex? W, / T' ^"H" ™'""8 ""d beckoning. her;:c:;t'gitrgi„wr *" ^•"'^s - *'>'' °p- ^oo" bmlf'^T^f '^* '0 °ome into any civilized being's me'n .?/^"^°°«'™ ^d, when she would have pulled ,, S; ^ a™ "« wet as a drowned squirrel." drv 1" I '""'■* "T"'^ T^y y»» ought to come in and get &e ever'mX''- t^"'',*' I '"'™ the beauti?ullf Sdv tW» o^i I t'^'', parlour, and I've been playing Sow A^/^ f r''^' T'" '" '™8- Reading^t the ™sto™ ^v^„™ "''"'g for you. I expected you, if it ^^out relea-sing her^old't^ot Vwet :^gl„;Vd ht^ gmtly drew me into the front parlour. ""8'°™* ian", W '' r h 1 ' f * 164 MY LITTLE LOVE. It was warm with red tire-light, and fragrant with Christmas evergreens and bouquets. There was that air of happy peacefulness over all that folds instantly and sweetly about the consciousness of him who enters, from tiie out world, a room which, untenanted, at present, bears throughout, evidences of recent and luxurious occupancy. The Spirit of Home, restful and smiiing, brooded over the ruddy hearth. The breath of her presence, the shine of her furled wings, warned off chill and gloom. Every chamber of the Darling house was a living-room, and it was in pleasant keeping with the family habits to see Ailsie curl herself up in a capacious Turkish chair, after she had divested me of my wet overcoat and rubbers, and settled me in as comfortable a seat the other side of the fire. "This is what I call heavenly!'' she said, drawing out each syllabic luxuriously. "It is what I have been wishmg for all the afternoon. I made the prettiest picture of it in my head. You see, Aunt Evy overtired herself yesterday and this morning, and has one of her detestable headaches. Nothing does them any good but to go to bed and be per-/ec% quiet. Papa and mamma have gone to a Christmas dinner at Uncle George's. Eobby and baby are having a great time in the nursery with what Bobby calls his 'play-toys,' and I could amuse myself as I liked. The book you sent me was per-fec-tion ! I have read it three times abeady, and I was learning it by heart when I 'spied you. 'Course 1 wasn't sup-pe-rised to see you. But your being here was all the picture wanted. Listen to the rain, and the snow melting off the top of the windows and porch ! It plays a real tune. I could sing it—* ^ii-B.-pat ! tip-a-tap- tav ! nit. nit. nnat. P Tan'* if rxAA U oV^^^ij n^„_ „„^\, good time ? Oh ! " a long inspiration. " There's nothing so jolly as a stormy day in the house, with a nice book i^muh^ MY LITTLE LOVE. 155 and your very own-est friend all to yourself, and nobodv bothering '"ound!" ^ I was vory tired, I began to discover, leg- weary and empty. The chair was luxurious ; tb: g.m il heat of the red grate made its way gradually th: jus:h m . benumbed frame. It was comforting, too, to k lo-: that Ailsie was made glad by my coming. She was nov<.nig at a child but I had been beggared in love since 1 ■ issed her at last night s parting. Something like the warmth of life stole to my heart with her cheery, loving tones. ['You are the dearest little friend in the world'" I said, gratefully. " It does me good to be with you.'' She shpped to the floor and came to my side, drawn irresistibly by love-words. I put my arm about the small creature, as she stood by me, and laid my head on her shoulder. ^^ "It does me good to be with you, Ailsie!" T repeated. Ihere are so few who care for me. And to-day, I have been very unhappy !" " On Christmas ! I am sorry ! " The dear hands held my head in fond enclasp ; stroked my haur back from my temples. A cheek, soft as velvet pressed close to mine. But she said never a word more' Her fine tact would not. suffer her to question me and she was too wise to risk unmeaning phrases of consol- ation. The short winter day was dying. The straight rush ot the draught over the fire-tipped coals, the droning song of the wind in the chimney-throat, the tattoo of tne drip outside the window, were all we heard for a time My little love stayed by me, resolute, patient, dumb, looking— I could feel— at the fire, thinking of and sad for me, with the selfless compassion that belongs to woman — and fl.naellinnrl qiiq ttt/^"!'? Viq— -^--^ i\ f«« I- -- -oc— — -. r-x^v AvuiQ nave Dtuud thus lor an hour, tellmg of this and much more by mute caressing, had T been so unkind as to permit it. •• I am spoiling your Christmas, and making a sorry 156 I: II m if : MY LITTLE LOVE. we will talk of pleasLS ?fi„ J;' "P°" ""^ ''"^^' '^'^ der look m C its h7Z^! ^T'*^'; ^'^e large, ten- eould not bear to ee! wte * !l*™'' "^ sympathy I "Never m"d mef'^she LTJ'V' ""'?'' »' ^'^ ?"*"• talk isn't alwavsX' n,„!l • * ''' J?"«9"«ly- " Pleasant to make-beHe™ vou "„ '^''^'^^^'"f- And 'tisn't easy hearl-ache." ^ "' ^"■^^^ ^^^'^ you have thi y^X^U^]^^^ -"'"^- "What do stand's IrcSefr ' '"^ "^"T ^ "J™'* «»<•- think. And we haTZ ^°T, '"<>'•« than grown folks plication tabirnowf Whentt- »,'?''''^ *^ ■"»"'- night, and laid down to trvfnsll! ^^^ I'™^'^™ ** i've got to sav thl n;L •'^i ^^P' """* ^ recollect that to aL E^Z-I wLh I cou mT„V° f**"' f orning-even truly! God undeTstand» Ti, p'"'^"'^* ^ ™'"'- I do. She linked her sm»,'i>-« °"' '"'"'^°'"' ' " knee; her eyes sayinruLtwI, "F' *^«'^^'' ™ ^er grew redder anTbrfXer Sw?".?^ " ""^ '^'^ 'bat snow-shroud wUhoStf ;i:d*ots""' "'''"'"'°« »' ''"' thrmt^ta'o^t ;rcf ° wted T?'^ ''"^^*'<'° -"« -^ the AU-Knowine and All I • ^ ^^,"°''' o- think, of sion that hrdTonTuiffeuring tSfa^^l T'" t'' beauty 'win Witt h ""a^'/S' «">4ying Bessie Earned WhatVart or lot had i fn 1 "" ?,'•"« °^- '' "^'^ "W ? child, "who bad safe da she t™"^' T.*"',?/ "^ *^'« might; who in the dreads a? wmIt' ""?/" ^"^ '"*«<' so^genuine were theTri'l'' he/ tb^'e"^" V ' ''"'^''' -Goi) understands!" " ^^"'^ Weighi; upon— MY LITTLE LOVE. 157 Ailsie was many removes from the approved tvpe of FeXe oftt' " ^.'T ^«* *« !-«*' th'e're wasTt a aftnrTv i^^'^T^''^' her tempers and tantrums- all hearty and undisguised. Her very earnestness of feeling and range of thought added to the intensitv o her untoward moods. Bat above and under fdb e and fault were integrity that never swerved; faith, hopT and bve m the God and Father of all, thkt was almost I spoke out my musing. "I wish I felt as you do, Ailsie! But I am a verv wicked boy sometimes. At all times, I am afraid I want what I wish for, whether it is good for me or not And my nine-column is such an ugly customer I fee more like fightmg than praying when I think of it." rraying is a capital thing when you can fix vour a"w?ullv" %nr '}' '"°™^ ^^J^^^^^' " I* ^''P« 0- awtully ! But, unless you mean every single word vou ~Uer^^^^^^'' fv *' *^^^^^^ ^^^"* ^'^^^^4 else geneially silly things, and that's another bother ' me Ifrn?"/'*^''-^."^ P°°^ ^^^^*"^-«' «^-^B to S,li«J rfr/i *^ ?? /'^ ^^ '^^^- Some stick like the bpanish needles that used to run into my stockings and hang on my dress, last summer." s^ocKmgs A ray 01 amusement pierced my melancholv Wa^ my slighted love " a bother that would stick r' A ca- pmejeized me. I drew the withered japonica from my It^fu ' } "??* y^'' .*'' ^^ ^^ a favour. Take this -carefully, for it is precious-and lay it, just as care- S '"'Jf^.'^^r^ Pii^ of coal-there^;" pointing to th grate. "And ask no questions." it % uTon h" • pX™''^' '"^ ''^"^ ""'^^ ""-"y- ™ colored.'" I"'"'''"''-" ^^^ began-checked herself and 158 MY UTILE LOVE. Without another word aha Io.m lu ■ a little hollow where ™™r„fll"','' J^Pomca gently in like live things ' "' "■"*« ''<«'« '"re quivering loi/aTed'voSf 'y.U J^LhA''"''- ""'" «•"» ^^ in a to meet her P«ving reffa?d ' cflf" "P','^ '^^^ '""i'^'' "P tha. tWe we ^SlL'u^i at'thrwhtta'f""'^''"*- ^^ else? ^You areWak t'T^/t^'^f l' »bo»t somethi/^ parlour. It's growine so dnrl ;t ??''' ''"'' ™ *he about getting it Sv w*'u* """"* .''« '™e to see gas whfn I ai ^ontt^x wT^feSe "^"'""^ *"<> E.^ i CHAPTER XIIJ. OOMFOBTEB. SAT by the fire in a reverie that ha-] lor its starting-point and centre the little pi? of wh te flame, at the bottom of which was a Ldi of gray ashcB tossing in the heat-waves '^My li?e tSfesrreSuT' Wh^ thrdal ''\ ^''^ secutivfilv Tn cu .+-i7- ? . neart— to reason con- nUhZT' i , '* ^*'^^' ^*^"^g at the inch-wide crater J^Spx- ft^ ri;fa^ciJ; f s I b//r '"'"' ° "iflerstand the process "' tior, "SS^*"' '" ^«"'' "''a^hed at Ailsie's exelama keen?l*/A'^LVf..^?''' ^^^erved tfc little house- in a great hu^rv^^^^kr^^o^/''' t"^ *^' centre-table s ui nurry. ibmk of our having a tea-party— 160 MY LITTLE LOVL. n ft iv M^^^^^ orders we tea-time And Nomh is i^a '' *.^ ^^"^ ^^ ^^ about of her Christmas pres^^nts Ymf l^^^T' on account % around to get urwlmt" hp.niTf *^.^^^^ «^^^ ^^er ay~and wasn't it™ we ^r 1 f ^''^*^^"^' ^^*^ so's she could hurry on hTr W ""^^'^"^ ^* «« airly, corner in sayson to attend L * ^l^ "^ '^«»nd the n8t his sowl!'" ""^ ^^''^^y F^nnegan's wake-- Ailsie was innocently vain nf h.r. . and no; '^frequently afred fo^^'\ '^V -^ ^^sh/ a born mimic as she wis ' ? ^/ ''.''''^^- She was ran now as if the yocal anm v.f '"*''^^'*- ^er tongue ;isayedhalfof n^^ W?K ^^^^d up a beauty ! All over icini f J7 '^^' ^""^ y^"' I* was wax candles stuck in the ton T^' ^^*^ ^^^enweenv year, you know. But won't it^'l.n??'^ •'"^ ^^^ ^^^^y when I am. fifty vears ddV ^"^ ^ ^ ' ^^^PP^r' only trouble I hav^ about your Zl.T ^^"^ *^^*'« *he than me ? ] won't be c"e/er entS T "^'f^ ^"^^ ^^^^^^ fore I'm twenty-one Bv th«+ ?• ^ ^'^ ^^* married be- " Ailsie !" arrestina ^."^ *, ^'T' ^^^ " ^e-" ture of blankSayr ^^yT^II ^Zt^^-"^'^' *^^P-- stay It*;f mr;rr: CktH^t' ^.^^ ' '^ ^o" ing what may happen/ ^^^'^-lialfs, there's no tell- my trua^r^p^t nTonlf^ ever a,,,,.^,^^^^ ^^^ per in reprobation ^f?t' "'kw'^ ^^^ ^^^^ ^ ^^Isf was the rule of word ad action .i?i,'^''u^ ^^ ^^««g'" in my restored allegiance she hi ^^^*\'?^^' "^*^^ ^appy cuss with any one besidp LI ^A?''* ^^en able to dis- so acutely. ^ ^ ^^''^^ ^^' ^^^^ ^^e desertion nbe flit MY LITTLE LOVE. 161 down botweeTus on tht able "'' t"}, ' '"^^ '^^ '""^^'^ tea-pot of strong hoUp,fi„ ^'"'.^? w«^ a tiny silver bread and bu t "r tW, tl.vf ?"' J""" "'"^ ^""^ Ailsie ; and cheese, Sif' ft '?^™^^ ""^S"". doughnuts Such canine rnd.mromintthr'"''' ^'H^ f^ '^»'"- sight of the disBkv tl,Tf f '^"."^er attacked me at uf vely weaXSsVn;S\y:rTh?fett '^SS ^'^ '?; KeJ^K; t?e1S? '* -^ "5 Partici;'/; could not maintain the i'1> '"""B "magmable. She my hospifabk li a* to hover ^t'"/'"^''''' "^ sugar-dish, cream-pMcTe'r nd riel w ", , ""^ ^''■^ dian sylph, pressing vLids and Lit"' ''''" "" «"?'• urgency I did not resist i,>^f^ *? ^'^ "P"" ""« f 'th long young maTwho had fasted'Xr^ "PP^*"^."' " " It's ver« kind of vou t„ Ztl • '"y-,,™" gratified, unsuspecting hostess ''qnl°""'y' P™'"^^ tbe lieve at chilLn's Z'tie, T '^Jf/' P"-"?''' make-be- and smack thdr lips over'the ,L°f "" "' "'™'' ' ^°'' «iP. Just to please us i Asif we !ff'f ""'?'' =""1 '''•''P •' their humbuggering ' R,,t 1 f ? ' v "f, "§''* *'''<»'gh -an as youl^oirdlt m!'^Stb1e''?"' '*''^ " «-«- -ifc*^' ^^^^^^^^^^ Ailsie, and I am ■■Si"'"-?-- Marin^:-' • ^'^ '^'''"' P^dttced " Ye Ancient odd words I don't nndeSr^S? tJ^'T.!''' ^o™ I would like you to ex-plain7' ' ' " "' *"*' ""'^^ Ihe shutters were closed upon the storm. Norah had 1()2 MY LITTLE LOVE. 1 ,'i ! j f ^ If. iM If"! dignified in one w2ohi^ «^ iTV'' *5^^ ^''^ ^ ^^^^'^J ^^ and joj, of eSsWe fn „. ^^*^V ^'^ ^uced tbo interests My little tYehmuaLl ^jarter-teaspoonful of :ih.8. each illnatration ,1 t>«<,;A ?' "<* stopjwd st For you see-JCniLZr ""V'' ''"<' h^PPened. t.-o,e was- "^ '""''' "»'"'' leaves-" the alba- Who shot him with hij t,„ | . l^^^P^^'^^L^^ ^fi f; '"tie baby ti^at dead bird Uging arS his*S "' "" ""^^^ She turned other leaves, meditatively.' tbatarbrHn'ttSrr '"^-' !»•' mer-time ? Or out on m-t^T . ~^'*** woods—in sum- light, listening to the Sertfl \ Hf " A*^^ ^«««" lawn?" waterfall at the bottom of the I read the lines designated by her finger : Th^tSft"'^^"' of June,' oingeth a quiet tune." ^ ' I '< tb, before de- comforttd in as natural or tlio interests ful of ' ;ibe8. ', Icaneji con- re stopi>'od fit upon d;>8ign planations of I "ivy-tod;" ion tbat bad MY LITTLE LOVE. 163 heaved in a had done a e happened, -"the alba- • little baby le was pun- leans, isn't is carrying ere! Isn't ' — in sum- the moon- am of the — ' Beomod to fill the sea and air With their sweet jargoning.' in IL^^l^ '^^''''^' S^""^ °^ '^ ^^^^ *b« birds wake me m the morning m the country. I shall never, never- ?ul thing's' •'*' ^' " «^i"ion-be able to say such beauti- mW^b I'rf '"'' '"^ ' ^'' «"^P"^^^ *« -^ her eyes " Ailsie, pet!" I exclaimed. "What is it?" J^ or answer, she hid her face against mv arm and obbed that she - didn't know. Pritty thSgs tb^t she us" Ts ff'^i? "''' '^^ '''' strangc'^ometlmee No inderTtand P "'' ^^^^^ ^^^-^-t-oh, couldn^t I lashei' ''''* ""'^^ "" ^'*"^^''* ^^'h ^^ *h^ <^^«P« from her AilsiM';„?.W " V ^"«^^'^*^- " I do comprehend. But, Ailsie such feehngs are a sure sign that you will be able to write and say beautiful things, some day That s something to look forward to " ^ whTf rwSt.;;Lr '" -^- -^ ^^*' " I should have smiled at the thought of reneatin,. *n another chUd the words that arose to my Z at Ih " ZZfiT'^^ ■" 7^"^^' «o«l-yearning, butfaZshe rested withm my encirclmg arm, I said, slowly, and softly- '• I see the lights of the village A ?^*i" tiu-ough the rain and the mist, Ami a feehng of sadness comes o'er me That my soul cannot resist. " A feehng of sadness and longine -■ -K.v ttaxii lu ymn, And resembles sorrow only As the mista resemble the rain. ^■•-'^ ■.l^ ! E ::■ m 164 MY LITTLE LOVR. ?" ;■ £srs;"Ttt2/!.''^ "■"* y- --'. - it not . out a''Zta1;'"'' *'"' '^''^ '^P^'"«<1 it for herself, with- ^^;' Thank you for telling it to me- I .hall never for- live to become common?; „. ™°^ Precocious children and leave in theTs?eafce"2 ""^ "T'"- »« die them, beauteous memorL f!- P'*","" "lat once knew year that roofs theTd?,!?*?''-'""' ''^'^''^ ™th every mstinctively, that no comCn tt' ''''^"- ^"' ^ '""^ day joys and ordinarv Sr /"V"?"'*'' "P »' every- yeeterday, passed Z? ^^nLl^'l^'-T ^"^ ^^O' ^"t existence meant to her eZSrlL "i'^"'?''^- ■^'^^ady, Knowledge, sorrow, loTwonj1\^'''l''T*?' ^"d^avoui '"th her as girl and ^oman N ^ ^2"^^^ ^^^'^^^ «oul heart, and face, the s!"net ■ tk- ''"i?!* "P"" &=■-" »^^ '^"''^-tS^^nS^.tfaJ'cr '"n. He had come to town tl "",?'«'!''**"<"'' ^f- Gas- ?f2nr^d eol^pd; ' '"" " •'"'**"^^-" \e was JusHKri7f11tn"whot"^rtr«-"tl>at about town on Chris m"sD,v T^.P"'^'"^ Potatoes Mrs. 'Ezrv?' w. j k *y- ^ah! And how fo lately ? " "^^ ^""^ ''^ ^o^^" anybody from ^andpa'a! himonastpt^tl^hh^h'ad /°"*ll T '» «" -th -• mostly potatoes cabbaL and fr®*"*. ^"^ ^'' truck dinner." and enc—h , , «? and mguns— a raw ' hiUJ -a enough to leaet the city, but I declined I 1 r \ i MY LITTLE LOVE. 165 toel"'u„'clf (vf :a™Te''iB''t'hr" ^7" ""'* '"'''• P"'"" he ever saw." ^ *'"' '"''^' ponu-ri-ant man said''''?*''^'^,'''™'' ',° '""?'''<' polysyllables, as I have Then he w^„\rht'e te'n ™a, nT //''""'"' '"■^l™"- ^ naugS!" ""'* -S, aSy! •■ " """' "''^<"'- Tennyson's "tip-tiited like the petal of a flower" was dealt him another tap. "^'"'^"'^^Sed oy my laugh, she "Somehow, he reminds me of the 'moflipr' t oo I looked at my watch. asleep ''VsSd ""^^1^^!' ^^' ^,«" ^^'^ ^^^^^f were 0'S'--to it thp r/ ^?' r^ * y^" ^^^g 'Kathleen mouths?" ^ *^'*' ^^ *^" ^«*^^^' «"t of our i^^ ^^-^i n I If ' fir ^ »• ti f . I *; ii 1« •r ri ! r 166 MY IJTTLE LOVE. X'ti ^^^tt z;.r:t-~' ■""'' j-* •"■"'« out grave, with the robin r^d-lZii''' ^ P''*"^^ ^^ ^^er would be a hoL V tree all beS fe"^? T" '^' ^here and to-night the ground is co p.f^ ^.^?«*^a8, close by, arenotafrai.tofsnow Butif If ""'^^ .'"^^^- ^o^i^s to think how ii is IW ovei l^'^^^y^" ^eel lonesomely course, when we can't ZZ T ^^"^^l^- ^'^^^ i«, of soul isn't there. I ^^ J, Mr t,°""'?^^.! Relieve that the of expression, ''that r could nr '^ ""^"^ '^^^'^^^ dep?h people's souls. Now, tirlr.' '''^^' understand about antei;:;* ^iF&t^sjt ^^ ^^* *^^ - "I can see and feel thnfT' ^ ^* *^"' ''^« *^"e- and talks. And, some day iinfl' '""^^ ^^ ^^« """^^^ gone out of it, my MherLlZi''^'''^ *^^ ^^^ath has pt the very'saL Me into , ?Se'ir '^ ^"^^^^^^ *« leave it out in the cold and vfJ'f %'^ *^^ ground and Belf. Instead of caring any refowf*'^ -all by it- lying there with its eyes sYur n! 'f *\^. Poor little body up, they'll be talking aC^T•v''^.^*^¥ *« ^^ waked soul- Ailsiethoy nor noSl- ^''^ "' heaven.' The usesayinganythinrtot a^rt'lT^^^^' . ^'^ero's no all he way through. Just thtV ^* V "^^' ^^'^^e was! I^WoseifVuteretoshT'^^''.* ^^^^S ^^^r all your life time, it might be nlo n / ' * ^'^^hing else plie-mious-butlio,^'"wLf?r^- ^S^' -^'^yhe bias- over it all N. myself iLtc^fV'^ ^'l' ^^- -^^rry ! I went in Sunday-schTofwe r iS chlCn an angel, And with the aSs^stlnd /^ ""^^^'^ *« ^e forehead. And a harp withhi their i?a ^'''^r "P«^ *^eir It because I didn'f. wo«7:„ '^^^'^ ^''"'^ ^ "'' " ' 3ausc I didn't want to be didn' Sing any such thing. I can't MY LITTLE LOVE. 167 i rnXonV^fffl !'\'' ^i '^"^^« ri-dic-e-IouB, but I love hImeZoil ^''i^' ^T '^ '^ '^"^^ Ji^' tl^i« mortal liymn I know. The idea of singing such words ! " ment' \^l*!^°f ^* ^^^^ talked herself ^nto pale excite- WrV wM/ri^'" n ^^. 1"P "^^"^ ^^^^ ^^afed her lingers, wl)ich were cold and tremulous. surh^mattr^^^'"''* *^T'"* y*'"" ^^'^^ ^^*"^ «^1^ about sootWlv "rfP'^ ^^"^^' bed-time," I said, L so S' a I* A" ^^^ ™ag.nation, Ailsie. The sou let tbf nt ^' ^'*^' P^'* ^^ "« t^at ^e can afford to let the oti or go when we have no more une for it." thlfPHrir I"""' '^' '^"^^^ ^P^a^ articulately, and the tears she ped away were of genuine mirth. IhatmiadB mf -" she related, stiU iaughinrr "of ththe?f ^fT? ^\ ^^-«r"- Mamma afdifound Ihl ! ? ^ 1^'"'* ^" grandpa's woods, one day and she explained to me how he had split it down tliJ beck was Ztli'lf' when his wings s^prouted, andhowthat wa whan^i^r>?^>f ^""^°^ "^^ ^«^y- At i^a«t' that was wnat 1 thought she said. So, another dav ClarinA tumbiran^ ? '^^ T.' S' S" r^^^-' I wasSid sh'd ner~ jjont you know if you '.reak your neck fbv'nll take your skin off and make an angel of you ?-' ^ sSe;!- ^f^ ^7 ^^'""^ "^ ^^"°" «^l^i^r «^e« they daren't S^^s t «V"'.^'^^P^°P^^ ^^"I'i l^^g^ at them ifiat s the absurdest and meanest way anv man or ryThum?^^f" ^T*f.T'^;S? '' ^ fooli -n,inoL?hop-o- SU'CoflhLSes, 1^^^' '^ ^^^^ «^ ^-^ as"! n?n?^'rl "^y^^^^^y «°iili^g at this little anecdote as I ploughed my way home through the sod en snow i .; m ■< •'■ 168 MY LIT'^LE LOVE. lifer'' of alternate rain-falls, was six inches on was mv\nm^*''* a^d dearest child that ever lived »" brn'LteT'ofTsf TZe^ ^^^-^*-^ -^^^^^^^ have believed that after ^1 T !l ""Tf^' ".^^^ ^^^^^ able Christmas evening ?'' ^ '^ ^""^ ^'^ ^ *«^^^- dwefuVontrat^^^^^^^ next morning. I would not Might-have-been inftfl -.^^'H ^^''^ '^^"^^ visions of mgofm7unte«^^^^ iT^^^f ^ ^^^d^- -the insane desK tlfwith HiiVof f ^T^'^^ bouse, whenever I went abrooT tT i^^t*^'' ^^^°®« a ponderous work unon A w -^ ^""^ diligently into newer and mo7e inter^nHnt? T'^' '" preference to a tions, and tTenforce ^v nff r *'''."P? ^^'^'^' ^ff^c- of th; subje^ I made Inl *'?!' *° *^^' ^^^^^«* details the day's reading ^ '''^^^' '' ^"P^«»« ^^^^^^act of tiol:\ w^^Slt^XTve^r^^^^^ spealdng-relaxa- to Mr. Darhng's for a ta^k I1?i f ' ^'t^^'' *^' l^g^*«>" with Ailsie. Sometimes T^^^^^^^ ?^^' ^""^ ^ ^'^^^' noon, and took XetS outfit nT^^^^^^^ ^^*- three days I madp a nvnf^ol^ vvd,iKing. About once m and alwaV ^tf eSr'^g^^^^^^^^ 1^^ «t^te, highroad to permanent cuS A iS i!' , 7^' ^'^ *^^ under pressure : some febrile aionff *ff ^^P^«« «till, of memory • vertigo Tf inf>! V ^* obtrusive gushes trivial caus s-t f flutt^o^a d?' ''"'""'. ^'^^^*^^ ^^ the sight of a nrp+fv W ^''^'.' ^'"^'^d a corner ; gaiterrthesmelfofcerta^^^ ^? ^ fashionable accident of wSk ing homnror^^^ ??^'r'"? ^^^^*' *^^ I could have wished tW IhZ f^l^f ^^^g^ m a fog. without effect Bu^tmlMTo *'f ^^^ *^''^ ^PP^^^d There might have bee^ni/r' Jf^ ''^"'^ ^^^^^ ^e- moza, whiLt'^llTto^LVrn.*'^ *^e were tae milder measures indicated. ^^'^'''^*" div,r.ion m LITTLE LOTE. 169 I had not been more sanguine of speedy recoverv since receipt of the hurt, than upon one briht afte7 work "Yon „h= 1^™' ?''^' d'oPl'ing her knitting, work, You absurd mascuhne! The squirrels and th« rams have ruined all the nuts spared ^yhutan^ou! " Nevertheless, we go a nutting," I replied " AilaiA i ™n for your overcoat and hat-I mea^'yot hoo"^ and' She was as bewildered as her aunt, but of this the leal httle soul betrayed no symptom. Kissin" her ham To me as she ran, she was off hke the wind to makeread^ uitiX "r ^^^Hn;;?""'' ^-^^^ ^ ''-'^' '- end'!^.'':a.7tnrE:;^ ^'No'ma"fv'er"'hf,^ ""^'^'^ staunch champion, /our goodnTto her i thorough^ appreciated Barry. Not by her alone, bi? TZm :n1hrsuTn';"sfd^:fttli^>PP^- «"« '^ «"-'"« " %^T«\"'\"'*'* ^ ''•'' ^'"' S«d •' " I hastened to say caf tell y'd'"'"'''"""""""^- ' '^'' ^'^ -»- «>an'i The thin white hand touched mine as it lav on the arrlSiS^^-V " ?=" - 7f- She woull ask no aearer mission. You have not been quite voursplf for tr:x4ter"' n ■-V'^r'™' ='- wftKint can heln r,, f^' "° "O* "Sk yonr confidence. If I safe way/' *^'»P«'"'»n« 'o stray further from th! uA W trt"''' '" '"' ''^ "''^^''^ '• '""^ ''^P' J'- "yes 12 ' 1 ! i 170 MY LITTLE LOVE. wa;' ''Se?rStonr»'L^ t«i« '?-- whose possible that Ailsiemay be yo^tTJ/''- . "^* '^ 1""« youi- best comforter. It multL ^^"^ "* '''« '» which the soft hand of a S le i'u '"' ^""^' ^-J^^d, Don't be vexed Xn von thL ^'T^^ '» '"•™mg or accuse me of wvin^lM ™'' ''''*' ^ ^i^^^ said, that yoa are the^ adoL^ sr nf Tl'" Kemembe; nephew-in-law that is to be "d f^!' '"'"''^°'''' ""? freedom of speech." ' '"^ive an auntie's a troubi:?hi't"^"Ji*„'eX" TJ" """^f-^ *" ""y'O'Jy can affect anotheTpLoniVl^l r "'''iS '''•'', ^^-^ "«™^ comforter or adviser th»nT„^' ^ r,?'"* "^^'^ "» other "But it is aIlov:rrnd'i^rhl'«ntTvv"'\'t'"y- been an egregious fool— I onr!u i ^ ^^•^* ^ ^ave against yoL mante^^there when^ll^I ^^^^^ ««* tions of my monstrous foli; To mvLff ^j ?' ^^^'*" ing the piper, with no humoti fSir7/^ • ^^ W" IS the story in brief T w^ ?^^^® dancmg. This about it onVur w dLid^^^ ^Sl*° *?" ^^^^^e aU It my business to reco?fectTa«^«l^ *^'''' ^ '^^^^ ^^ke She gave back my smi?e luthftT ^' ^?''^^''' enough to feel in m^ea^^ng^^^^ that always reminded me S tL word/ ^i''''^ .^^^^' IllJr'" '^^ *^^^^ *^« subject Test r '' "^'""^^ Ailsies preparations were softly Se R>,. * . to us equipped in a navy-blue Tehsr^rVl^i wl'l"'"'"'^ the name of the trig over-drpt k/J*^'^^.*^^* ^^^ throat to the bottom of the skS?' \^^ioned from the irp«++nf1 oV— ^ < "^_W-'e SK3rt). A fl('.fl.rlot o«„«i? ■ ' woman whose of it— is the le shall be the I her, precipi- io confessions " It is quite her as she is leart, indeed, s to bruising, I have said, Bemember )usehold, my an auntie's e to anybody d, and never 5ek no other ^ my reply. vy. I have ' brains out the grada- I am pay- cing. This U ^Ulsie all shall make )ssible." le was good sweet face, 3ar shining le returned i that was from the onn'^f . ^"ig gave MY LITTLE LOVE. 171 of Lking, in ttwLrrlf o'f S^^^^^^ ^1^^ glee of present pleasure Tho h!.? . ^ "" '''*' ""'"al a^d sh? resisted my :iler to ea^v'r'r* ^''«°'*"'- when I would have used Ltler Set ^'^^'"^ ''"^^ The air was sharn and jrt 1 • l! •^'""''' ^^ «"<•. a«d brightness of L face ' ^ft""""! t?^ """m along the sidewaJk, mischtevoutyet ovStM'"" mg regards cast upon my soberer self ^ ""^ «'''""• ^^a'.a magnificent woman she will liP I" n, ,., I, and with the vision of wnmo„i. i thought words: "When I am grown ZonTml^ ''"T^'' ^'^^ dred." She would he Z^L^^Vf} ^^ ™''»' » l»'n- I BhouM then bi thLfZee A m»/'"\^* "'°«'- pnme. A bachelor, of^ coirs; ThTsn ° ^"/'"''y falls not twice in the same ffe-time ?^biT,°' "^'' men-very foolish fellows I had thmilhtfl, '""'' "' judgment was crude with me in those davs l°°r'>"' wives "to their hand" from -nfanc? "Ju'''','^?'"^'' moct courtship and matrimonial compact f™' ■' T very W run, to prove something mZthanT,'^-" *"* I could tane wiser care of my little W»M '""^"'aee? bl,» • • " T^.® ^®^^ ^ showed thee onoe Will make or man or woman madly dote Upon the next live creature thaUt sees latd'/t"^^^^^^^^^^^ bad so most licefse I grani7?2^. jtti^^^^^^^^^ "*- ary process to which I enhi^oiTA^ w "^ disciplm- lious heart. subjected errant fancy and rebel- ran ^0"^^'^""' '" ^"^'^ ^'"PP^d suddenly and ple'l^^r'' "*"" " '""'^*'»"' ^'"''-g you do dis- hav/Xrtt^^^t^, Si?.'^ '>-^»^ y- Win do-yon-caltit ?lt7tiem n ^ '"'''" ?° »°«P-whai kee^ out of their way^^fheva^e'^hL?"' "S"^"" •^»» of them are vulKa-ra-rian« ^'f^! shocking rude. Some New Year's Day fhev t ed -i uh-h^'^V """^ «'"et. fastened a bag tighTover „ 1 ^ ' '" " '^''«'^ '*"• "id them run. K ws abomLatfonlr^'f!,'^^''''' ^"^ 1^' the poUce were doing that tb-v'- ^ 1""' ''« w^"'' locked up in iail &'„^L % 7,T''^ '"^^^^ and enough San.' lie ifaboraitict"? ''''°"' " ™"- "I should hope so. But here is our first nut-grove " led her in. '""• ^ P"«^« ^ ' "P^'"^ *''** """'■''"I ens ; Nap le's fil Zd LI™ ' ^P''' ? '"'S^ '"«» ^amp- the long counter 8«.lf «f "^J ""''' "^ »"« »«« of basket s1.em sman indeed ""'' "' ""'^ ''^ """!« »" I begt'm;p"uXes""^'fS,'l:;r"*'°"^? A"'-, -hen I was sLking the Laskft harf7r" i'^" '■'^"' ' ' some walnuts, aSd Ailsie had uZ.t^ 7?^^^- 'P*"" f" they come from'^PeTlS;^"",'^"*!-'' ™ln«ts- for, if '4::siVi?^^-"«r' ^'^^'^ »'• what peo^e cal ft rvT^'',*?.'"^-!? '""'^ "»' ""> heart, ev?n to ttefalC f„T V- ^'''^. i°'^<'^ I knew by was both coaring /ndZ'ufd:'"" "'*'" -»'»- *hai " I'w iy " ''°' *^'- "*ye ''"' ™ntinued the speaker I uave not seen you in an age." apeaKer. She offered her hand servan?of7he eiolT' •"•" '.'.^''^^'^ ^^^'^'' ""ob- the lid of the haCet' ^' 'm ^ ""'^^ ^^^ ^}'' ^'^^^^ "P^" That's all therH ai>onf ]? T? *^"?^^' ^""' ^* ^^ ^"^1. give us trouble tS i ** ^ '^. ^^''^'^ ^^'^ ^^P will tight withTstn/s^l^%!!^. J! A«.*^^ !^^ top' very iuii. If you don^t—noTf ? nffTf "" "'*'*''*'' '? eiammed spiU!" ^'^^- ^" *t ^omes, and there's a I-' .'•e .'ij II i" • I nr > J.*!* ,: 174 MY LITTLE LOVE. and shaken until I Ls sick wffV. T'^' ?°^.^' '^'^'^ thought I thi„k7«'inn''K *'''' ™™"' of memory and and 'tln%l^ruZ^Zr''''^ the fleeting Ve pardon, so baeZ crael did m^ , ®'°';?'' J? supplicate appear to my conseience ^ '^^"''P''"" of "'er advances panil" "" ^^ "•"'" ^ ™''' ''<"'■•»%. to my little com- • She followed, instantly and mutely. press Lh w^rli,:? netted' ttTal''^"'' ^"™'' '° wmt:Xg^fh:mr4o^,fe^?:f'-^^^ "We should be soSd T^ ^ "^T"" *''y ''«'■ excursion hare been gSs%. '° '^'"' "* ^''y'*^ *'''" ■""«' "The nut-forest was a warm nlace " T onU „«„ »■ nut''sTai;:;f ..^or^Th t "^^^^^^^^^^^ timT^f ISrLtlf ^S t?,'T— rrl; and an minutes we -faced one anotht Vrr^' ^^tlX^^S II MY LITTLE LOVE. 175 stout twine, Dver. all about our 3 I likely to me, by tell- lown, reeled ieadiness, as t, and were ze of mine? e a stiletto, h the hasty 3 love? But lemory and Jeting figure supplicate er advances littl e com- ivind reach i seemed to ice. " We [ had been excursion ' that must , affecting 3wn chest- saucer of y and all in three )le-top'|)^ table ; an order for two creams, a charlotte russe and assorted cakes was in the wait'er's hands and lilsie's o^^V?t7ofT. sXn'^^^ ^''' ''' appJintmenttd S' ^adn't been washed yet," sh'e commented, "^^^^^^ once But tb?/1' "'' Z '^^'* ^' '^''^ ^^^ ^^^an for Zk. -r '^ r ^ ? P'^^**^ ^'««^- I^ook at the angels do.S for L bt ,i''\''' '^ *i^y ^^"1^^'* mind coming down tor a bite themselves. Hard on them isn't it to be pasted flat and fast when there's so many good ffri T, ^'^'^ '\^'^^ silkworms' silk. Aunt Evv has some. I've never fancied silk dresses since shelofd me the cocoons had to be baked or boiled before the sOk tTc^rrrfff'f. I.^^^'tl^^lP thinking when I see a par ticularly fat lady m a very fine silk dress, how funnv she d feel to be caught and roasted so's some monstS^ after that r^ ''' '^''^ ^'* silkworms alone Societies for the prevention of cruelty to animals wprp jmknown at that date, but Ailsie was f^h^orctp^rT nroff? /!' ■^?^''^' ^"^^ Detectives, in herself. Her prattle did not amuse me now. but as it relieved ml ^dZ^^rr''^^ °^ '^'''^ ^^d showed tha she w^s adequa e to her own entertainment, it was welcome! animals f"^«f^ T' P/¥' '^^^^ ^^^^ «« "^^^h like "S fa .il'r*'''"'^Vu^'^'^"^^^*^^ compasdonate. dav Th/ ' ^-^r ^'^^-'^ *^^^^ g^^^ by our house every thii ,• J Tl- ^ P''*"'^ '" ^y ^'^t"i'^^i History of a seal that 8 just him over again-mild, and sleepy, and puffv ha-r Itv ^"""^ *^^'* ?K^^^ ^^*^ white whiskers S ha.r standing everv which wav la ^<,r..n.aUr i,-i,. „ „ " Uon Its ame^W^ bother to m'e tharaladrwhilits across the aisle from us in church will remind me of a 176 MY LITTLE LO>ii. ^4f tTmeTo7e"?n^^^^^^ keep peeping 'round in churC. help-try a I wm T 1^"^ ^^¥ ^^^ >^^"°^- I canh eitlfer. 'Ce TB^isV^e^sna^n^r* ^sf^ *^^ *-^« this way. I hope she won't-" ®^' '' '^°^^°^ Sli(; got no further. seat S:«^^^^^^^^^ chair that .he .ight began"" *"}' aThS:"!^ 11°"°'^'"""!' "'^^™'^«." «he behaviour of Tfe „n^ t„ >• /".'"P'*"*""" «f your "Please be expiic'?^' r'tS l" ^^ ''^fe''''^-" get out the three Wds but r «. '» <='?« "y thwat to me in the outset! by Mnlth?,^"' '•''" *'*'> '"^'P^'J ' ' With Dien an « . x , "'"8 'be aggressive. have never been ^kr tTIt '^'f^ ™' "^ '°'°d- You 24th, nor gfven me a„v rt*" T"" "' I'''«^>°''«' You were und^r a? engagam^nrto' ^^^ /^'^te^-'e- uext day, and hear my^rfnSt nf tLfT '?,"" *« much disposed to tell vou ^^h!t , ""H'- ^ 'o^' ™fy your non-appearance iTJH' ^fP'^^-^'on I had of do it. And"^} STt il you^ltd h?ff "^ " '"^S'' '" deserved the title of mine Thf „'*■'* T y"" ''a™ It ought to be corrJtVrL f?P?'' '^ "" over town. Fred lays it is dZg 1 1^"' v!! '»''™ '"? ^'''"e way. with me?" « you Harm. You won't be offended be unS SVaret •? ^"""'"'^ "">»"=• ^hat would Speech was becoming easier ^'"'^^IZ:!^^:^.!!^ p--d -r- MY LITTLE LOVE. 177 directly asserted that you had falC Tf^* a- • T^^ tolirf't'i' "i ""^'.jory' worstest, story, anybody evor «ro„ 1. J ^^^ °^, ^ig^t gentlemen ' about it ' Ar^d ihJi was bad as cnnlrl Ko t ^: i i. """">'/«'• Ana tnat My child ! wasn't that what I said?" sh'mTghtr^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^ *^^ -*^ -atnre as p uii ine sola in Aunt Evy's room, when papa was 178 MY LITTLE LOVE. B 111 i . telling her and mamma about it Rnf m^ t5« » woke me, of course and iTmi!:^ • V. ' ^^^^f^ name was a 'famous lie frn^di"?^^ "^^^^ "P' ^^d said it mydearT^BiS/wa^^tTr^^^^^ ^^^ ^^^ wasn't I sitting on his knpp Ta *^ia^*ernoon,--and somanyho^andhisbr kth^^^^^^^^ ^^' '^'' wouldn't I have noticed T+hrf/.u-*^^''^'^^^^^ 'fraid to death oHr^tr^Arffi^^'^^' ^^^^ ^'^ 'Ancient Mari.nerer'nfl?d u^ ^.""^ ^^ ^^^^ my word, nor stXed ouct anHf h^dlhr'^.T^fi^ ^ party ever was anrl C^loo T ^^ *^^ sociJeZest tea- to ITKS^" ""-^ ''-^-'"«. I had much ado arl'^yin/dLTi'^'If'i'j' "y™.'!?"'' know what you settle Ss when leitZ'mf'I'^V ^?'' "'"' ^ ^" Ueving iu me and sa^ „|1„^T„ee, noUak^Th '"' >" Miss Barnes, now that you have he^d mv „;^- 'P*'"!' to assure vou that t'V^"***' "'a"^"; nay aitfc proved, in the sfatChoMe \^'^ "«* «?««« Christmas-night have not been ne™™utf„.f ^°" "JJ^^ation that^ I is as groundlesra"trcCg?oTr„t».?Xf "t'**' " ' ■"■"" '•"'^ "°™ J"" saia-yon and your escort^ You MY LITTLE LOVE. ^ '9 my V1811S. Ailsie ! there is your ice-erpnm Va^■ u and we wiU leave this unpleasant sub^ctT ^^ "' rigL aKer1hi*r\'\'''/y-. ^er features were "I can't «w„n™ .. T'™" I* "* ">« «■•«* mouthful. home r '' ' '■"' "'"''• " M'^y"'* ^^ Ploase go terfn7w*„ft • ' "1'?"'''=^^ ^ ^' '^ »" ^ad been flat- a^^o-iphtofiVet-t "-^ '^^ — fnrs she bad loosened m the warm room. "I could stay longer to enjoy it, but I perceive that I am inter fermg with your duties as nursery-govenior I bone Cfl^d '" Shi 1 'rinr "^f*! -'»-««nt to taT estaSmen'tf ITZlir '"''fZ-t f^-'T'' "" *^ And we shall be gla"d t'oTe' you when ^'^^ t^LSZli And thus my first love went out of my life. CHAPTER XIV. BLESSED ST. VALENTINE. |Y OWN DEAR Mr. Barry : "On the 13th of February, we-Lou and 1— (Lou 18 my cousin, Uncle Richard's daughter, a;id is staying with me)— Lou and I sent off a good many valentines. 1 hat night, we went fo bed a little excited, tor the r, ,? niorning we were to sing the .-x.^ x„ o-xx caiij^ uuu, >.i..i almost dressed. After ready, we opened the window, cold as it was- sang — ' Blessed St. Valentine! now while I look Open the page of the Future's sealed book • Blessed nt. Valentine! show unto me He who .n future my true love shall be !' " And whom do you suppose we saw ? It was insf sunrise, and the snow was all pink, and not a Toul was in the street but one old shabby man-theforiornest spectacle Next came an old woman scratching in the ash-barrels for bits of coal. We shut the window and agreed that that charm went for nothing. The poltman was late that morning. He always is when otffr peo pie are m a hurry. After watching a long time for him we had to go to our lessons, without a single vale" ^TJlt^h ^??_ weinvited her to coast with us in our D„.k-j^ax«. vvu uoasied awiiile, and it was twelve o'clock when the postman appeared with just one, single, lonely MY LITTLE LOVE. IQl none-too-pretty valentine for Lou. Coasting was better fun than that, and back to it we went. Mamie Brant, Nellie's little sister, liked it so much that, when her din- ner was ready she wouldn't go in to it, and the r '•se had to come out and carry her in. She yeller -. a young wild Indian all the way. After our dinner mam- ma took all us children out ir the sleigh. We had a jolly ride anrl almost forgot our disappointment about the tiresome valentines that wouldn't come. When we got home we were quite surprised to find some waiting for us. If you had been in America I would not have had to wait so long. Two more came after supper, one for Lou, one for me. It was not difficult to get the door- bell answered that day. Sometimes it was a visitor for mamma, sometimes it was a beggar, some^^imes only a man to ask where Mr. Somebody Else lived. But We all three — for Eobby was as full of it as we were — ran into the front hall at once, which wasn't according to Etiquet. After supper, the bell kept up a continual jin- gle. Once, Mary went to the door and saw what she supposed was a valentine lying on the stoop, and as she stooped to pick it up she heard some one snicker around the corner. She did not feel very amiable when she found out what it was. Some one had chalked a little square, just the shape of a letter, on the floor ! "By-and-by the bell rang, and behold but a small dog, with cut ears and stumpy tail who walked into th( hall, looked around hin. very gravely, and then walked out again. " This finished the list of our valentines. " Do you keep Valentine's Day in Paris ? ** I do want to see you horribly / "Your dear little Ailsie." It had come aU the way acrosB the salt ocean — this sheet of Bath post, filled in every corner with the child- ish characters that already began to take the stamp of # V. ^ •»-„o. IMAGE EVALUATEON TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 I.I m |12 1^ 2.5 122 18 11:25 ■ 1.4 1.6 Photographii Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-4503 A ^; yS> ■ A y4i «p (P.- 182 MY LITTLE LOVE. ««n7Lo I'Tn"'^''^^^^^*^-^^^ traveUed a thou- ollv k'T,*\*'^i r ^^°^* ^*- Valentine's Day. Only that ! And having said her say, my little love had rested from her labours of the pen thS must have offi?ont?h ''^^'' ^°^^'? '"^^y ^y ^^^ time tnottom «L?' -^u ^ P^^M "!?' S^^°'^- I ^^ad the letter through again with a smile that was loving and longing Ailsif^ eyes looked up at me in every sfntence-^L 1^ect honest, and tender. Not a line of conventi^nalcomnli ment or apology broke the cm-rent of the Sive^^v^ where her faithful love for my too-unworthy self cZe to the surface in the simple-" If you had been^ America I should not have had to wait so longP' an^ he concluding paragraph of the epistle si^ed i>y mv dear httle Ailsie." She never questioned it At t^e anfapodes,! must still have thought of and ovfdher ^arry. She wrote to me every month, and my reDlies were as regular Whatever interested her coSd not be duU to me m the heart of Paris, dividing my Sme be tween the lecture-room and the wkrds of a hZ tT I had been abroad six months. I was to «f « v L+ yea^ in all-so my stepmother and faS Ld /ecMed' I was worbng very hard, my spirits none the better for the attempt to crowd the work of three terms into nn! I had a quarterly bulletin and remittaneTom home- About as often, Madge, who was making up h?r TosseTu* entrusted me with an order for laces. Other comsnon' dents m my native land I bnd «««« „i ^"^'®sp?n- Aunt Evy and Ailsie I Ld had Tfterr/' TS!^« the winYy March night whl^^'sfr^^^^^^ apartment au quinzieme^hefore a handful oLhTrcoal in the tiny ^ate, and pictured to myself the home comfoS to._gravitate to hfr by. a naC^l^o^^ .u.u:^^ ner own lovelier thoughts, with cbsed hd^ MY LITTLE LOVE. 183 folded hands, and peacefully smiling lips, as I had seen her a hundred times while I talked with other members of the family. Where Ailsie might, at this very moment, be writing another letter to me. A serious matter she made of the manipulation, I knew from Aunt Evy's de- scriptions of her when thus engaged. " Her wrestles with the spelling, and what she anathe- mizes as the 'nonsensible capital letters,' are heart- rending to behold," said the letter that accompanied my valentine. " The brain-work is a delight. She confided to me the other day her intention to * write stories — beautiful ones — and bushels of poetry ' when she should be a woman. ** ' My head is full of them,' she added. * I can't sleep, at night, for them, sometimes — I am so afraid I may forget the best of th^m before I can write them down.' "'Why not put them upon paper, now?' I asked, somewhat curious to see of what complexion these beau- ties might be. " The dear little thing blushed suddenly — (you re- member the trick !) and fumbled with the corner of her apron, eyes downcast. Her lip curled like a baby's with the confession — * Because, Aunt Evy, they're not spelled.' "The blessed infant ! But there is a moral and a comfort in the incident for us * grown-upper children,' as she used to name you and me when we were merry together. These haM-fledged hopes and delicate fancies, and always restless, but, as yet, not-to-be-defined yearn- ings of yours and mine, Barry, what are they but the unspelled stories we shall as certainly grow into and become a part of in that Other Life, as our innocent pet will learn to write out her 'beautiful things ?' "I do not say, apropos de hottes, nor apropos to any- thing I have been thinking of, but because it comes into my head just here — that Bessie Barnes was married, last week, to Mr. Campion, of Philadelphia. It is an 184 MY LITTLE LOVE. I'll ti V, had her swing of admSon i * ?■"'. P''''**^ Bessie more or less serious duriDiT)..,'' j'?' ''' flirtations, ment. You were ve'rv r»S?<. * .''"''?^'' **™ "^ betroth- tween you, £ Scs and aZ^^ *^ ?''^''« "e- saloon, more than a Tear n^, . ^ 1 •!"■ ""^ i<=e-cream the tomb, so I bZ nothSrTjlf. *-^'^''? S*' <''""'> »» to me, a few days later and J^/'?" "^Bessie's visit fession.' She 'idrnitted th»* v ^^^."^^^ her 'con- Mr. Haye cause tSonstrae her ^.^^' ^r »™" one so interesting as hiW f^ ri .. 'j^f ^ '"*"'<'«* >» misapprehension that h«T„I,'t f S^etted the accidental especially that you had «» '-' ^•"•'' f"'"'*^'''?' ''"* •misses' yon see^rLrwVll",T'?''f d,u ihe house, and the rain not only liu^ the lawn to inished that rt-achingest jave me an int, whip in b upon the n they hear to rub me not clean I pudding, 7 to see the ifternoons. i up in our sundown ihe woods fortresses stories, or ad. obby and I how we I I stayed fell. We 3ould not le stains thU day. 3S up in ere it is )me the ', purple te maple MY LITTLE LOVE. 189 1A win/1 g ly lulls have to get uD eariv in ?^ ''""'"'■•y-nu's. And don't we fore the Pe^lyZ^iZ^^FT^"^ *» gather them be! " We eat oiir nuts anm?f- ^^f "J""'" >«"* »"« too ? get sore moutL°b^t.7h Iron/hr* ')"' r^^' ""«» next time, but doeen't ^^ ' '" ^""^^ »« "jetter <^<^^P^^UZ'A^^^^^^^ Ta.e U alto. Around this letter was «,-l' ^""i' '*!" '""» Ailsie." .on whjeh Aunt Evy hXS!" ^ ^''"-''««' "f paper the nexni4ter''the?etr- T r^'=*«'' "»-« "y enclosed to your foreign adSslthlll '/■ T^^^ *"« father's care. Wa ilr,„„tiu-,\." '*"■«<'' 't to your that you may be so near les^ w' • ^'V" '^' ^''^'^ S^ run your convenience Yo' t'^r'"™'''' '^""^ «"'■ your welcome from „s all .„™. i.''^" ""■" ^i" ^'^ we must not forget that „ti,f if "''^? J""" ""V- B. ; will not be aisXto1o°regraftsotr. "'■'''> '"^^ 1)0 not forget, however thnt nnlf -^^^ separation. try, must fve^ ^ZZ'^ forlhTse'eirg." '°™ "' "-"- in rX^fVL'"^^ ■'"^ "-"-^""'''i ttd^'S-Hy theX'Xy r:ji?,%?„f ''"1''' <"" other's on a bou/tiful and S-co^^ed%rt*"vVe'''' '""""''^'^ " sentimental family, and the tnlPft * i,, '^^ "o* a sea-sickness, foreim hotels ™df hi*""" ™'°"«'l &<»" of various ocean steamers to aI^- """"Parative merits ftate of the stock-mS'' IIST??" Pf "^and the nealth at dessert. Mv st..T. m^TtV, ■* {" ,*'^"' '" ^'°>^ my ^.troduetion oUhe^^K^l^^^^'tTti 190 MY LITTLE LOVE. a spasmodic conversalJon^Sdrvn?''*^"^^ maintamed success not to yawn in one anrt^^'''/' ^*^ indifferent reminded her lord that thevh«^ o ' ' ^*?'«' "°*i^ Madge % father, sighing hhre&tf^^^^^ himsejf to one newspaper oi^'V^T ^"P^^^^^^^W «at down, on opposite 8?de; of th^ *^^^°*^er, and we the evening news. My step Lf hi "!,^*'^-*able, to read direction of dining-room and nw"" ^^^^PP^ared in the rnore that night. ^'''* pantries, and I saw her no We retired early Mv fa*u I must be weary after Zy'^Zme^'T/'^ 'i^^ «^^^ *^a* ge into a Christian bed onl^morP tT2"^^ ^^ ^^^^ *« not say that he was more wearv of ;», V^^"^^* ^^^ did making than I of the sea Inrl "^f h **^? ^^""""^^ weJoome- the gratified parent had worfhir^^^^^ ^^'^ "^^'* *° "do" and patience. No ! wrwlre iSf "^^ ^^« ^°^««tion family I had Imown irf^r so JoSr/ ^ have been kept awake by a d»n^^ °"S^* ««* to re^on of the heart. ^ ^""' ^^ary pain in the undSood^haU?feZt?onoVf''''^ marriage, I had him a reasonable degreTof sTtil^f-'^'^'^^Snified with or did He was neviotherwsef ?«'''' ""'^^ ^^^* ^ «aid shou d have resembled himT^Jtu T'^^^^^^' and I appointment. There wn^ 1 ^"^^^^ ^^^e avoided dis- Madge or my steplotW shou?dTf/*^ *^^* ^^^ or turn had brightened lif^i' "^^ *®^^ me that my re they had thought of me t ''•''" ,^' ^" «^ them;^^ with faith andlesSe ThatlS ""'?. ^^"^^^ ^^^^e man and bring hamWrilT ^.^^g^t quit myself like a I ought to have tS thes^ h • '''^^' *^ *^^ old home granted. That lTiTr.1^ *^'"S« and much more for* , Nevertheless as ^^sfood Z" ''^^'^ ^^'^ ^^^^^iSi ^'' lees to think of woo ng stn^and^.'^ V?^«^' *«« ^^Bt- ber air, pure and s^U^Zen^n'^^^^^^^ m cuj Bireets, i was as MY LITTLE LOVE. 191 SlTorst* tll^^^^^^^ t^- I read Gratitude for neJat ve rn«r.?. a^^ '"^ ^^ ^a"« attic, neously in tC^^ZlZ'Te tst mlA?//^^^*^" many removes from this degree of .S ^ ^ ^.^^ '^ gret, in my gloomy muli^nftLiTf^f^''''^ ^' to re- the example of mv ^««3' *i ^^^ ^^t emulated crop of wi?d oats^n .T'''''^^^^ and sowed a moderate ing virtuous andVeaW^l^^^^^^^^ -ftead of remain- toil. I had won honors it lii" ^^^^.^^^ppreciated tions; had keptmy exZsfwi^hir'^^'^n^''' ^"^°^^^^- tracted no disreputabk h«Tfa J ""-^ allowance, con- macies,and I cS rnvJ^^^^^^^ ""^ ^convenient inti- " a greenhorn/' fori an «o TT^'" " ^ ^"ff'" and disappointment between my teeth'"^ ^''^ *^^ "«^^« «^ up?n thrmTntl ' ffi'y hadlhouift^^' ''' ?^-- arrival. More takingX Wanted ^^^^^ *f ?'^.*''.^ ^*« ways and means of fh« w„, u , ,,^® student of the amLed atZrni^V tw TperZ^^^^^^^^ ""f ^^^^ practice— were moft of f^^^ x^~J"^^°g ^^ni our prevalent amo^Xntimtt^^^^^^^^^^^ -^ lenities of my "Homo Ai^air." j;" "■"^"sal of the incidents «neer. I yS for a Zht "f^^' 'T ' »°"»g«red the dear little brown face T °f t*"? ''""^ «y^« "nd the her " supremerhappV " MoTt T' ^. ™°''' """'e older. •'""PPy "Wore I was twenly.four hours "Off ''I ""J ?'''' '"'■ «"«""<""! within the hour " Keally I mmtBll~° ^ •'"^''^st cup of coffee. »eo?Brity S""^ "'' "P» *» « hairline, and resisted 192 MY LITTLE LOVE. .1 hope, Barry you have not fallen into unsettled roymg ways abroad?" subjoined my father. ^''"''^' We wiU let the future settle that question sir " T replied, respectfully. -For the present, I should like to have a taste of country air and enjoy a glimpse of an te?8 woTk.'' """"' ^'^''' *^^"^ myseVdow'nrthe win "You do look rather jaded," concluded the senior ZfZJ. ^%^^^^«^ly ' " I thought last night it might be the effect of sea-sickness, but I see it hasn't worn off." It 18 the blase look of most young students— medical students m particular-of this generation," sTd my admirable step-mother, in her saltiest manner ^ It you object, sir, I will relinquish the plan," I said [hruT' ^ ^ ^' *" "^^ ''^^ P^'"^*' ignoring the sTde-' nZ^^'ifl ^i!' ''^^ ^* ^" • ^°" ^^^ y«"r o^n master, now. But when you come back I trust I shall see vou apply yourself steadily to business." ^ I ran into Madge's house, on my way to the stace- office to say ''Good-bye," and explain my need^of mountam-air and quiet. J' "tou oi "I don't blame you for quitting Castle Doleful by the earliest tram," she assured me. '' While Aleck and I were there we contrived in one way and another to keep the air stirring. Since he went South andTgo? married It has been a dead calm, and a cloudy one most of the ime You know that Clarine Darling^was Sar- to run m that direction after Paris life. It is out-and- out country where the Darlings live, and no ladies to :nd dlf : £ss'^- « -" "« i«' ^- i-"' toZ: I had not de^cei/ed myself with the notion that mv unflattering flight would wound or offend my affectionate MY LITTLE LOVE. 198 relatives. I was but a paltry fraction in the sum of their existence. I hankered — a burning thirst that increased hourly — to be with those to whom my absence had made some "difference;" for whom my arrival would rise into the dignity of an event. "Barry always did like to be made much of," my step-parent had once remarked severely. I would not have denied it to-day. I had been a nobody in a crowd of strangers for a year. If somebody did not begin to make much of me soon I should be in danger of losing my individuality outright. I was not socially disposed during the thirty-mile ride on the top of the coach. I smoked cigarettes by the dozen ; drew lazy enjoyment from the beauty of the day and the scenery, and thought out an article upon neuralgic as contradistinguished from rheumatic affec- tions, to keep down impatience at the length of the journey. The highway was half-a-mile from Brightwood by the nearest approach, and at this point I was set down, with directions from the driver to follow the disused cart-road through the woods as my shortest route. The ruts cut by the winter's hauling were overgrown with grass and wild flowers. Sumach bushes, whose leaves were blood-tipped lances of flame, upbore cones of maroon velvet, and plumes of golden-red waved up to my elbow as I put aside the underbrush. Once, a brace of quails whirred from under my feet. Overhead, the trees met and linked arms. The air was delicious with the nutty fragrance never distilled except in hickory woods by October sunshine. In less than a brief half-hour I should hold my little love in my arms, and hear her say that the lacking ele- ment of perfect jjliss at Brightwood, the heavenly, was supplied by my appearance. She would be taller than when we parted — perhaps more shy. I might have to woo her cautiously for a time until the rust of non-inter- 194 MY LITTLE LOVE. n, n course was rubbed off Rnf oi,« -, u i. , -a child that had no peer «n7°?^^ ^' ^i^^^^ ^^'^^ an unworthy shade of sdf niTft ^T^ ?^.°''^ ^* ^^^^out in the wide world loUm^hilr^^^ ^'?^ ^^^' «^ »» more dear to me ^'*' *^^^ ^^^^ ^one was enwr^ppld by a Ztlet'lZfVl ' ^?^«^ «*-« -^11 tough fibres kept it ?rom tlj ^^lerican ivy, whose was a bodv of maies T Z. ^i? ^T."^* ^^y^^^ tl^is woods look asTfXey wereX '''al'^T ^^^'l^^^^^ how just was the comparison Afi ? '*?PP^^ *<^ ^o*e most twig, save tZfnf i ^^^ ^'*^"' ^^^^ *» outer- more lush'of Joliag^^^^^^^^ Btood a few, hearts were the briSf Pr W 7 ^'"^''"' ^^««e green and orange of thSherLn^l'^'* nl^ *^^ ^^'^i^io^ into purple w ?h a dtt of -/ '' i,^*\''' ^^^ ^'^^^^d leaves They clured ttet^i E?ch l^t^ *^^ motionless and delicflfp iJ^J ■'^ach leaf hung, a as transmitting hit Thr-r^^^ the western skf and the W^"^' "?! ^"*^^^^ ^^ and yet upon grasf^nd so 1 Ld TudTwa^nr* T'''''' ^*' ebadows, like those cast hvVul^ ^*? ^^^^^' ^arm '^Brightwood rV'l^^S ^^.f^^^^^^^^ ^^".^\ V. sunshine ! " I DasspH +W u xu ^^^^ without the heading a carU of such S« ^ ^°^^*"*^d wood, never came from loo^^ nf ^f""* "^f^P ^"^ ^^of as pasture-land su^ceedeT if T""' '^^^''^' ^ «*"? of hickories, chestnuts an Aof'^v,^ 'T^^'^ ^ass^ of bearing t^eer^Sg '^vid^^^^^^^^^ f t^e nut- of chestnut sapliL« «n5 advantage behind a clump the Sot^^^t.^et':srcrreirM^^^^ MY LITTLE LOVE. 195 always Ailsie ed it without ig who, of all lom none was 36 stone wall ^ ivy, whose Beyond this the " maple )pped to note )ole to outer- stood a few, whose green he vermilion J had burned 5 edging the leaf hung, a tting as well ^een me and penetrate it, ;lear, warm louds. , vithout the nted wood, id woof as A strip of t mass of of the nut- k crimsons e pleasant Guided by id a clump up, myself ooflpaa 'Ki-if iring near utskirts of the grove that the sunlight lay in broad streaks and patches across the encompassing row of great stones and the smaller ones that served the audi- ence as seats. The little area was well filled. I recognized Bobby, although h^ had been promoted to the rank of be-jacketed and be-trousered juvenility in my absence. I surmised that the sweet-faced three- year-old, sitting close to him was baby Evy. The rest of the children were strangers to me, and all older than these two. They were probably coup'^ly or neighbourly visitors at the farm. There were t .ree or four boys among them, ranging in age from ten to twelve, and one fine lad of fifteen with a handsome Darling face, who, I settled within my own mind, must be Ailsie's favourite cousin "Rick," of whom I had heard much in her letters. At the moment of my approach he was on his feet, announcing to the g^sembly that the " performance of the afternoon would be commenced with a song from the celebrated vocalist — Mademoiselle Malibran Jenny Lind Warbleini. Whom I have the honour of introducing to you." And forth from behind a screen of woven brush stepped the songstress, mounted a platform of rather shaky stones, and bowed her thanks for the burst of applause that saluted her. My Ailsie! chains of autumn leaves bordering her white frock, girdling her waist, crowning her brown hair. The hue of the brightest of them in her cheeks — and a light in her glorious eyes, the soul of the artist who was, for the time, all she would seem. Crossing her hands lightly, in the gesture once so familiar to me, she began her song, amazing me by the strength and flexibility of her voice, and carrying the attention Ox iier aucliucrs wini lier by iti and varying expression of her utterance. h;i by (/lie distinCbuess r :| ! - ! I I 196 MY LITTLE LOVE. " ' a'J^° ,'"""'' """ ''" "' ' *y more blue Bnl oh 1 when I gaze on my iranaaj, „, No'?t?r*s:;Lrc.ttn"r°" bright face at J^^LnTp'e^^trso?'!!!!^ 3r "h»---.'rnr>- To mj simple taste is far more deaj ' T,. , '*'''■>»•«■■<'«"% home bo mine""" fat palms ll^tl'd^^^^^^ "' i^^ '■^igW. ^ven baby's my shoulder "™eTme to l!J"*r'7''«° " *<"'<'h on Pressley and Wy^l'? V<^i,?f ^^^^ '»"gWng faces of share my ambush. With mutull »dm •.*-°'™ "P *» ^::r J^^e^l^^r^'S?. -oh othTrl" t^nd?riTv^.±«a MY LITTLE LOVE. 197 guitar ti&tain home me! ere true — ive of mournful ifting of the 0, even baby's a touch on ng faces of pJen up to ions to dis- )le to watch " Mademoiselle Malibran Jenny Lind Warbleini lec- tures quite as admirably as she sings," proclaimed the master of ceremonies — " and has kindly consented to favour us with — ah — one of her most distinguished ef- forts — one which has earned for her, — ahem ! — death- less renown in this and in foreign countries. I trust the audience will remain seated and — ah — superhumanly quiet while she is speaking. Like other great artists, she is exacting on this point." '* Fairly done for Rick !" said Wynant. " Here comes the lecturess !" She emerged from her leafy retreat with a more staid mien than at her first appearance, as befitted the su- perior dignity of the rostrum. She had torn the chap- let from her head in haste that had ruffled the brown waves, and in her hand was a slender roll that looked like a manuscript. This was evidently the symbol of her profession, for she did not offer to unroll it. " Ladies and gentlemen," said the silvery voice, ' the subject of my lecture, this afternoon, is the Life and Character of Moses." " Moses who ?" called out a boy lounging on the grass at the speaker's left. He was rougher in bearing and tone than his companions, and was, Wynant whispered, the son of Ezra Gaskin's city brother, and an interloper upon the Brightwood party. Regardless of the query, unconsciously plagiarised, many years later, by Mark Twain's ** Jack," the lecturer held on her way. "Moses is regarded by most 'speakists and book- makers as a great and good man. In fact, something exterordinary for these old, old times. Not quite up to the mark of our wise men " ( " Dan. Webster, now — What d'ye say to him for a BpcuiuLicxi uxiua. r xubcixUpbcu juzixa S ncpnov.; '* You shut up, there !" vociferated the master of cere- monies. •■■'li I H , K ^" ^^^"^ time made^! -"happens so much as to ^. Z'"'^'" ^^e rude auditor ) and not a word was saiTll J *^hles full of them heard of. Broke theL whenh^'"' ^'^^"^ i* that U^; as a hatter ' Thof-r ^" he was ancrv inn) ^7 ^ T'J] *^ii ^^at s a wav hp >io,i /'"Sv, too! Mad on^T'sM'' '"t''^ ""d^^"™ tX-,„ ^"'^'^ '"^"t and bread' ?r/'' '» "'mk of - And Ir^"""*^ '" t»™ i''??''— 'hat meant manna il.fi, -^'"S 'tiis light CMit and honev — flio f„ j *" '^e nicest sort nf S wasn't fit for them Or « T'^' "'« «a«S with andT^fi "'*''? another governLnf a", ™^ ""e other Ifrh^v^s/^Tpdirt-^^^^^^^^^^ that matter Moses waf a Jew /''''' f "' them ! X httle wee babies and all f? i *^? ^^sert for water :tt^s^.„:i^ii-o;";:;;^t^^^^^^^^^^ --titto-^.^1— 4t..ro.^^^r-5^^^ MY LITTLE LOVE. ' Water, water, nowhere, Not a drop to drink I ' 199 And the sun scorching the life out of you, drying up the tongues in your mouths. Throats hotter than an oven. Out comes Moses, mad as fire, his rod in his hand- Hear, now, you rebels!' I used to be sorry he was punished for cuttmg up so shamefully that day-whack- mg the rock three times, as if 'twas a bad child he was whipping. Now, I think he was served about right. laatneL""""^ *'^ ^^^^ ^^^^P ^^^ ^^^^ -^ ("What about the horses and donkeys?" from the city boy.) "Then, again, my friends, do you suppose that he wasn t angry when he made the children of Israel drink the powder-water? When he had melted down and burned up and ground to powder the golden calf, and strewed it on the water ? You'd better believe that was a bitter dose ! Worse than salts and senna ! I can im- agine how he did it. 'There's your lovely calf!' said u /-D J? ^^^^^ ^^^^ ^*- N°w you've got to take it !'" {By George ! he wouldn't a' got it down my throat ! " trom the Gaskin.) ** ^ ^9^'* ^^y *^a* *^e people weren't to blame. It was awfully wicked in them, and foolish besides, to think that the Lord didn't care for them because Moses staved away forty days. Looks as if they had been worship- pmg Moses aU the time, instead of the Lord. It was fearfully sinful in them to make a golden calf." ( Golly ! wouldn't I have liked to get a slice of that ere veal! "bleated the intruder.) '•Because the Egyptians had worshipped an ox with gow tips on his horns, was no reason they should be so fi^^ .^^ *? ^^ *^^y °^^g^* ^^-ve remembered that tne^ -tigyptian idols weren't of much use to them in th^ u^a bea, for they went down to the bottom Uke a stone, and the ox couldn't hook them up. Somehow, I hav« mir flli ft 1 u 200 MY LITTLE LOVE. .'.rpV^y'"^'' you 'most throneh?"lw„i, • ., b8»l,.J ^^"oWes' calf, my Sd» " ^ ^^ "i ""^ "">«'•) bashed speaker, dronninff fo„T ', P"sued the nna- toctaess, and'wei|,r"as I h?"* *"'' ^t^died dls golden earrings. Iu 'there is tZ/-'^' ^^ "»'»« of -wheehng like lightnin„Tol;„t "",'" ^^ "udience " the coarse, homely face at hfreft ".^f' -'"'^^SO' i" ^Hl^I^te'^a^^ f ^ brlssles ]';;'.'■ '^"•' """"^ <" fiick. and hisL^ZiTS^V''^' ^''™'" roared ambushed auditors ''"' ''*'='' ^-^h a will by^e ~?a;-P;^^;;P ^^^^^^^^^^ chorus, and tures •• along with them * *' ""^ "^W "Ct eve. eSt^rs-t^^'^.^e Wy , I .Mn't thinkPd In the midst nt *i,^ . ^ ™* ''«'■ ery. as I hm.g°bac1 stiu'trS'lf ^'' f'''^"' ^^U np„„ „, WPW Every ZpTf wite?H ""y «he cCZf her hands with a qufck conll.f! ' ^^"^ ' *« eid wa^rhXx^SS---te^^^^^^^ come. I think her father ^^u"""* '"' ""Md of wel- tocaU off the »pecTators Tort'^^ ^^^T'i '" ^^'"t -Asl-K;elS:-c£r-- tore Off WewerelefttoonrseLs-^ra;:rS.,down -a uieml report. MY LITTLE LOVE. 201 '■ You^'se -"*" '»»'''» speech "' ""•' "S"'" '»''«'' xpell wUhTresolute eS «Ll?/"',' 'f'T™^ off the granting me a viW !,f f, ' ™''™8 back her hair, and colo„w\rb'egUrn;t°oflt\rk-Td1d' '°.7'''* *^^ were on this side oMlip a+i '^^9^— ^ did not know you faof to S. thelirthTr* r r.?- ^"-^ '-<> t- was a delight anrwewJ°™A'!''?''''''^*°«<''^<'fwticii moved soul I w„„ «,„!^t^*'^4.^*''' fo>" a while. In my this good W wt fa7Z^ "^^ *?.'J ''""g'^t ■» "^ love to pure and 2omL fw k-T, ''^,''>' ">« 8^^' of of this child. I often i?nS!' ^'"?'' ''^fd i" the bosom her, seldom when I is ''t '^ifT '''"'? } ™« ^'^ welcome, yet such as children offer f.™*!'"'"* ^ •""y™^ which rejoicing is bW „»i, ,i?« ,' *" long-absent, in and migit ofVhe mot"n\xcSr ' n,''"' '"•"'""^' were a revelation even to «,!„!! , ^ ™y .aPP«aranee »^n sprig^tSsUr^^hTaat^^t^ said preTeX" "Tb^Zr^'^f ""'™'°8' Ailsie," I wood" to see you It mre^!!!^ ^ '1 °"' '<" bright- darling so weU and fh^i ,™? ^i-y happy to find my earnestliSr-lfvou'r:/' *^-*™d with years instead of one I shnnlj^ l ""y"'' "'^y t''^'™ you can't ever fZet anvS "^ remembered you. von mnst „ome tf ^ - f 1? •'^ ? ^''" '"''*"■'' 'ove. W you aifto myselt when fjcan't'r "^f" '" ""^ *° ''^"^P Ailsie all over ' The same Ta* !?"" '° i"^"' J""-" j^ over . ine same daintiness of articulation 202 MY LITTLE LOVE. ^tnttt-rCX™/^ -«'■ -0 -ant fort and happiness^ The Sff^u'l ^"' "ti^s' com- subtle charm to her loye-talk ^"^ ^"^'^'y *^^i lent whS rhis':ra;^:,-,TVh^:'t.*'' '"^ p'"'-" on ■ crooked trees " belting one ^de 0^^ "^ '''^ ""'""b ^zy lengths upon the turf iLlf^ ''"''' ''"'"i^d mirror of the embosoming hilkwih !,,''?' ? *™"'ft'l scarfs of maay colours stream n.^**?'"" "'"»''« «nd On the distant mountains warth! , '^ ''»*^'-'s edge. Autumn's richest garniturr ' "^*' ""?'« which is % be^iS "g^rtr-^sS'd V^' "'"''«-. " P"' on pomtputthewitcCyohighclr' '^/'^'''S me to smgs jtself in my head allTy st^t^"^ «¥""• " " their dresses. It ig good we !^i k • ** '^""''s changed "ow. I shall be tSLaHrdi»"''??T«8ht nights i.te my Bright^ood." " disappointed if %„ don't CHAPTEE XVI. THE MEMORIAL PINE. Ailsie broke unnY^^f f ' ''^''* doming, as -/n the «s™rsr/rr "^''^^ Innermost." The "Ch^Ju , temporary sional," Wynant called^? "'"'°'*''^ ^onfes". together again-weretoW °L?**"™"y 'he words fell would have no tSTrin »f «' ^°' ""is day she packed onr luncheon In atesketw^i ,"»»'"*•- had while full, and she when it w». ^"^ ^ was to carry was t, be observed in the dlsnoS^' ,'^^' '"""^ "^^ that was to bring our nuts Ke "' " *"*« ""^ ■I mean to show vnn oii speaking very fast. - P?np wSf wonders," she said, and the Witches' Glen aid f ? i^^^ • *^^ '^"'^^e* Rock inte,rupted ^tttti^'^'f.fr^Zf^itnr her aunt conymce her, or heJfather thatch w"°' ""^ P«««'ble to »:hi^htet£r"^^^^^^^^ running through it - ""^ '""^ '•"'«" '"h hard names 204 MY LITTLE LOVE. " Brightwood is Eden for you to-day, happy child ' Enjoy every minute and second. Tak^ ca^e^V her,' fJ^l ""^^l ^"".^ 9^ P.^^^ ^^^^« ^^y ^"^Sether on the pillow, lounge/" ' '^"''* ^""^ ^"' ^ P'^«°°^^ t« ^^^ nfl'"^a?/ri*'''' ''''^'^'* Pf""'^^ ^ ^«"ld invite to go with ^kJ i^'^'''' running back from the door for still an other embrace. "Auntie! really and truly I wish I could be sick instead of you for\while. ft woTd be jolly to thmk as well as the pain in my back and .ead Trint doZ'k^'^^r ^T ^lin^bingthe hills and scam permg down the other side. And when you and Mr. heSraTate?^.*^^ ^-^^^^' ^- ' '^-^^ 4^ "You would lend him to me, too, would you as weU as your strong hmbs and healthy lungs ?" The invalid smiled, but the water stood deep^ in her eyes. "Thank Heaven, dear, that it is not in your power tr offer the whether it shall be accepted or declined ! Now, be off » and make much of Mr. Barry, while you have him and 'KZ^' \'V 0«t«,b^rvacafioLarenoten28s " . Barry hkes to be made much of!" rang in mv ears "mSd 'thr"' '"^""^^^^ *^^ accents tharhad commended the process to my guide. To nrove thnf benevolence was not extirpated bf this selfish^' 1^^^^^^^ I devoted myself to making much of my charge So tender was my every thought of her, that mrely%ect day that I would wiUingly have borne herin my arms over stone, stubble and hillock. But in orde^notTo Sntism Tt d 'r'' ^? \'' '^- wo'dtafTind peaestrianism, I had to content myself with carryine brook was toX^ ^'^^^^ " helping\and when a iSf For thJw nf 'i "^^^^^d> />^ a tall fonce surmounted. J? or the rest of ihe way, she trudged on sturdily beside me, domg the honours of October and the lardscape'talk! f ■ f MY LITTLE LOVE. 205 ing as fast as her tongue could go. The red wine of health and happiness was in her veins, heart-sunshine m the eyes that sought mine, continually, with an ex- ultant sense of actual possession and proprietorship that was both pretty and diverting. She would never weary me with fondlings-this dainty httle betrothed of mine. Unless taken by surprise, tact and good taste alike warned her against effusiveness. The maidenlmessof her demeanour, to-day, wrs inimita- ble and suggestive. With such refinement of tenderness and real dignity, I felt sure she would, ten years hence assign to a lover his position and privileges. Last eve- nmg, she had scarcely stirred from my side, and seldom spoken except when directly addressed. Now she meant business. We were out to see the country— her "won- ders included, and to gather nuts. She had a story for each of the spots she had designated— incident or adventure belonging to the history of the summer, or traditions more or less well-substantiated, which she had picked up m her free-and-easy intercourse with the country-people We made no haste. There was a lib- eral stretch of daylight ahead of us. We "did" the notable places thoroughly and gathered nuts when we stumbled over them, pxovided they were free from husk and burr. "Beating them out doesn't pay when they can be had without smashmg one's fingers between two stones," observed Ailsie oracularly, turning over the dry leaves with the toe of her boot, to uncover chance treasures. It 8^ a good plan to get things without trouble when there 8 no harm m it. Some people think nothing is worth having that comes easy. Water and air and sun- shine ought to teach them that they are mistaken, but dear me ! the quantity of stupid men and women and cmidren m this world is absolntplv as-fon-iajjin" ' ^-^n't put those into the basket, please! They are "pig-nuts. And very poor taste—evei. for them— the pigs must 206 MT LmtB toVE. }'u'"v'M''®y '"'« ""»' »0'' of food. Thev aren't mni-« than ha f as big as hickory-nats to begin wiTh 'S the shells are twice as thick, and when you've workTd yonr way to the stingy scamp of a kernel; U's as Mtter as gall. You remember what Mr. Wellor sa™ nbnnf Vi!! chanty-boy and the alphabet? ' it^a quSn whethe? Weller" ac";tintance'yer* ^^P"" """ ^"^ '»'"■« ^'• "I read Pickwick in the early part of the summer It s a nice book to take out under the trees Tn ah„"Z' /PaP» ho"8ht I couldn't appreciate it, but I iS" what I d.d understand. It doesn't take much brains t« t^H^'^ fi^" ¥ ^y' ''■"i Mr. WnkTe^ ridinTand »♦ 1 ^w*?,'' **"• ^'^^ Hunter's 'Expiring Prog" Nor at the Wellers. I was qaiU. worried to fiL fk.* *^ stage-driver who brought\s he™™:, a djed up obe? "d^^llteT'^-^'' ^"^ ''°^"''"« ""' '«-'-»p" brow'ifTteen ^Sf"""^''?/"^"' » *^^''"" ''^« »" ""e urow 01 a green hill. Soft grass grew un to its rnnto The long sharply serrated llaves lere of a fine "let Sf=T,i' ^°f i^^-c^ 0^ <-9 chestnutted Jm '. f'v heights darky clad with hemlock, cedar apr/l?: suii bZI ufroTd ttTl^^^'r ^^ *\^ topml b^aXs xseiore us rolled the hill, gradually, for a few rods fhpn U^^lSal" *' 'i**?? "™' «"»' fed the Tke toihe ftp v ^'"^"'f .pw^'^d ?t just before the widening into tht V; • ■• -Id !.ue occasional rattle of a country waffon ST '-,■!■':''' ■■r'r',^'" *?"" wentplZSlJS j-iiej.. -jtsi:. niieep lu the lower meadows cows in f>,^ appe., and from farm-houses, hidden b7hffls^dwo^! MY LITTLE LOVE. 207 belts, came the crowing of answering cocks, and, once m a wLile, the deep bay of a hound. A parliament of crows Bat m a tall hemlock on the next spur of the ridge at a dmtaiioe that took the harshness out of their dis-' russirns before they reached us. We were hardly aware that we heeded the out-door concert, yet it filled up the pauses in our dialogue with the pulsing of low music. Our talk took on a pensive tone with our unconscious listening. Our lunch basket was empty, and with satisfied appetites, we lay along the hiU-top, our elbows cushioned in the soft tussocks of wild grass, taking in full, slow draughts of enjoyment as the connoisseur pours down a beaker of brown old October ale. "Do you see my cross?" asked Ailsie, pointing to the summit of the opposing range of hills, higher and more rugged than on our side of the valley. " On the second— the highest mountain. Almost to the top. There ! you are looking straight at it. Isn't it a very strange thing ? " "^ It was. A tree— apparently a pine— towering above the borizon-lme of the forest, and forming with upright trunk and transverse arms, a symmetrical and well- dehned cross against the tender blue of the October heavens. " It's been there, maybe, a hundred years," said my cicerone, meditatively, si-veying the land-mark with eyes full of mysterious meaning. "It just grew into that shape of itself, the people about here say. But it does seem as if God may have meant it all along. For He knew what was to happen on that hill, one day— when the time came. There's something that makes you feel very solemn in thinking how that tree kept growing, growing, growing, year by year, putting out one little bunch of leaves at a time, first on this sidp, then on that, and, all the while, making the . ^s that was to be a sign to everybody, by-and-by, to remind them of the poor lost children." I ifl i lU II ~! 208 MY LITTLE LOVE. ''What children?" memorial pine with eve. ih^i P'"" ^^^'^^ ^^ *^e them ^stTot'od^ frttrrsLtrJ ''^-O «">»»' that very Christmas night whLvn";. ^*™ ''Wened ourselves in our comforthL ^,°" *"'' ^ had tea by «orry I had said hZjXlt C tZ'* 1 '^"'"^- ^ ™» while we sat by the waVr; K j ' '* ^^ storming Mariner,' and tUed ZIZ so nZ* '?f- ?^ '^"i^" Do you remember teaching me- ^ '''''«''"''' "''"gs- '*?'' '«i>mMes sorrow onlv How httle we ^ J;*«°""""-»"««.e^™'P wa;??ZrtCt'e:;L*s'Z ^,! •'°^^- ^^^ -'"est Their father and mother were pooi/iT^f-' ™« «^^- house on the other side of C'„i"^'"' '"» small Chnstmas day-it didn't snow he?e ?n fb" " ^"^ 'i""* « did m town— about tb-^;^. , ■ ™ "^ ™orning as mother that they had fouuTin.t''''' ""^^ *"" '^^i' nut tree in the woods that n„bn^ f """""g * ^'"^"'y- auything about, because tb?^ "''/ "''"'<' ''a™ known nuts. Might they"r^'';ic?Thl'^;°X^-.'J wjtt a httle tin pail and 'fulrof f.,f o^^-V"*' ■'?'"' "'• ' ^P'"'^^ " ™« « g'-t-affair%o^remrSf MY LITTLE LOVE. 209 pennv '' TJ^^t", "^'"^y-f^o'^^ whenever they got a " '^^e ^oys' father had been down in the villa (ta +»,»... He found his wife alone and pretty nearly crazv ^t ™ered and they hag noV::UZme.'^''Ti,e'f:ther*t:S; a lantern and set out to look for fhpm """^^'^^^^^.^ook up and down, shouting out tht tSea.'^Nr^Ter but the roanng of the wind and the rattling of theCl stem eIh ^"V"''"- ^^ •>'"' «» 8" in o» onte mg nard he went to some of the neighbours and on* them to help him look for his lost sons. Mo" and m™ people came next day and next and the next AtT«? there were more than hundred men roamfng throi»h U^e woods with dogs and guns and horns-maS a ftrL"Z'^:Z' ^^-"^ ''"^''' ^"* '-"»« - -fry' " Still no children, not a sign to tell which way thev ': to ?hTmT *'"'" '' "•' ^°"""' """^ « -^ SnL^=?5 ifPi^^o^'Sht they had been murdered Some said they had strayed to some other place mrvbe lodyThoZ '"^^ '''" *'"'^° ^'^ "" asylum o^rr ooaysnouse. Some were sure thev had fnl Ln ir,+« pond or river, and were fro.en undeYthe ice The hun dred men got tired hunting for them and went home" Ihe fathfir n.nri mMhr.^. ^™f i_ xi • , , ^^*^"v noma. 210 »n^ LITTLE LOVE. I ■ ( ' The busy hands rested upon the nile of shrn^ i She looked at me dubiously ^ ^®*^®^- now as He used to ? A„l • ^ '" JJ^^P'^ "i dreams found ? This man horl ^ j_ . '"<'y '"'^ been he was waTWng" m^Srt"f '• Rethought crows ^ingabLtVe top raXh'^;;^;^ "o-'k of xrjLrteit'^^r^^^ or four miles before h! t}^ mountain and rode three looked like lle'trh'eVad'ia ;' ^t^ *^''* j'™* who h^ad a fS ^rfim S? ^0^^' ^'^^ "^ went up the mountain OTerfh!* '^^ waggon and straight to the foot of the T;„ • ^*'T' ™'' '"'*«s, really and trulv lav Llth * P'o^-t^e. And there, been ten days since ttJt'\ ^."^?' *" ''««'»• « W nuts. On tZ top of atea7fl»* '° 1°?'' t ^tr'^'^'as He had hardly any eXf on "r^ '"^ *^.°"«^' '«'?• the ground a littk way off LJtrt^"^ Y"' <» sort of a hollow that i'lefned^ ^ Jl^fke'tt"" "il"; " an inclined plane of nno r^oirv, ^i , ^^ — makms: babyest of them! wrap'pfd S)T v' '*i^/'r" ^^« *^^ jacket and trowsers on a Id -f ? ' i'l ''^^''* ^^°*^^^'« mother might have tucked ht,? ^''.'^^f^^^^f^mt as his She stripped lerfaffPrlp^^f^i? ^'' '^^^ ^* ^o^e." in serious Spass Ln ? ^ ^^^^^^ *t^^,^«' ,¥- ^ce set micht he ov«„„*„j ". V "nuke the emotion a child grievoue'tair "" "^'^ '" *^^ '^"i°g of auch""a of shred leaves. MY LITTLE LOVE. 211 " Yes, sad, if we look at it one way. But that bov died a ^orious death Wlien Aunt Evy heard the 8to?y she said-'Greater love hath no man than this, that he lay down his hfe for his friends.' You can think how she would say it. I wonder why he climbed that big rock Ihe men who found them thought they musi hav^e been mZJ'J'^^'u ^¥'^^« ^^g^*- I* ^^« «"«h fright M weather They had strayed over the top of the Zin^ln Za f^" ««^\di«*^^-" down the other side, trying to find the way home. Do you suppose he go up there so as to see farther when morning came ? He had pulled his arm out of one shirt-sleeve as if he had begun to take It oif. No doubt he heard his little brother- crying with the cruel cold, and wanted to give him more coyer. The last thing he did was to try tohelphTm T «,Voi^ *lie pine-tree?" inquired I, looking at the gigantic cross with moved interest. "No ! it is farther down on this side. We went there once with papa. It was very solemn. Aunt Evv couldn t go, of course, but she sent flowers to lay on the JL"""\ ^^' f^"'^,i^ ^ pilgrimage. I couldn't help ^fnn^^i^.t ?f f^"^^ 'P'^^ ^^d *^" "« what really LTI^'I^^^u'^^^I^ '^^'"'y "^g^*- We saw where the baby-brother had beeh put to sleep. Mamma cried. I saw the tears drop on her hand when she stooped down nnilT '^.-n' ^Z^ ^'f/'^ ^' '^ ^^ ^^d been asleep Ztt ^^^^ '*'"• 7^^ .^" ^^^^^^ i^ whispers-evei Kobby. The cross-tree is on the tip-top of the mountain. Likely, the boys passed under it in the dark without see- ing It. Aunt Evy says it is their monument, all the same. She can see it from her window, and she says it Helps her to be patient when sbe i« in m.p«f ^o,v a^- calls the biggest boy her hero." *If yo^u couW see hT sometimes, in one of her bad spells, you would think she was a heroeBS. *But true in every particular. m 212 MY LITTLE LOVE. was not looking at me or ^^Z ,f ,*-^- ^"ckily, she untimely glimm^er and been duTh^^f ^7.' ^^*^^*^^ *^« Her dread of making herself rS^^ ?' *^' ^'^* ^^ur. desire to promote a comfort«hL / / ^^"^^^^*^ ^^' She was emptyinVC Jap of iT' ^f mind in others, and reflectively, her mLd still n^ ^T ^'r^^' ^^^^^^ely "I dare sav " .^he ^r^f • "^^"^ ^^^ "hero." ^ boy didn't Sw ?owTo lead an"? ^'^.r^^"l;^«3^-''tiiat • and wore patched do?hes and ,nT*.'* , ^/ ^^« P««^ perhaps. But he knew how to Iffi '^ A^-^ grammar, body he loved. That was enouaWn ^""^ ^'' ^°^ '^^^' t^me ,If he had been fifty vearHnU-''''f Pf'«^^'« ^^f^" couldn't have done it better^ Tfu-^i '""l^'^^ ^^ *^^' i^e came, he saw very far from Vi, ^^^'''^.^ben the morning farther then he hfd pLpT^^' ^P ^^ *bat rock-much Stephen did, y^uto'^^wLfntle^^^^^^ f^^'' ^* As She shook out thp wT! . ^.®*^^®<* bim." her frock, and sLld doTnl^^^^ ^?^ '''^ ^^"^ wild flowers, returning so^^ ^th ' i, ^^l**/^ ^^^^ ^^^ displayed gleefully, quoting? ^ ^^""^^"^ ^bich she "AuntE , !"--^-Sy'^"''- old. Tl^XTltXn^'jT "'•^"i -- - yeaxs her of the tlu-ee flowers "r/i"? ""f ? » bouquet for with hpr ^'h'lp T -rr- u ^ercainly did not oQwaa^^^j ""qT ''^"^e 1 Was abroad." " ' "-^-'^'^f^wu Sl^e stoppea to speak to „« after oharch, last Sm. MY LITTLE LOVE. 213 ?bL 7n ^' "'P^^- "^^^ a«ked where you were and how long you were goin' to stay in furren narta «^d were you studyin' the doctor's trade over L?e r ' Mr Ezry 'guessed you'd be proper spry and atuck Tn wittv about Fri;^ i' everybody who wants to be nf Z^^ A- x"""^ P^°P^^ wouldn't feel obliged to talk of such disgusting things. Such as eating fross and snails I mean They're all right in their pUefpCe mlhs'* '^ZT'' ''"^^^^^^' *^^^-- '— '- - Nor in their {,Twj flowers smgmg to herself; setting her srace- fLvSr? J • 'F "' '»i"!l"ng np the cluster with delicate ferns and winding the stems with wire-grass Watching her from the shadow of mv hat-brim m lazy content, I began to succumb to the^ombined Mu TrxrorthTtt"''- "'^"°"^'' ™"''^'^^^^^^^^ tZ ?Lf ^ttfr^ Stra> a luirial^' nothing more divine. s^Td m^ tw^y fl, ^'thaTtli": to he and look and dream, for a week-why no? for a S ".'i^ 1°'. '°''"™'^' The lotus eatei^s "myrrh! bush on the height " was of a lively and scSk,„ growth, m comparison with the languorous droon and subtle aroma of the lemon-tinted kaiMhrough which I stared upward. The hill-top grasses uncut and ,n rhe'ad™;itSfr V'"'" '^'-- Trey'p^fo^e^d Sh w»; witnout tickling my ears and nise. The earth was tempered to her heart, by weeks of perfec? finelfsdaS'n ^"^f^^^-Jf j>'f ™««ed smartly "•ed, russet, amethyst, oranLjlf ' ^T'^' *"'' *''«"'. my. sight when I would hfvr!^-^ ''?,' ^^^8 ''«''«« des^cated but fadeless rlinW.""^"' '"'^ -™P^ <>! a There was'n"'repL" 'T ^^ t 'j^^- that brought the eSs hurrvS'* ""? "="" '" " «'"'»' >n the rear. I was alone SeTL'dT.f'"'' '"^iS'"' J-he sun was not a couule nf ,,„ ? , " fe"«n asleep, the western hills. I must h»™ t *'i"™ *^^ '"'S^est of freed myself from fh^ '„ h ™ slept long and hard. I persistent leaves with my fiLlT^^^*' ""'^^"^ divers whiskers, and sought formvff? S"". ^"-^ '»"''• "nd set spikily with the% iff.st2^e1 " *'"' ^'^"'- » ^»« there was not room to thrus? intr™?'''''^'" "ntil An enormous bouquet of ttl ^"^ "'"•'"^ *J>« •'and. button-We. I WbL.iJ ' '?r '"« pinned in my rod^tied with tough ^Tss '^'^ l^g-bangles of golde7 time'S't^f ttrnfyli'a "?'' '""^ "^ "^ J-- numerous and inffpnmno I ^ ^^^ surveymg mv laughter betrayedlh^rtlfiSXkil'/^^" '^^'^'^ Peeping around fhn +i!- i^ ^"rkmg-place. sang out, mockTngly^ ^^''^ *^"^^ ^^ t^^e chestnut, she her ^arlat sacque aT'Cstt^tirT''' ' ^''""^ ""- - you alwarslee'p''so' ^tT^i^.j^ok^a, Do wban.p„t„nyo„rbra7ereW. It^ls'^'^'Jj'^^S r^*fw-„j;w. MY LITTLE LOVE. 217 over again. You might not have waked up in twenty JuTa-a ■}'?;^^ ^'-^^^^ y^"' ^o«^- Here's the fellow that did It ! showing a long switch with a bunch of grass tied on the end. - How you did slap at him ' " Overcome by the recollection, she sank down to laugh until the tears started. ^ "Ailsie!" I uttered solemnly. "Did you ever hear of a woman named Delilah ? " 1' Thought of her all the time I was dressing you ud and burying you alive ! " she declared. " If I cSuld have found seven green withs long enough to bind your hands and feet, you would have had harder work to get out of your patch-work shroud. Let this be a lesson to you y^^^^S^^^^erna^n, not to trust the feminine sect /" Well ! what do you think of Eden ?" inquired Aunt Ji^vy, that evening, when we had displayed our spoils of nuts, flowers and pointed leaves. I glanced at Ailsie, who, nowise disconcerted, made a grimace of defiance. "I liked Eden," I responded, slowly and mournfully. I had no fault to find with it, nor with Eve, until she tricked and betrayed me." "Fifty-one, fifty-two!" counted Ailsie, dropping her nuts into a tm pan. - So, I am Eve-am I ? Fifty, three fifty.four. Good enough! I expected to be called the serpent !" /;! ii 16 : f ii ii ' m * W}\ i' S'(fJ lil' if iC 220 MY LITTLE LOVE. I had from her every few days. I had even showed her the ambrotype set in a locket, which I always carried in my breast-pocket, attached to a chain Tsilkybrow^ hair with an occasional thread of gold flashing through the braid. I had begged for the picture, and had it sft The chain was my birth-day present. For somebodv remembered and made festival ^upon my birthda^"^ Ai.K^ i""""^? sorrowful-somehow-out of her eves '' • Abby had said, after a protracted scrutiny of ?he Si- Oifllllfr^r ^^ • ^^y '^ ^^"S'" I answered quicUy. Others had made a similar comment upon the ni/fnrS SuiaSr "Sar:fi-^^"^^^ of ^r^t?™ Tp^; wetVnSa^TeTA^^^ early and violent death,''^anl cM 'chX M Major Andre as examples of the truth of the si^i I had never admired the sentimer ^al cousin and after this speech I mentally added a want of common sense and tact to the list of her imperfections I did not like Abby's criticism and my accent probablv betrayed my distaste, for she said: "I beg Zr pS^^^ m her old-womanish way and hastened toQC that she "was sure from looking at her that the yoiSg ladv was beautiful and good." y^^^g laay nni'SV' """^ ^ ^''??^ ^^^y y^*'" ^ smiled. "She will not be ten years old until Christmas Eve. But shl is good and to my eyes beautiful. She is my dearest friend, for all she is so young." ^ • ^^^'^^t -Christmas Eve!" repeated the sick child, eagerly -Folks born on Christmas Eve can never see gffl' My grandmother used to say so." ^ "My little friend will be glad to hear that " said T laughing -For, between me and you, she is easily frightened. I dare say she was bravLnough nltu^aUy but she has had two or three had »hn.ha ?L" r!^i^^' drunken man, another during a thund;;storm! I'ese ^kM\^^ MT LITTLE LOVE. aai InthT^fJlV""' " !""'• ^3ut she will outgrow fore™Tft%hi'trT"'/J°?"''y»fl>er father be- Evy worse?" '^ ' '" '^' benediction. "Is Annt But'wvJfantTa'rS'%''"' '^'•?.?'«''?'"y comfortable. season to eat her thanksgiving dinner wUhns^Th^ d!!r»f,r *''''* "•'^ ''•""d •>« Btorm IJed for three ifZZ "" No^^be-- iB phenomenal in this latS " lite a tzor A^Z''/" ^T ""* ''^ " "'^^^^ ^ tt not blnsterinriv hnf ^J '"'' '^'P' """^ *« «t"et- uiuBienngly— but with even persiBtence *!.=* ™„» andanS."'' ™ '" "'^ '"'" ""^ we got hom^pale »iP^tMl''°f i°'?«'P**''*"'»""°-s»arum boy Wvnant Miss Marr drew a relieved breath. 1 might have been sure of that, for myself. But bi.\ 222 MY LITTLE LOVE. recollecting that Wynant is in love with our fair nei^h danaer of w • ^^^'1^^ *^' north-west passage without Swith us to'dav'^R ^,T P°«\*i-^ly Aifsie promised ?o whTch s r^rer 1n^7 ^''' '' ''^ ryhme-or reason, mZlf ever ITpH '''''*'''» ^^'^ ^' ^ ^^^^^ tormented brarv b J«^T f 1' "^wu "'^ ^^ *^^ thermometer in the ilT-^x?^^ *^.^^^^- What a bitter day for Thanksaiv fi ma„°y tim?r Yet tht t/*"%T* 'f ^"'^'^ '» XLed t^do ?n fL /"^^f " '"' ^^"^' ^« ^^ had been tion Thet-nV^f'w'*.^r^^^ ^^^ahle circula- hundred hitCf ^ '''*^ the house and at us through a we?e icv rUuJi "^^\T'?^^ '^"^^« ^^^ cracks. There mil^erSLrrtl^"^ "'"^" ^«" thatTaTedX ^J**™"!-""! """'' P'-«s8ley had visited the cellar in Der- ter o^ H^ffi' 7fl'^ valve below and opened every ?egi- ter on the first floor, and the waves of invisible Tent fZflZKT"^ t^' ^"-"^^ '° the ehiin™ thaf we be" n to talk of '""1,'^"''"'^'' ''^^''^ *" «^^"> eoSfortabfe! "It w« , iini *°^'""/ ^""'P* *''^ *^™fi« "-rather. It was kind m you to come to us in anite of Aikio'a fZ^iTw^i^''*^''^- '"=''^'"8 *» chat Ely' "red thX4 .^ of i°l'"'". ^P??'' *'■" f°^ himselffbefore ..me. ua, uiiiigrm at uer non-arrival would have been redoubled had you failed us. Dear Uttle ChippJI 1 MY LITTLE LOVE. 223 n^l' o^S !\^^^ '^^'^^^^ ^^ messages with me for vou One was that she "didn't believe she could have !«; even to grandpa's, had she not been sure that you Sd get^off from the hospital before Thursday." ^ nothL^andTobody.'?^^'^^'' ''"'^''''' '' «^^ ^-^^^^ hiLer'^^'^^J^ru ^'' ^^^.^g^w^ sweetheart," said her IZTaa ^ -x ^"^^ ^^^ ^^^ w^* less affectionate to me I could find It in my heart to be jealous of vou s^me r^ST t ''\'r "^^^ tostopth'isVcr f vears morp^ PJ f ' """^^ ^? ^ *^" ^'^ ^^ ^ couple of IZn ^f ^'^'^ ^°" ^^^^ ^*' «^e will pitch you adrift m favour of some callowling of sweet seventeen who IS just convalescing from the " goslings " '''^'''*''''' 1 won't borrow trouble," I reioined '"It wJll h« time enough, ' all around my hat to wear a green wi^ ow ' when she Jilts me I shall give the green gosling a fij^^^ before I abandon the field to him " ^ ^ Iv intlif nnn"' ^^'^j^^^'" ^^terjected Bobby, intelligent- Lme 'Thpr/'''?"''"' ^^^ ^^^*^ ^^"al to the InTmev tir^P qt ^ ^^T ^^' ^> Brightwood, in the aSd ^pJ" -1 i!" ^^' ^f'^ i"* 'f "^ ^* ^^0^* i« lier apron peeked it 'snP.T«ll ' 1^'? \^"^^ ^""*' ^^d *^^ «t^er« pecjted it, specially the banty roosters. I guess it's turned to a great ugly goose by now." ^ * ' Ihey will do it, d^ar ! " Aunt E vy stroked the face nauthtr '\' !?r?^^^-^ ^" ^^^^k ^^-^^ at the shou ot laughter evoked by his innocent venture. " That's a Se'^Tr" ''".!' with. goslings, you may eU Dr " Likp fh ^ ""if * r^l ""T ^^^ ^^^'^W' and downy." nnrpil^^ cal owling's beard," said I, ostentatiously orrv fSf."^^ extremely satisfactory whiskers. "I am trr'Slr.L^iL^!ri.-^^i-*- estimate of Ailsfe" Bj the time the hands of the mantel clock pointed to twelve, we were so far thawed out as to exhiMt lively & 1 I ! M U #' m itt; >ri ' m I" 224 MY LITTLE LOVE. i°tv L to fin^ L^^' "'^'^ •'"'' '» embrnted by prosper- ity as o find food for memment in their misery ^ them abroarwhen''^r''""lfP'™'^*'™ '»>»' ™° take be housed foith?w" ''"'!"" ?""?''' "^ ™pposed to own„r th J *e day, making ready to devour their eTv -feu^nf''""'-^ *"i'^y." philosophized W heYrd inS^ee hou- 'm''^^''' sleigh-£ells I have Nov. 7LI1? l^- ^^° ''»' a l™»ti« or a native with ^ *° "*? *"* r P'^^™" belt to-day?" the^ndow f?r''tt.\°V™"'"y.' "« '"' ""^^ed about DarifnTif *"?"!; T^ '''"' *" imprecation, from Mr is -4"; ™ ulbl'st^f anWi I'lil^^w'-" ^f 'P/^ *^' ^°*^^^ ^^°^ tlie parlour door ,Sern:w:iairt u:d S;s-te MY LITTLE LOVE. .rsely scattered vs, their shoul- th hands bound fced byprosper- misery. what can take re supposed to 3 devour their sophized Aunt h-bells I have tic or a native >-day?" crowded about mldly, madly, ion, from Mr. heaped with and a figure dashed down rms. ried Wynant, 3!" le or strength and heavy as parlour door, fcher's library my horrified Jging the fire The child's hands trem- into frosted t she looked lid not. and 3sessed me, n. Profes- 225 sional mstmct and address rallied in support of mv calmness. There are no more faithful handmaidens of the will, when they have been cultivated into a second nature. " 8he is conscious !" I said. " She will be better soon. Mr. Darlmg, will you help me carry her up to bed at once? Let nobody but her mother come with us " Wynant was sobbing like a big baby when, at two clock, I carried the tidmgs down-stairs that Ailsie had passed from the paroxysm of dumb nausea succeeding the dead y chill, mto natural warmth and sleep, and that while lapsing into this, she had been induced to swallow a few spoonfuls of hot soup. Aunt Eyy had been striving to console the author of the mischief, herself pallid as a ghost, wan and aged as by a month's illness. e « «-» "Is she out of danger?" she asked of me, directly her eyes compelling the truth. ^' " I ^^P?—! believe so. Unless inflammation and lever should supervene." "Don't say there is a doubt of it !" groaned Wynant, dropping his head again into his hands. " If you don't E T ^^ ^^ ^^^ ^^^ ^^^ ^^^^^^ ' ^^ ^^^"^ °"* ™y •n f ^''^^P/ ^^^°^^ y^^ indulge in either recreation, you will be kind enough to tell us how you reconciled it with your conscience to risk the child's life to gratify your own selfish desires !" said his brother, severely, begin- ning to pace the room with great strides. We all understood what Pressley's carpet and lawn promenades meant, and the gleaming eyes that went with the compressed lips. Wynant was too humble to take offence ; very grate- M /u opportunity to explain that he was less culp- able .nan would appear from circumstantial evidence. He had attempted to fulfil his engagement to bring Ailsie home on the preceding day. The roads were well 1,1(1,' ' vl' fff"'' 1 '' 1 226 MY LITTLE LOVE. the mind of thfpr„dent oTd ™ • "" T^g™"?. even in fieulty in making The th.°tv mT' -^ ^2^ P™'''""^ dif- cordingly, Wynant l!ft /^y ,°"'^l '" ^^ hours. Ac- o'clock in tKorenoon JS«/t':°'-'""'?« 'Joor at eleven fon^ sleigh ^trtZ'IxcellentC'""' "i"?^^' '° =» had gone three inil»« t^ •'""■^^^- Before thev road Sver which n^UngbSt a fc ""V" ", h^^vily-drifted passed since the Sorm Th.t"''''' r¥«'«« had every step, floundering Sv J*- '""■^•'^•'a'i to walk Pmg to rest. The dLn Zj *" *,™^''' aod "Aen stop- the runners, and the cTmafn^ "'"P'' *^^^ '-^^t. »»« m the crusi> ng ofanironst.v. P'''™^"*^™"«ached of the cutter, by vfoleXnl ,tT ""^S^ ^""^^ ^^^ hottom of sight in the drS '"'"'"°" '''"' * sto^e buried oat eBc!p:dTnruT"irbU^/n^ "?*- •■"'fortunately did not losi ho d of the reC ^^tT!' "'"'/°'' ^7^"* the back of the gentler S' f^v^'."^ » f«' "-obe oyer snow from AilsieTcloak "d «»♦ > "' ''' ''™*"^ ""« "sed saddle, holding he'r^I H'' "P»° «"« '■"P'o- other arm he gu ded the r>W * P'^"" ^''"^ ^"h the ward style, w!th the broken''«I ?'5!"i''- I^thisawk- horses' heels, they tramped fi^, » '^? .^"^ging at the to his brother EichaShn,,! ^f '''' '^"W" » eide-road of.their fortunes wa?tLn"ed' The'^ w '"'' *''^ T^"^ ceired, and thfl series nf mS % ^""^ warmly re- upon the hospitahty of thX enw' '^"^ ^""^ «^«' t^em he a providential interoS;?-'''T'"™' declared to The sleigh was rem ir?^^-'?. '^^o" "^ the latter hlacksmith's TheTotir^y ".'gW-fall at the neares tion over their pipes irTh?"''"^^? » 'anily confabola- merry with herZonrae ffickT?^' T'^ ^'«'« ™» cousins. All aereed tw *ir , ?'?'? * ^°^^ "f younger finer on the mCot tnd th,t t'f """^ T"''' "^^ ^^^ ^ ^ '*' ^^P """^ '» ti-e city in less than notoe"' lies beyond his isgiving, even in ny probable dif- Sve hours. Ac- ' door at eleven us charge, in a 8. Before they beavily-drifted ■ed vehicles had es had to walk and often stop- their feet, and Qts was reached ross the bottom tone buried out «t fortunately I, and Wynant fur robe over iie brushed the on the impro- ■bile with the In this awk- gging at the n a side-road fe, the aspect e warmly re- ad cast them as declared to of the latter. the nearest iy confabula- i Ailsie was fc of younger lid be much an no time." MY LITTLE LOVE. 227 With the morning and the changed temperature arose Sn^itXu™:;*" '"^ ^^"^^^"""^ ' ^ -"'--« cot^M^^'^'fi^^J' *^a* I wanted to get on for mv own sate, said the young uncle, colouring. - But you must believe me-all of you-when I declare that fs^Td not have budged a foot in a month, if I had had The most distant fear of what has happened. Ailsie was in a suppressed agony of impatience to be off. She was too anxious as to the result of the discussions pro and con to eat her breakfast, or to speak one uncalled-for word When It was, at last, decided that we should wait an «LT«^'*^'''.^^^*>'*^^^^*^^^^ ««ld would no^ abate she way aid me m the hall, and begged, an for her life, that we might set out immediately. I wouldn't miss Thanksgiving-day at home, for one thousand dolars,' she said. 'It drives me wild to thi^k of their all sit mg down to the table at dinner, with my If III ''^^}f f^'^'^e^^J^ in the face. It will be almost ^8 bad as If I were dead. You don't know how fast and Ev^ «?tT'ii V' ?' ^^'''' l""'^' ^y •' I «^id to Aunt iivy— I shall be home on Thanksgiving if I have to crawl all the way on my hands and knees." They can't help being uneasy, after that, if I don't come. Mamma 7^}2T'".T^t' .^^'' ^^^^ *^^"k I'm sick or that some- mv inT /''^u^^' happened. She knows I never break my word to her. And what's to hurt me? Uncle ?^?fwT^ ^^""^ ?°P^y ^«^'* k^ow how strong I am, and that I never mmd the cold. It's pe-fectly glorious says himself that the sleighing is superb.' "You know how she said it! Her fingers punishing one another, nervously, her eyes speaking as eloquently t., 1^^ ''?i^\*'^'^ ^^'^ ^^^^^ wi*^ «^ch beseeching as would turn the heart of a nethpr miH-at-ne There ^- no use talking about it! She could wheedle* me out oi my eyes if she chose to try the experiment. What she m I |i hi: 228 MY LITTLE LOVE. urged seemed reasonable too T fn^t * house to try the air for mysdf nil ^"^ ^'°"°^ *^« the sun was bright and th« Jt" ^ * ""^^ "^^^^ ^o^d, but higher. Indeed! it had Von « ^^ ^^11^^ «^^° ^^ "si^g "I returned to the sitW ^'''' ""i*^'^ *^^ ^a«t hour all the bottles of ho ;fcdTw^^^^ *« S^* and pack Ailsie up fo7the ridp W t '*' '^! '^^^ «P*'« Thanksgiving dinLr in ! ' ^?f, ^ ^^ant to eat my hubbub' &eZaysilTerA?i''''''T *^^^« ^^«^ nmybe, paid less atSon ?o ?t fhan'r «)f T?^ *^^«' ^' She was in tip-ton sDiri>« v ^^^^ /should have done, she could eve?be^cdd al-nTr ""T^^.^'* ^^^« *h«"ght and dancing eyes wW wr/orh ^'^'''^. ^^' ««lo"r half-past nine. "^^ ^^* ^^^ ^"*o the sleigh at as hf;;^^^^^^^^^ he chose to look upon said, fetZ,tZ s^roflSf 1 '^t' ^^«* ^-P •" he the reins. * That townln ^! '^^'^^ ^« ^ gathered up for you as I do ' *^^^-^'"«^ doesn't care half as much be,' 2etn.t:Z tlir"" ""*'''" ^ "^^^ *^«^ «- mgwith some Sr giT *^^^^^ from his looks.' ^ ^^ ^ ^ ^^ifty chap, I know riors! yCngra;^.":i;r/^^^^^^^^^^ -d -Pe- your bMegtrK^^^^^^ «^ ^-t when ' I shall expect to see voull • ^/^^« farting shot. crying with the cold!!yC larfullV?' *^r "^ ^^'^' to ice. ' -^ " ^^P '"^ ^i tear-drops turned we'wie'of' "''"" ™ """P'^i"" *« called out, and "The horses travelled finely, and driving kept m I I MY LITTLE LOVE. 229 warmer no doubt, than she could be, sitting perfectlv el^C'tried^^f '' "^ *^* ^^^ couldn't haTe STotd ff sue had tried. I proposed, several times, that we shonld stop and give up the trip for to-day, or ge out^o warm but she would not consent to either plan We dS Z' talk much during the last ten milerihe wind was kem m our teeth and took awav our brP«fVi wV..« opened our mouths. Now anffin I asked ^ l/ ""^ comfortable, and had the same Inswer aWs '''' iTm' - A Jw ^"~ r?^ * "^""^'^ ^^''"^ ^^' please. Uncle Wy ' ' her B^Eg r*' ^""^ *'^* ^^^ ^'^ ^---g' -d ^idfng h.lT^^^J ^?" "^^^^^^ *^« floor with measured tread but his hand went up to his mouth again and again' during the latter part of the narrative. ^ ^^"'' smil^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^J., betw.^ ^^For the second time that day he turned sharply upon "What do you ^ake me for ? Nobody but a brutA could blame her. She would be faithful unto death to her word, and to those whom she loves. Forgive mv hasty judgment and words, Wynant. In your Xe I us aU for the future. No more pledges from or unrp« sonable demands upon her affectL and con^dence r The early dinner was a success so far as cookerv was concerned. Conversation was as palpably a fSlure Mr^Darling carved m absolute silence. Aunt Evy and W:^ant feigned to chat in a semi-confidentialkpv Nobody save Bobby and the wee sister brougho the feast an annetito wnri,hxr ^f +»,« „„__ ^ " ''" *^^ AS lor me, I was sick with a sort of nervous denres- sion hitherto unknown to me even in my early hotpW m Mi 230 MY LITTLE LOVE. n.y will, I reherserKlsTlLf 1™V>'?,«' first sight of the sMah ZT-t noou-tide. My wmgi.| the step: ttfouS te^ t«ert^*^"" The awful weight of mv dsLrhL'^ht^ll ^^' ^ frenzy, her from the seatlT b«r^^?i! ^,'^P^'««^^«8 as I lifted my bosom on' thfv.L^JtA^^ ^^ plexion and the fixed ffa7fi nfihJi^ ' *^^ ^^^^^ com- pulse in the limp wrisT th/ l^L^T ^^'M *^^ «*"l«d meT^t ^d^L^^^^^^^^ wStheyfollow me With the meX;^of r ^UtTs^o^ nt?? thrd^reTwaT^Jt or ^''^^""' ' ^^^^ ^^^-P^^ when shf SLTd'ed" t^t Et;£id^*^^^-r T *^^ ^- - removed, and th; ean fiUpdT.^l ^"'^iJ^ ^'^^^^^^ '^ *« ^^ that side frrthefaS Bn??;^/'f *'i^g *^^ '^«* «^ between me and mTnlatf T !n u'*"''^*' ^^^^ ^0^*^^ the imagination 7the mti.nf «^ ""?* ^'* ^^^^ ^^"^ must have said %ithihfT\T^''^^ '^ ^^^«^ ^^^e "Don't worr^luTme^te^^^ "P- ^-- And he, m selfish absorption in his lnv« fo« • drawing nearer to the woman L n^nv.^ love-fancies, stroke of his horse's hoofTu^on th« rnnt I ' T^'^ "^"^^ marked neither patienc"no7pTin'' ''''■'''' ^"^^' '- creature td':ng^^^^^^^^^ '" *\^r t^ess little her word. Gon'mfght trg^e' h m athetnf h? '." 5* some face toward the wnmnn S ^®,,^o J^®»* his hand- beside him, and talked of evervdfw^^^ '""^ ^'"'* tones, and sometimes with a smfleT ^f'' "^ '^^/^^^^ did not want to iud.e ^m ll^l±. ^ ^^^^T '^'"-^'^- ^ no ruth to her tender ye^tA bZtuctTt^ MY LITTLE LOVE. 231 pity and admiration by her fortitude. I must insult ^Z^^Zr^ '' ^^"^ ^^ ^ ^'^ ^«* g^t n^e outThis prel request. I must have looked something of the savaafi Zl «f t' ^'' *^''' ?^^ ^^^^^y^'i mquifyTn Aunt Evl^ eyes as she answered : "-n-uut jzivy s not'wdl?^'^' ^''"•''' " y"" "■''' *° '«''™ »«• Are you Mrs. i^arimg. bhe will be fami. Moreover I wanf fn see how my patient is getting on " ^""^^^^ ^ ^*^* *» • "-^A ^^l";'^ ^**®^ ^ ^^* of plum-pudding or numntin pie And there's ice-cream coming .'"uttered Sv with gapmg eyes and mouth. ^ ^ ^""^^^^ Nobody smiled. I was not equal to so much as an attempt to seem amused. *° Wynant started up. "I sav' ean'f T rr« ,■« ^ place? I'm not a doctor. Si ouit ffh? Z""^ something^ or going BomewherXL^you W '' '"^ exJrrsle'Tor'ttt J^*^ % f'^'r '"'^'^'^ ^^ffi^i^ntly ^rl • J ' ^ th^ *^^ ^°* ^i^der me, after that Which was all I asked of them. M M< CHAPTER XVIII. WITCH-HAZEL. .HEEE was a window upon the landing of tho , stairs I paused there for a moment The ower edge; where a frozen-looking sun was tflZmJt f i^' ""'^^^ ^' ^^d done so liTtl to benefit that day. The wind had fallen but own durin^^hTl^^^^r^^-^ Bparkled with mil/ons orf'shttS^rysl^: Th! volunSr' '*'"' ''''" """ ^^'^ '' " ' ^^P^^*^^' i^- View and quotation incensed me the more affainsf fh. handsome scaramouch I had left down «Tmv! ^t? -^^ patient muttering with which Tw^p/r .i^^^ ''^■ ment had nothin| to dot^h Holy Wrft """ *'' ''^'■ nr,S^''{.^T WP^""?^ *^^ Chamber-door at my low tan thtsTet"er\t?ri"^''.'-^^' ''''' *^-^^ ^6^'^ At last, I could be quiet enough for thought and frr tTtoXser''"' "^"^ ^^""^-^^^l had 4 dXg laj, m an amiuae tiiat was inexpresribly g^Vefd, her MY LITTLE LOVE. 233 the noble contorofTefd Si?"" ^'' '''«''^»''. "^n' relief by the white X^ ^'pt^Z'-^'r fT'' '"'" her long ago. Seeing her thZ n- ^ '""' '""mcd mmd he„t „„^, ^8 iei *'>«; reeai,,„ ,or gifts of swelled to aching, upon her hel- ^'i ""''' ""^ '"^art ove, manifested so cieLlv^f?'™' ^"^ '^'^ ^o^'Wul he truth unfolded 1elfetV»l™.S toward me- onger-I never could delude mv i, ^T""^ ™^»''" •>» belief tnat the affection I hnt T '^"^ "«"'" "«h the styled it, "a farce." The rent ^f'J^'' 5 '^''*''''''^'' tation it had engendered trithl, ^^ ' ^S^ """^ «"^ "gi" auspense, the joy^f relief The i„,,'^'": *"= ""S"*^!" "f carelessness that had eidant 'd /r''''™- ''e'''"^* the welling tide of tendern!«„ flf^ .*'"' f'^eious life, the depths of my being asT fZ'J ^"'""'^ ^'' fr"" the safe, and in my bring keeninf *!!'""' ^'^ "°"' «™g. that needed no key ^ ' °^' ""^"^ ™>-e revelations cumstanoes that Ld combL d t?'Zd ''"' T^^ "''- associates I might naturnli;^ to divide me from the and to bind me to my "ait^llH^'n 'T'^^ *" ^^K among my readers who wmsmUel^^^' ^'i""' "'" '^"^^ that, then and there r h,i;T ''™«'™ly when I say child or woman tUs te^ year iro** peradventnre tha( and I for her, and that ?„•*!, ?'T '™= ™ade for me went out to he™n XSnls'^"""*,'™' -"^ ^''"'o «o^l m allegiance nev°r tobe rfvokTd' "' T ""[i" ^*"»fy- sence of mv new Jinn^ „ •. ^ ^"^ed in the nre- before the'^sibTangT;^^^^^^^^ -w life!;; the world of formuWilri l^iT ]^' ^ ^^^ stepped from into one where We tslt^lf^^^^^^^^ J^^^^on be, or achieve, was for lo.^^ ^a^ "^^ '^-"^^ i^ereafter thrilling pulses, the fresh dVLlnf^V ^ fi^^^P^ted, with opment of mind and chtS^?! :^TI^fJ::^ 234 MY LITTLE LOVE. womanhood such as the world seldom sees • the certain tuLtnL'^Zl '' *'^ .'T^^ '' mutuaVaffe^tio" "l pass awav ,^ H ''''' w? ^'^^' «^ ^y character must fin« n .T^ T^'^ association with a nature so pure and SiTf ^ ^ uf *^. '"''. *^ *^^^ attainment of such true nobihty as might justify her belief in and love for me the good work would the more surely go on untH I became her soul-mate. ^ ^ ^"^ ^ wv,"? ^\^^ "^.'^^^ *^^^^ W'^s no foreshadowing of a dav when she might shrink from me who had loved her SaT^ot'^athrtf '^"" *!^^ "^^^* of a devoid st riad not fathomed because it had grown with her to S^fii, „^, " ""' comprehend why the fear wa« 2e t^owin/'n'?''*'' because%avir,g beL c^nsdourf mJnth aM^'wpek T' t """. ''^™8 "'^^ succeeding me';Sr;bv£rr'' ^'--ftvoicewentthrough observed that ft"'' '^'■'- ^''r''°« ™*»- ^ h^d "ot and tW ,10 t- w !"T ™" "'""'"f i" It the window of the n„l% ^ ' '""^ !?°'- ^ """'•I *»«« *e outline dark hai Mv ""'"' ."l? J"'""*' ^'l' ''« fuming of " Yes "• I fJa^'f. ?f"i thoughts were for that alone, les, 1 said. Most peacefully." The mother laid her hand upon my shoulder, havem^d?^'' T.*n *'?'' *^''' ""intakes we might ^hn?7 f'^'^'^y ^"^^^ »« ^^ should that you wire we't^t^tf-'^Ci'lr'' ^°?^ -«-commaK"n to «s-an¥tohe;:i'oi;So^T,r ,r" ^^"^ ^""•^''^^^ MY LITTLE LOVE. 235 ice went through haltnV' "'*^'''^^ ^''' ^^^"^ nothing!" responded I our liaT^T '^ '^'^f J^" appreciate how dear she is in Z Jat^romTn^^^• ^7}^"% ^^"^«^* withdrawing ner gaze from the pillowed head. " There has bp^n Ci tTvf''."^^"'A^!^"^^y ^^d interest about her from babyhood. At least, to us. You must wonder sometimes at om: apparent favouritism." ^"^ Ihis I could not bear. beii?ve'th'is' now ' >" T'l ^ ^^l^ '"^*^^'- " ^ou do not ueiieye inis, now— for she had turned her face to mp in mild surprise. "You will, some day!" ^ i..l° ^T ^ I?^^^ perception of my meaning could have reached the mother's mind. Yet, her instinc s ouched to natural alarm by mv vehement speech she attitude of a bird cherisluiig or protecting her youncr rewlhe'mf'rt^"'^^ iT^T^^^*' but tL endrvoS'r to lepair the mistake would only make it more palpable at her b«T!? T^'"^' *" ^''- ^^'^^S and now Tod at her back, dreadmg yet longing for the next words J^he sat upright with a struggling sigh-then a little frirn^^f,-/''? ""'" ^"'^'^ ^^**^^ «°°^^ ^^y' Barry. No pSltve^^^^^^ "°"^^ ^"^ «*^^"^' -- -^ with BtiX'nTspoke?^ *'' '"* "^^'' *^^ ^^^"-^'-* ^^- "Mamma dear! is that you?" J^had stepped back to the head of the bed, out of eye- **I am not sirtlc— om TO" ^„„ XT ± «vr -'-iir naa biic iiuxt queeiion. rrnf ^^' "^LT" ^^"^ ^ero SO cold and tired when vou got home, that we thought a long nap would be the best ff I i,'i Jip^, ! ' If 1 ' f 1 !^ *5P'' lU "K ^M* 'i 't t' " Wk' f 1 ' ■f , 236 MY LITTLE LOVE. thing for you. You are quite comfortable— are you J'^u\''''^L'^^ ^^""^^ ^^^ ^^e* bur^ and ache. Not very badly, though. Mamma!" fastening eagerly upon fhllT?' r 1. '^'^^^^ ^^ ^ ^«^' ^^^d tone. ^'? thought I should never get home alive. The cold was teartui! I kept praying, constantly, after Uncle Wy said we were half-way to town, that God would let me see you agam, and help me not to complain. By the time we got m sight of the church-steeples, I felt the cdd ZT'^l ""P i'r ?^ h^"^; ^ ^^^^ i^ i* to'^ched that I must die and I tried hard to keep it warm by thinking ly goodr "^ ^'" ^^*^ ^" ^y ^^8^^*- ^«« i« A pause neither of the listeners could end Mamma!" spoke the sweet tones again. "Did I door? I Znf'i: ^r^ ^u?' ^^^'^ ^-^tovved at the door? I thought he brought me into the house. I couldn't speak Something ailed my tongue But it seemed to me tha I heard his voice and saw his face. You did dear." The poor mother strove in vain to nrwW ft ;'^"* ''' ^^^' ^^ should hardrhave ki own what to do for you, you were so chilled and weak The darling held up her mouth for a kiss, retained my hand and motioned me to a seat on the sid^ of the b?d^ fiiviLZ\p' Ir/T-'^r^^ ^T ^^*^ "« «^ 'J^i^anks-" giving Day! she said m tranquil satisfaction. -I told Bick you never broke your word to me. I kept mv p^romise, too. That was right, wasn't it?" struck by o^r SfnT tr'-j r^"^^^-' I «"g^* t« have come! oughtnt I, when I had promised? Mr. Barrv» was I wrong to beg Uncle Wy to bring me?" ^' ^ "I? ^^f ^?r" ^^?,^g ?': , I pressed the hot hands to my iip„ But we win not trust you in the countrv in the winter agam. You shall tell us about your vfs/t! rtable — are you MY LITTLE LOVE. 237 by-and-by I am going to send papa up to you, now He wanted to be called as soon as 'you were awake." We had a lively evening, after all. Ailsie was dressed and brought down to the parlour in her father's arms where she lay in high state, on a sofa, Lal^ intoThe centre of the room. We took tea about herrEobby and baby having theirs upon a broad cricket on the hTarth rug. Our queen s eyes were brilliant with enjoyment akmg m every feature of the novel grouping^ Her laugh rang out-happy and mischievous by Lms as she talked with the children, or bandied repartee with her father and uncle. To me she was winning andbv mg beyond her wont, beckoning me to the Dlace of honour at the back of her lounge, within reacfor her T tl'i?^ 1 '"'^^T'i?' ^' ^^ ^^^^«»« second thought, if I would take cold there with her between me and the f.^""^ T} ?^^' "^.^ "^^^^^^ "P°^ ^er obsequiously. Her father fed her from his cup and plate; her mother tempted her with mention of dainties not upon the tea- board. Aunt Evy, looking somewhat worn by the ad upon W ^^''^"''^^^ whenever her "twin's" glance fell Wynant went far to reinstate himself in my good graces by his reception of the news that his nefce was able to jom the family circle, and his unbounded To^at seeing her again. His inamorata, who was not yet his betrothed, lived m the next street, and was presumab^ lltw' ''''%'\^^^^. of his intention to dine?t h s brother s on Thanksgivmg Day. Yet he lingered with us until nearly nine o'clock, and it really appeared doubtful whether he would have gone thenfut for Aunt fll !.^illl^^^« M },- «l^ould pay his' respects and o^v. .X.C ^vmyumeniB 01 the season to the expectant fair " You are certain, Ailsie, woman, that you haven't the m 'Jfci' I ^Ifmmm,, :f '''*'" 238 't.i !| ill F,*' ''u if WW Ml m 13' MY LITTLE LOVE. tiniest bit of a grudge laid up against me in some back corner of your blessed little heart ?" he returned to the parlour to say after putting on his overcoa Ailsie showed her white teeth in a merry smile You are behmd the times, Uncle Wv There nrp he'art^'lt'nr? '^ -^, -""-gulater^oungTady' tures inside so tW*7'''^"^'' Pl^.^^-gl^^B; and gas-fix! lures inside, so that you can see clear through But T in« Tha't fZ.M '.S \«"'^\*^yi«g to hint mfinto say! mgthat I oughtnt to have brought your delicafe sAlf across he country in such weathfr. It'^lMv some beard gentlemen say it was half the battle to set the conversation handsomely started " ^ l«nli f ?.^~" ^^'^ ,^^°*^t threateningly, when the laugh at his expense had subsided-" that I had upset you m a dozen snow-drifts instead of one Let mp hi!f get you in a sleigh once more !" ^ *'''* ^nllr "^ ''5*^^'' ^^ '^^^'^^ ^ »°i '" remarked Ailsie. to me nestling down among her cushions, with a s eh of exo^i ' site comfortableness, as a puff of cilT^irXeMTio the warm parlour from the front door, oS by the departmg suitor - This is deliciously snug and lovelv It IS almost worth while to be haif-froz^nL and then to learn how to enjoy home and big fir^s^Ind peon?e taking tea sociably about one's lazy self. Take it alto ge her, I am not sorry I went to^grandpa/s I had a te' mH*- tV"'^^^ ^^"i*^^ -untr^in winterte' lore. 1 like it. The gray rocks and brown fields • ibo straight solemn trees, with, maybe, three oTfour bunches eiSt^vTeanHf^r^nf "^^^mate-looking cedars were not exact.y beautiful, of course. But they were interesting. MY LITTLE LOVE. 239 Then the wind at night was grand ! You might have thought yourself at the sea-shore in a storm, as you lav awake, hstemng to it in the grove behind the house. 11 rj,^°«* curious thing was to hear the river groan all night long. You needn't laugh. Mamma ! It ?eally did ! It was tight-frozen, and you could hear the groan begm away up as far as the bridge, and run all the way u iiru 1 ' ^^VVOse, it moaned itself out." Whales ?" suggested round-eyed Eobby, squeezing between his mother and aunt to get near the story-teller. Ailsie smoothed his hair affectionat-l-, laughing at what she consid red a bright idea of her small brother's, m, de . But it sounded very alive ! I was quite vexed wh.u grandpa told me it was wind under the ice tnat made it. It was the queerest noise, Aunt Evv ' It made shivers run through me. I wouldn't think about the air bubblmg under the ice and trying to get out, after I went to bed. It was nice and horrible to imagine that It was the poor water-spmts moaning in their prison for the air and sunshine. It reminded me of Ariel shut up m the tree. When his groans made the wolves howl, you know." " In the name of reason," said Mr. Darling glancing from one to another with a frown of perplexity, half earnest half comic "Are you all in a conspiracy to crack this child's brain ? What business has she to know anything about Ariel, or even that such a man as bhakespeare ever lived ?" HT-**^]?*^^ a question for you to answer," returned Miss Marr, quietly. " She made acquaintance with him in your library. Under you eye, she teUs me." A •!*• .fm,^ I might look at the book, papa," explained Ailsie. The heavy Shakespeare with so many pictures •J nr — "L"_^}>^'^^<^ Vvio vuc atuuutiuii, tis 1 supposed, said Mr. Darlmg, sighing like one beyond his depth. Ihat a monkey hke you would sit curled up in the 1' ff M)« f il'l I 1 1^' ; ll ^ .ma 240 MY LITTLE LOVE. . eE .LVdtrSA'^i'''rvenmg, over anything Mise Darling, „hat have vm, '''*'^'?y ^^- And, pray! peare besides 'The TZ/ett?'" '" "^ ^^^^^ Shakes: but let go when I ^Uo the ghoT'V ,?T'^' ^ began, sfories. Ch ! and Julius cia?'" "'"' * '"'*"" ^''"y fathe?/?;Goon!""' "^"^""'^ Sbo^"" interposed her EicS'Ttod"" ' ""' P^P"- ^^""P' that I dipped into in serl^u^tiLSy' 'tto"V"\?''«-''- ^^en, I thought all^ise sehoj^iked ,„ """""^ °''f <"• PaPal^ " It is too early for mvl^t v'^ rf Shakspeare." The father put back trS'frol*",,'''' %"'"' «'='""«•••" «oosi?-:crd^Se!''sin^ ' ^ ThS "t^'°*i'« ^*^ doable tonRue Newts and hrf^^^'' ''^ °°* seen? ' rnr^n ^^^^^-^onns, do no wrong Come not near our fairy queTn^^* i'lulomel with melody ^""M«lla.luU^SV?u?l-lXS,^; liiere s just as much poetry in— 'London Bridge is broken down, Encouraged by the unusually active part his sister MY LITTLE LOVE. 241 was^taking in the general conversation, Eobby p„t in MiiA^'^Ctr^^.'^^- ^« ""t Oid "Therf-rae^lTobtg^L^t^^hef'so^'ithrn^- up stories about. There used to hT. • * "" V^ '"^^^ my Mother Goose-rtefone'rev^r°'r»V'A'n"oiS of sSng^7an":L\h1f; X'Vi 'u.eV^ other chafr onThelS de rf'tbrj^'''' "f' ''" """ was a meek, bald little man with a tickT" v"'". ^/ and round shonldpra n i "^^ ^" *^^^ ^^nd, be "Jat r ofXr r,^LT~ 's's^ x^'^i r " "Like Eobby, I have always rLrdedhe^a.' „ "l^"?" and her brother as another of thf same s^rt-' " '^'"^^ AJsie coloured quickly and diffidently, it s all make-beheve, of course mammo " ■,i.„ -j deprecatingly " But it does seem^Tn^^^^^ of fun and good times in the world as wpli7« Ir, l i • If people would take tl,e trouble to hunTthemun Befu' tiful and curious things, too '" ^' ^^^' "Witch-hazel !" said Aunt Evy, aside Aiisie caught the words hnf nni +v,/ subsided into studious sS'ceShP hi ? '^'^''''f' ^^^ is uu^ the »7-- '"^^ ""^ *" ^•'- -»- -'» f i;;.:ii I I MY LITTLE LOVE. ''Then fl^i? *''f "?• /^^* i« *h^ superstition." Do you ?^' ^'''* "^derstand what Aunt Evy meant. I smiled. " I think I do.'- "Will you tell me?" ** Yes." "When?" I stooped to say it in her ear : to ask'mf tte "^'^ *""^^'*' ^^'''' ^« -* f-get i e. Do not forget CHAPTEB XIX. MY ORIOLE. ''HBEE-quarters of the first of the eight years ' tI. r r ^V^'^A*^' ^''^ ''''^ «f September. Ihe Darlings had been at Brightwood since the middle of June, and I had visited them but twice ; once on the glorious Fourth, and again for one res ful Sabbath in Augustl Buf the wearisome lane had turned at last. I was to have a fortnight', vacation from sick-beds and cit^ >.o^?' f i!'?1 *]" Yu^^^ ,°^ "^y ^^^^^^- At the half-mile bend that led the highroad in the opposite direction «h«l f'^^*'''^ ' ^ ?''^^^^ ^^« ™*i^g for me in he shade of an oak,— a low-hung, cozy conveyance wif h « sober roadster in the shafts, fid se'Lted wXn, hddfng ttiejmns, with neither driver nor groom in sight, was pnLT^^i,'^^*'?.^'' ?'''^' ^' '^^ appeared to me at the sudden whirl of the stage out of a wooded piece of road into the cleared plain. The bloom of her pink W flat, made a pretty dash of colour in the monotone of September green. The wavering lights piercing the uZr Tb^^'f^'P^l'^. ^'' '^'^ ^^^^^*- And tTe^face under the straw brim was the rarest bit of mouldmg tTem*t?^ zr,.^d'irt'T-^^^^^^ ^^^-^' nance didnolchfre^^^^^^^ -^t mg her horse lightly with the whip, she drove forward 11 mm mm i MY LITTLE LOVE. giving me her hand over the' ide iPthr '°- f'"""?,'" tzzwr'' 1 -^^ anf Lirss" h^g':-. ^^' lustrous with proud satisfaction-completeness of fnv that needed not the endorsement of Up Cguage ^ ^ Btep^n"girmf;L*e" ""-^ '" -' «^^< ^ »'^ S^'thXouI^^u;"^^"'" ^°"- N-.y-BhS "Never more in my life!" I affirmp^ '< t i, n Kat-lTs h^e^..^" ^-- .eV'vorArah l^ plam Jack. Born and bred to +vi ,.i ^ .^ ^^^^ '4'%„3,/*°"'r '""f ' °f '^«'''»™ boughs : the r^h MY LITTLE LOVE. —meeting me half road. The cuach •eh ended that she lave our re-union erent spectators. unbent gladly in he curricle. Her ess things : were ipleteness of joy language. Cherie," I said 3lse come," she ive on purpose, ^ow, you should aed. "I shall ur Arab steed is ig him with the He is only very gh except when the looks of the Safe! That's ^ he ever threw when he was a f the fence with im, at present, ip-hill most of chestnuts and ^er and foam — bcross the road 3adland of the ?hs : the fresh f the shadows the beautiful 245 glooms of bosky gorges leading upward from the road into the mountams— brought back Aunt Evy's jest to chant^- "" ""^ ^'^^''' ^' ^^ ^''''''^ ^^''''^^ '^^g*^ " Paradise ! Paradise ! Who doth not crave for rest? Who would not seek the happy land Where they that love are blest? Where loyal hearts and true Stand ever in the light — " " That is Heaven !" said Ailsie, when she had listened thus far. " Didn't you write me that Brightwood was heaven upon earth? It is lovelier than ever, Ailsie! I have dreamed of it every night— and day— for a week past." Xou are going to give us your whole vacation— aren't you? she asked, solicitously. "The entire fortnight?" Every day of it, Cherief If you will let me stay. I am very sure at this minute, that I shall never go awav It will always be September and afternoon, and you and 1 are to drive slowly on under the sweet-smelling trees talking of what pleases us and doesn't concern other people. That is my idea of a vacation." ''You wouldn't object to Jack's going a little faster?" Jack IS perfect— in his way, my dear! I am in the 1 S.T ^^ saying— 'Blessed be idleness! Long live sloth! Don't go in!" seeing that our lively "steed" slackened his already moderate speed in nearing the Brightwood gate. "The sun is more than an hour high. Are you too tired to make the turn of the lake?" "No—" hesitating. "Not at all tired. I should like WT5 t?*^'. ^^- *^^^^ ^^ Robby!" beckoning joyfully. Jiobby dear! will you run to the house and teU mamma u ,1 {. .^ ^°^^ *® ^^^^ ^^*^ ^^- Barry and that we shall be home in good time for tea? You see—" she _.-! — , T,.»v.n r,^ naa Uiivuu vu — i was airaid she might be uneasy at my staying out so long, if she supposed I had only gone to the corner to meet the stage." ( 246 I. . 4' i MY LITTLE LOVE. tion!^^''"^^*^"^ ^'*"' '"'''"*'' • " ^ '^^'^^ ^^ g«n"ine admira. >,pJl^- I^^m'"" ^^"'^ f""* Evy had described as "one of her tricks," warmed her face. Pvv'!''" ^^^^^^,^0* say that if you knew! That is Aunt fell rSf "?,"* T'7 ^^^^^^°g «f «"^^^ Veople hrst I M dreadfully about it, sometimes, when I forget. c W 'an'd W *'''''' ^ ^* ',*^^^ ^^*^^ "^y b««k in a rocking Or M W ^"^f ^'^P^a t?ke one that isn't so pleasant. out of ^nn^'* ^"^ ^^'"''^^ ^*^^^ «^^ ^a°t« something savfi ril w '' ' •?°'i ^' T^^y^^^ "P-«*ai'«- Aunt Evy says 1 11 get over it when I am older. That young neonle toT W t"i-lf T.'?r f f ^^' T^^* she h^nEg to ao but he still ahd thmk how she can heln others T Znr^l^t' f' '''' ^'%''^' ^^^-^ ^o^Xrtefore' teacher it 7 '^^' ^^^ '^ ^«^'« ^««t Bkilful teacher. I was born a coward. I'm terribly afraid of "So are all who have sound, healthv bodies Thp very fullness of life makes the id^a of suffering 'teible.' ti wi? ^*T' ^^"''"^^ ^^*^ *^^ ^«*i«« that it il cowardly PossXltfhnfT"^"'"^^^ ^? ^^'^ *« think oTtS iau^r« W^f'"" '^''''^? *^^* '^^'^ ^"«<^ ha^e e^ioyed the jaunt almost as much as ourselves. But we talked verv fast, each having much to tell. It is difficult to believe fZmTr^'''M ^'' ^^'' ^^^^ '^^ hearkened with intelligent sympathy to details of professional struggles fidante oTl'T'f !l' }\^^ '^' ^^^ *^^ solitary con Hdante of the fact that I was the author of certain articles upon sanitaryprecautions in arch tec^^ building and m the daily life of the household that &;!A^.'^l7'*^ *^" ^^^*«"al ren^arks thereupon, for "You are sure you have them all in your valise ?" MY LITTLE LOVE. 247 ^our valise ?" she queried, earnestly. - And you are really willing to leasl sHr ""' ^ ^ ""'" '^''^"^ """* ^"^ *'^^ *^^ "It makes me feel very happy," she resumed, blush- ng agam, "to know that you are getting to be a dis- tmguished man. And that you care for^Hniy me as much as ever But it is a great puzzle that you do!" ri^.r J ^^^.^^.^^^* nonsense you are talking, dear. I am not 'distmguished.' The probability is that I never shall be. And nothing-nothing, Ailsie m life or m death, can ever change my lovf for you' Promise that you will never doubt this !" ^ My vehemence neither agitated nor surprised her. - T i u ^l^^^i^''^ Y^^* y^'' «^y'" «^e replied, quietly. I could not endure to think that you could stop loving T u a} !f '^ 1^7 ^'^^^ ^^ y«"' all *lie same." ^«i f? t^!^ u ^^'' '"J """^ '^'^^e a« to a woman. It was the child who knocked at my door next morning to mlnnf^lt ^V^' ^^%"P^g *« ^^ed the chickens inln tnem in their morning glory " blpt« ^'^jlf^'"'^^ ^Jild' \ tiie wild spirits that never Sinl/ /"^Tv!" ^""T^ ^"^"SB before breakfast, she danced along the path leading to the barn and poiltry- yard, swinging her basket of shelled corn around her head so dexterously as not to spill a grain, brimful of mimicry and badinage. "i^ui oi fJ'J^T"''-^'''^*'*' f""^' doctor-" she reserved the title Mr. Barry "-- Honour bright, now ! Did you ever come so near seeing the sun rise before ?" fhnn«lV^^* ^ remember. But I have seen it set a thousand times and more." " And you are so ignorant of 'Nature's grand phen- Omenaw' as in imomT.^ ♦l.„4. „™ 1 1 ,® , ^ ^" DO* u„ -Ti "~ J 'K-e-'v- «aa;« J u-a iiu, vu uiiij to reaa a sun- set backward, and you have a sunrise ? That's like 'a citizen Of credit and renown,' f4i If ,1 Hi-; . Hi. 248 Ml. ij'! it. hi ! I H II MY LITTLE LOVE. "'ari^^^^^^^^^^ town worth seeing or ■ are a eight bithZseheTif'''^"'^' ^"-^ *^^ ^'"^webs early." ^ ^^^^^selves, if you are up in the morning She sang as she waltzed : " Now summer dews are on the grass. Hanging pure and pearly, ^ ' TTn^ln'^Jll'^ momentH quickly pass, Up m the morning early !" grot, WyS'LaT"" """""^ ''^' ™-«- ^>om chickens, in al' ZZoFa^^T' '''i'""'; G"inea-fowlB, welcome 'or greed ^d wtnT t le^'otr""",*! '" yard proper arose a coiTesponding d' „ *" *''^- ^^A,ls.e laughed heartily Ue„ f p„t\oth hands to my me'Is'i^bVb; b'ottilrha'nS r^'?"" "» «»"*-- j^ better ti[a/a hra^ith^-^r- t^etca'.'] "pot-rack ! pot "Lk . " Thw '''/"7'' '''™« ""^'aUic anum. '^ ' ^-^^^'^ed to split my tymp- " I am not over-fond of them mvself >• ♦„ • rations in their direction tr^l.,;.^^ tossmg extra "Aunt Evy sayMhev^eth^ ■'''" w '5T''°*'« ?<'»<'«• poultry Vd.' ButTh" a?e not^'fke a^'k'"'-"^ ""^ thing; they don't care aUe more fevo,f^1' lu ^^ eaten your bread and salt Z 1 ^ ^ *''™ *''<'y ™ amounts to the same tW ?ll ""'' ,»'"«' ^^ich Chicken, ijtotL-r^rnits!^^^^ She stooped m the midst of th- rT^L 1"_/^^ •; , . . out iier hand full of corn xT; '^^J ^xowu, ana ueid uii 01 corn. In a second it was emptj MY LITTLE LOVE. 249 Bttucy cockerel to her shoulder She turied her °"l :rrct^oren:r"*.^.^H;; '™' ^'^ iKinT't','""' ?™"' «'"' ™» feultlesBly sound' lie mmd, which was her richest dower, did not oZ»^ rapid expansion to unhealthy heats. ''^ Mapping aside to wait for her, I uncovered mv he»,l S'wm ""■," We-ings, thartm's:nsl ""foZZ draping every weed and bearded blade of grass «nd comparative beauty ol S 'aCy, a^d dlkT had ir^erfauroj-^-ZLivfe,:- ?n vn. • /;^' '^^'^^ P^*'"^ °^ *he craft, and of her skill «Ta"s f:feLrth':. :s^^irtiit^ ?? oarswoman. 1 was permittedTo stetorbu^noVtoloS an oar, and, reassured that she was not in danger of t m I Itl llili f MY LITTLE LOVE. over-exerting herself by seeing the ease with which she handled her namesake, I gave myself up to the pleasure of watching the supple, rounded wrists that pulled so even and strong a- stroke, and the witching face, more radiant than the early sunlight. " Lilies and roses ! " said Mr. Darling, glancing from the central ornament of the breakfast-table— a lowl of exquisite lilies, which were the spoils of our voyage — to his daughter's cheeks. " The trophies of your triumph over ' dull sloth and a drowsy bed !' At your age, younf^ people, I thought them worth rising for. Now— ' I love an early doze, mother, ■ I love an early doze.' " **At your age!" It might have been a slip of the tongue, or a good-natured endeavour to sav something agreeable to me. Most hkely it was a careless form of words that meant less than nothing. But the phrase sent a tingle through me. The fifteen years' seniority, that I was apt to think of with apprehension, sometimes with dismay, or probable gulf that might appear to Ailsie or her natural guardians just cause for separating us eventually, was evidently a matter of no consequence in her father's estimation. If anything were needed to make the sunshine clearer, the air more invigorating, and the prospect of a whole fortnight in m.y present Paradise more transriorting, the random remark sup- plied it. To heighten the plea^ mg effect of the speech, nobody smiled, or seemed aware of anything incongru- ous m the conjunction of " us young people. My foot- ing as Ailsie's peculiar property was assumed and granted, without criticism,— much less, demur. She .ettled the matter by informing me, after break- fast, that her daily tasks of reading and needlework were to be intermitted during my stay at Brightwood. " My practising I must keep up, of course," she ob- served^ "If j . mind, forthwith." e, I' in u gui T,au,i on my MY LITTLE LOVE. 251 ( ; himself with the eoci'Svnf „ d""*™ must content aunt. You know tha T 1,0 S'^'^'^dmother Md grand- -don't you ?" ''*™ * namesake in C.cinnati of 'lunttir*turned1' was. promoted to the dignity the dew off theTawn Innl^ .° sun which had kissed near noon tL t ^l^, ""^^ ^^^^^ «"r shade until ^^'* She IS an inveterate newsmonger," said Mrs Dnvl TeS /Cirati^ros'^-^ ^S- -?:n^;ifefM':s^^'''^'-'"='^ed^ She IS a pearl of a correspondent," I answered • "dpnl ing, as yet, more with fact than sentiment An^ l next Item. She wastes neither time nor words " There was Dleasnrfl m fhn e-n--^-,--- - - • - - . 252 MY LITTLE LOVE. '• And then it is * off her mind !' " smiled Miss Marr. ** You will observe how systematic she has grown ; how conscientious as to the season, no less than the manner in which duty is discharged. Eecreation does not de- serve the name in her regard, while the shadow of an unperformed task rests upon her. She has heard of Mvs. Bagnet's greens until she must be sick of their odour." The conversation strayed with that, and my attention also. From the neighbouring parlour came the sound of a simple theme so well played that I conld not help listening, knowing who the performer was. The finger- ing was not difficult, or the score abstruse. Hands less deft than the slender, sunburned ones now on the keys could have managed these. But the child had seized upon the soul of the composition and interpreted audi- bly. By shifting my position to the farther end of the steps I obtained a view of the unconscious performer. Light from the long casement flowed I'over her and the music-sheets set up for her study. She had a partiality for all shades of gold-colour, from orange to palest amber, and all became her. Especially did she effect in this summer weather, a morning costume of buff muslin or French chintz, and a coquettish black silk apron with pockets, what was known then as hretelles, passing over the shoulders. A white ruffle finished the dress at tht hroat ; a buff ribbon tied back the hair. " Barry !" called Aunt Evy, in pretended petulance. " Do you know that Mrs. Darling has spoken to you twice without receiving ^a symptom of a reply ? Are your wits drowsing or sky-larking ?" ** I am studying the natural habits and appearance of the oriole," returned I, apologetically. " If Mrs. Dar- ling will step this way she will pardon me." She smiled forgiveness without change of place. " Her father calls her his canary bird when she wears that dress, but I like your simile better." MY LITTLE LOVE. 253 trllnp^^^^^^ creature of ways th3 same, too TW L ,-.?'' '^^^ ^« a^" shrill warble that on^ soot tLs o^'^t *Th '"'^',*^ ^ *^^ bright, graceful,-smirW - V 7 The orioIe-wild, nature and love have tauiffl?-^ ^^^^^"'^ *^^ «o^g There is nothinrpeS '' ^T ^^^^ ^^^^^^ -'^ at least, so I thoSlhn/M^ I ^'''^* ^^ manner- a strange, star&«^^^ t-™eci to me with from slumber ;-uncWlpv'i-? ''''^ '""^^^^^ ^^^aken -but remained sTent ^^P« *« ^'^estion or exclaim, of ouVtti'/eStT:^^^^^^^^^ to weary respective visions or to commrp f S'. *' ^"'^^ ^^^ «"r choose. compare confidence as we might committed to one line of acZ -'"Kr^Tl" "P'- mither and a' should go mad "' ^^ ^^*'"' ^"^ nence of^SLlt"''"^ '^^'''™ »<> "-e imperti- fo.eMissC;&r:t4r?^ti^ *'""' •>'- fulness 0? time, s'^ ^ tlteaTcS'"''-^'' '" *•"= •■SotSg:a'r7;rabld"Z'" '^"^ «» -i-0- pppoBition, Barry. There wilh T™ f^'^"^ or heart-affairs on your diH hlf I 'l""^. ^" " ''»'=en being a woman And'^she'^^^f W ''t '"'«'"' '» *"''''°f matter can be decided fn !i^ •. , ^^ ^"^ ^^ ^''^<>'<> the •-y-thatma/r^f^-l^ff-'tpTctT ''"''^'-- ^ AH the samfi giiQ «m1i u„ ._ . ... _ ably. ." WiUcometo ;;d ;f/b"^'^ I,™'''' ^P^rtur- It .s wntten in our stars, hers and mine..' '"■ "'™ '''"• "-'*' -' r ■ 111 Tl'liiiff 254 MY LITTLE LOVE. ' 11' ¥'■ '1 ( I ,! 1 The sweet pale face was troubled. Eising from her chair, Aunt Evy crossed over to me and sat down upon the step, laid her hand upon my knee. " Don't jest about this ! It seems foolish to discuss the subject seriously, but I cannot endure the suspicion of ridicule where she and her happiness are concerned." "Jest!" more nearly angry with her than I would have believed possible, a moment before. "How do you expect me to endure the imputf^tion of trifling with that which is more sacred in '^y thoughts and hopes than aught else upon earth ? I thought you knew me better than that !'* "I know what you are now. I believe, too, that yours is a nature that will not lightly change. But she is our baby, Barry ! Have you counted over the years that must pass before you can so much as tell her what she is to you- -always provided that your own feelings and views do not alter ?" " I am to wait seven years and a quarter, before I say a word," I answered, cheerfully. " Jacob served al- most twice that time for a woman who was not one hundredth part as worthy of life-long devotion, and they ' seemed but a few days unto him for the love that he bore her.' It has been revealed to me that this great glory is to crown my existence. Call me irrational, and puerile, if you Hke. I own that some things cannot be assailed by argument, or upset. But do not make me miserable now, by intimations that you will not entrust your bright bird to my keeping when her wings are plumed for flight from the parent nost. I will guard her faithfully, cherish her tenderly." Her eyes filled with tears. " She is as sensitive as bright, Barry ! I tremble when I picture her as exposed to the chill airs and un- friendly buffets of a world that bears most hardly upon the finest spirits. Her home has been a warm and sheltered retreat." MY LITTLE LOVE. Eising from her d sat down upon oolish to discuss ire the suspicion i are concerned." er than I would fore. "How do 1 of trifling with ughts and hopes ht you knew me Delieve, too, that ihange. But she i over the years I as tell her what our own feelings ,rter, before I say acob served al- Qo was not one evotion, and they bhe love that he ! that this great ae irrational, and hings cannot be lo not make me will not entrust her wings are I will guard her ,rry ! I tremble ill airs and un- ost hardly upon 5n a warm and 255 Imown and studie^V ot'''*l T ^' ^^ ^^^ ^^^^ shield from rude win! pi^""^' a ^^, ?''^'* '^^^ ^^ ^^^ doubt myTarnestnTss or ^v '"^f ^^T^' ^^^ ^^^^«t whim but loZmTil fi^ constancy ! This is not a core of my S ^I l^'* ^f '"?*'^ '^''^^ ^^ ^^' ^ery hasminrbeen T boyrca"rt\;^o,^^^^ ^^^' ^^^ understand to what T L rfi!/ • ^''"'' ^^^^^ P^^*' I ble prejudices rnd rrinr« ? ^?^ myself-what possi- gagingCovercome Fnr^ ^""''^^^ reasonings i am en- enS I shall pZ; th!? tT'T' ?'^ ^ «^^" ^^ *^e Ailsie's Bake^?d put^that I mtbf ^^'f ^'"^^ ^'^^ warning from he eri »„/ •'^^'^H ""'^ ''■■"«'"«' "^ out of those marvellous CTesT«tV*^'"""''° '""''^ without bashful tremonr until T t- * T ."'"' "'"' love is, and what lo^rha™ Mt forhe^lruS^/'"''' TT "."V" '''^^^'''" tl-^ dec ai; "n by a lav " ""^ I pleaded as for life nnH oil ;*„ ^, 7; dread had overtaken me What f f!,^'''- ^^""^^i" will was Inw ;« „ It-" "* " ™* woman, whose meut'rher"twin™»i ?//'''T'°g '» the manage! iutiruacv with I °; „^"''' ■?'"? ■•" continuance of L hadTsTen:^*'^toX feonf T/'^-J^ T".*'^'**, «"« cilno vi- r ^ "^?*^ ^^ experience and age ? Reparation from A ilgipf T KK fi>- 11 -^ • , to mv hpflrf im^ a"+n~ 7 \i ^^'^ "^0°*^ <^i*ain back .eart^XTLte^.'^^t^'^tdr.t^:^^ 256 MY LITTLE LOVE. neBs of happiness into the indiscretion cf speaking open- ly of that which I had guarded so jealously and long. Why could I not have remain' d content with the idyl that stood with me for all I knew of poetry, beauty, I'O- mance, home, love — I had almost eaid. he&ven — wHhout periling it by weak cravings for sympathy ;',nd coniiuur- tion of aiy hopes ? Since my love 8toi7 a\ as imiilve any other i \'er told, or wiHten, why must i tampei with its delicate loveliness by attempting to narrate it, even to one so tei't';] of heart and subtile of comprehension as was she tvIio sat beside me, the troubled look deepening, instead of passing from her eyes ? Was it possible for any third person to enter into the feeling ] had for my little love ? Rarefied flame ; flower-scent ; the drop of light that throbs, but never flickers in the diamond's heart ; the hearing and the thought of sweet music — were similitudes that presented themselves to be reject- ed as like, but not ox' 't, as I sought to define it to my- self. Like a father's fondness in watchful protection of her feebleness ; like a mother's love in fostering care of growing mind and body ; and intertwined with and in- tensifying these, the lover's pride and rapturous antici- pations of the blossom-time of this exquisite bud. "I cannot sum it up to my own satisfaction!" I broke out, impatiently. " How can I expect you to un- derstand how much this is to me — how utterly wrecked I shall be if you take it from me, even for awhile ?" **' As if I could ! " smiling, but not brightly. '* As if I would if I could ! But I was unprepared, Barry, and you have frightened me somewhat. Your vehemence could not but seem incongruous — " She glanced over her shoulder at the fig the flood of s^-; 'ight in the room bey^^d, <; our observativ Intent upon getting tl i., " off her mind. "If she were an ordinary child, or h r ,had been less close and dear to both, yo •litting in . conscious of r's practice ' intercourse u luight use MY LITTLE LOVE. 257 rbronT T 1? ^^""^ ^""^Y^ ^^^ «*"^ied her through and f?n ^^. J ^^""^ ^'^'^' l«^^iMi ! ' . I. 4 1 .(! 258 MY LITTLE LOVE. I j never guessed why I liked your name so well ? It was WHO bore it.) He chanced to be crossing the road, and saw me coming. There was a precipice just beyond the turn at which he took his stand. He caught the bridle ^vi?J'"f ^'^^'^^^ ^^' ^^^«^' ^^lli^g *« i^e to throw fTJ^/1' ''''^ '^'^' ^^ *^« saddle. I obeyed. As 1 touched the ground, the horse leaped forward Thev wen over the cliff together. His arm was wound in the Hnrp 1 1 ^^'"^ ? ^5^f ^?^^- T^^* ^' ^iglit the more surely saye^,, / He lived a day and a night. He said -m the intervals of such suffering as drove me wild to bP^ bo^*{> T t^^.^^/^1 he was near at hand-that his bed bad been the privilege of rescuing me. /have never beTer*i!f ?™- 'f • '^'- ^"* ^ '^'^^^^ ^ ^-« Weiring 1[ Yo, Tnn? I'' brmgmg nearer the day of our reunion, lou took me by surprise by speaking as you did You and dnrt/- '' 'TL' '^^H ^' Bkeptieaf as t^ the strength and duration of the one love of a lifetime. +>,of Father who knows our frame and reraembers Ind Til Jll'/f V^' "°^^ ^"^"^ ^^« i« both ull-wise, and all-pitiful-bless you, and in His own good time (not yours, Barry! remember that!) give you the love of SowTT/^^^'v J.^? *^.T^^* ^^'^^^°g ^^^ - woman grown-the fancy that I might in some way guard her happiness, has gone further than anything else to ^bnnU ? "^1 r ^' P^^l^^ged separation from my Barry! Should I not live to do this, there will be comfort in the remembrance of what you have said, to-day : that the dear work will be left for you to complete." bhe arose waved me back when I would have offered my arm, and walked feebly into the house. The warmed honeysuckle-bells yielded spicier incense r.m 7./ '^T* w^^^e^^^g airs. The pigeons cooed and SpIvo • f^'l" T^y Promenade. Ailsie played on perseveringly, her hour not being up. II CHAPTER XX. I^^' aid have offered IN THE WOODS. HE last day but one of my vacation was devoted to a repeatedly postponed expedition, in quest of woodcock, which were reported to be plentiful and not over-shy in the marshy preserves on the other side of the mountain-ridge. There were moist glens over there and brush-fringed was an en?!.?^'^ '' ^^""^ familiarly to Wynant, who TsDlnv 'f ^?«^a« ;c sportBman and never averse ti the bZ. \. «5P;tal shot" to an appreciative looker-on. him in frr«^/!i *f"''''^*''^^.*^^* ^ «^«"ld accompany i ^n? ^"i^? *'*^'^P' ^""^ ^y '^wn lurking liking for a good gun and dog, with a tolerable chanci of filling my game-bag, the matter was settled and the programme through the fields before the "fairy lace" lost a row of the seed-pearls begemming it. »i. a xow oi Ailsie went with us to the fence dividing the road from n^ ^^PPtf-,""'^^"^-' T^°*^^ ^ ^«^k' ^^d stood wS AfthP tv.i'v.''' r'''^ *^? T"" S^^^^d *« ^^^ forest. Atthe thither fence we looked back. The buff-and- pn^'fC ""'"^ Tf Pl^H^ ^^^'^^^^^^^ a* *l^i« distance, h^t rZ^""^ °^ ^^^ ^^^d responsive to the toss of ou^ savp'fnvTff' ""^ P^'?''^^^- '""K^ wilderness and solitude save tor the comi'v.ionship of each other, and the ex- r. 1„t"' • '' - ^^ ^^?"^^* ^^«^g- The exception ot the latter IS simple justice. ^ w x "■"":, "^„ "'''' an/tuing handsomer? asked Wynant, as the fine fellow " pointed " a covey of quaUs before we had g.. le a quarter of a mile into the woods. Ili m tjj 'ii w t } K !' rif 14 !f«'^-^ 260 MY LITTLE LOVE. He can do anything but speak in human language : Jinows more thpn most Christian bipeds ever learn." He doesn't understand ,: ... ..i.. law isn't up for quo il-shooting until November," said I. " More's the pity lor us that it isn't ! It is hard on a gunner who gets out but once a year not to be allowed a crack at such a nif'ht of browncoats as that." / raised my gun in silent aim at the tempting flock whirring away, ahead of us. ^ /• Frank is as wise as the quails, at any rate," re- jOLied his master. " They ought to know they are in no danger." The report of t\t^o shots fir^^d in quick succession in x?Aw?^*^°° *^^^" ^y *^ ^"^s ga,ve the lie to his ^ . rds. With the sportsman's instincts in hot revolt, he pushed through the bushes, in quest of the violator of the law \ye had reepected at such cost of our inclination, whist- iing, as he went, to recall Frank, who had dashed off to look up the fallen game, at sound of the gun. The offender stood on the vergo of a stubble-field,fnot a dozen yards away, and his own dug was in the act of deliverine up a quail, still fluttering, at ds feet. 1* r°?i^?'^ ^ ^^ ^^'^^^^ ^'-' y^^ have rendered your- selt liable to prosecution and fine by shooting quail at this season," begw Wynant, temperately enough. -I could inform agumsi you, and receive a share of the nne for so doing, but — " + I\^ other interrupted him by . volley of oaths, direc- ted lirstatthe laws, secor,%, ..nd more viciouslv. at Wynant whom he addret,: b name and stigmatized as a bloody aristocrat," ith variety of other less complimentary titles. Young Darhng bore tbo attack with better temper than I should have expected. ^ 1 did not recognise you when I first spoke," he said, r know now who you are, and that this is not your OnlV offence of this Vinrl Von TT ~„ J n/ii lirightwood fields last month by my brother's farmer, ♦ • uman language ; s ever learn." law isn't up for I. " More's the - gunner who gets crack at such a 3 tempting flock t any rate," re- low they are in ik succession in 3 lie to his ^. . rds. 3volt, he pushed later of the law clination, whist - ad dashed oflf to the gun. The ield,[not a dozen act of delivering e rendered your- ooting quail at iely enough. ''I ii share of the of oaths, direc- re viciously, at ^nd stigmatized f of other less )ore the attack :pected. 5poke,"he said. this is not your MY LITTLE LOVR. 261 wariiCu oS the )ther's farmer, for firing into a covey of half-grown partridges. I shall for wiLTr^^^* TT^.* ^'''^' ^he'I.ext te'rm of coSrt State ltTAn?h^*'.^ ^^"^"*i? ^^ *^^ 8^^^ 1^^« «^ tJ'i« otate. It 18 pot-hunters and loafers like you who are nS bTds' hi"' li *'^^ ^''' '' *^- -"«*'"' destroy! yofdon'^^^kll f''•l^^?^''•^'°^^"' ^^^^ ^^king those n«nw? M ' '^.''''^^ *^'^^^ '^ ^^^ s"ch thing as getting brother'« r ^^^^*^«. «easou comes. These a^remf tottkev;;;^^!^^'^!^''"^^^ to carrvTI ^"f f"" ^^^ "^* «^ *^^'°^- You mLn iZlLf ir^l^' ^^^*' ^'""^ "^^1^' *« b^ cooked, «P^S- ■Pv''^ ^"^ ^^'^ ^«^ "^6 that he becomes your accomphce li he receives them." "'^ " I shan't budge 'till I'm good and ready ! " blustered th. noacher, with another broadside of profanity Tood you will never be. ' Ready ' you are now or 111 pu you out into the road, willy'-nilly ! '' 'a^i Wy' nant, rwmg up his athletic form, and so evidenlv and sSflkf' '' t^^ *'^* *^^ ^^^^'^^ calledTn his dog^ step. '^' growlmg hoarse curses at every a b«^ tl^^f buck-shot in his filthy carcass wouldn't bo a bad investment " remarked Wynant, contemptously nephew. Don't you rqmember the brazen calf of Aikie's ecture upon the 'Life and Character of Moses?' k^h hf«l ifr'^^'*'^^- " His father died last year, and or hn^?^^'. ''*'''^ T""'' ^^^^ «^ ^i« affectionate uncle Z It r^ provender. Ezra put him on the farm, at Wm wtn b/^'"^ • ' Tu^ ^''' ^''^ l^ammered awaj a l?*f« ? ^^'^f' f'P^'^^ ^<^g ^ever emigrated from cannrf 'T*'^' ""f *^"* i^ ^^^^ '^^ ^"«^- His relative^ ho t W w^ disown him, or send him to the poor- noi se, but he is a ranklim thorn in +v,^ o;^« ^^^ ^u "^... dxink ! The best disposition they could make of him , Is .: ]l .;f ti If it 262 MY LITTLE LOVE. would be to lock him up in the garret for a week, with a tapped barrel of Jersey lightning. That might finish li^L ,^^";""8^^ '\ ^« a *o"gh job killing off that kind. It the truth were known, we should learn that he slept under somebody's haystack last night. That is the rea- son he 18 abroad so early. As like as not, he was rooted out of his bed by the other pigs." I gave a parting glance at the miserable object disan- pearing among the trees. An overgrown, hulking bov ruined, soul and body, at eighteen. " Outcast," stamped upon every lineament of his dirt-seamed visage, unshorn of the reddish down of incipient manhood, aid in every rent of his shabby clothes. His unkempt hair, carroty red, protruded through the gaps in his slouched hat, and Hung in a mat, down to his eyes, bloodshot and UL'ly as any bul -dog's. Mine had never rested upon a mo?e coun^rv\^"'' "'i ^^'^' J^ }^' ^^^^"' P^^e-scented country he was abominable beyond comparison. I tiiought m genuine compassion, of the bustling house- wife once my landlady ; of her fidgety neatness at home and her respect for the opinions of the community that was all the world she had ever known. The foul sot must be a grotesque feature amid the shining cleanli- r!!L n' ^^'^^^i*«^e^' where the grand-dame used to terin '' ^^^^^^^ properties in her rainy-day " pot- ...^^^l^^gago i* seemed ! and how uncertain the iden- tity of the sickly lad, tormented into womanish peevish- ness by the poor old woman's evolutions, with the mus- cular sportsmen of this glorious FaU morning, affluent m strength, love, and hope ! We made "a day of it," as Wynant had threatened, ihe number and complaisance of lawful woodcock had not been over-lauded. Our gallant retriever did not flac once m persevermg search and honest returns, and each ot us was so successful in his own ah s rr in mov^ ^^m to generous admiration of his comrade's skill. Rather MY LITTLE LOVE. 263 s skill. Bather mUe'S "iTl'^f W spirits, wo struck the main road a plateau 01- which stood the^BiSTt^od eSgf ' °" " mqurd1v™annhifr"l"' """'"<""' Bupperward?" iadt^rS!; st:;''^ t- th*^' ro'Tnettt bite atToon exastrlld t f"""" ^'^S- " ''''» «=<>'<1 of aUaying rS'*' ^ '°^;°ewed voracity instead worse than none" '"^ **'''^ »" « ^"^ " lin^'preeWrCf^ss"'"??,"?' !'"« -""-g." ?- transporting in t'L^T/Sion fha't tTh's T„f fe which IS eatable, when there is a voulor vour < c^fl hath a |oodly]=in ^^':Z^:^it' '''''''^'' ' point." '""'''''° "' "" ^"'y ^PP"^ • i« more to the o«.\<''^!fti! ^a"^ '■jasonest well!' Come in, von ras- "Is yonr gun loaded?" I askod. t^y no loaidX: riS^d h^eTo^Ko " Yes ! " ^^.?JI}°F^i'J^''',^ .the piece, his finder on ih. t.i^.er .... uxupi^cd 11 oack to Its rest ^ithinhis arm " "' ' 1 11 let Ails^o fire it off when we get home She likes b* n t'i , ,i I 264 MY LITTLE LOVE. I ' i li A FT* ! I' '" to do it. There's the making of a first-rate marksman m her. Next year, I shall get a light fowling-piece for her and take her gunning whenever I go." "A novel accomplishment for a young lady," quoth 1, carelessly. "Accomplishments be hanged ! I mean that girl to be brought up sensibly, and according to hygienic laws, bhe can row and swim now, and would be a good whip but for Evy's fear to trust her with a horse under fifteen years old. She handles a gun beautifully, as you'll see presently. Never winks, or lets it kick. There's not an atom of affectation about her. By Jove ! what a magnificent woman she will be ! " " When she can bring down woodcock on the wing— and drive four-in-hand?" interpolated I. '^ And— in what other manly accompKshment do you propose to make her proficient ?" Secretly pleased at his unsuspecting enthusiasm, I guarded the manifestation of my relish at the turn the talk had taken. Since the dialogue on the piazza on the morning succeeding my arrival, my resolution to win the family prize, if not more firm, was more distinctly de- fined in my own mind, yet more discreetly veiled from general view. Least of all would I put into the teazing uncle's hand the instrument of annoyance to Ailsie, should his amusement at the discovery of what he would regard as an unparalleled joke, exceed the bounds of affectionate consideration for her feelings. " You may laugh, if you like !" he retorted, half- offended. " But she will be a glorious girl by the time she IS sixteen. And you people who don't appreciate her fully now will be glad to join in her praises. Where will you see another eye and step like hers ? Did you ever know another child who had one-tenth of her sense and wit ? You like her as a eliild — a nice rdavfriinc. bei mse she enterr ms you in your vacations andkisure MY LITTLE LOVE. tions and leisure 265 warm-hearted, duJl-sXed athll k ""'" ^"" •" *'' own betrothal had enlkhtened a' 'j'ir "?' '™° l^'^ other's affection. "f.i'^enecl as to the signs of an- Up the woo'ded road flokt /*! "'"'^'"'^ ™'^ ^«^ ""Vt. as she strolled toward us 'if't™'"^ " °''<' 'io sang not thinking that we were so hL ? "^'^S '" '"<'<'*« the turf edging thTh ghway that ''l'' ^Yl^'^PPed full upon us at the next tnrS *" "'Sht come ted yards off. She should not l;"^,.'"'!"'''^ * '">°- templated surprise. Wynant tnt% ."'it'' '" ''^'- «on- cap of his gui, that « St be In I" '^/ '"88/^ and fingers. ""gnt oe m readiness for her 't "oncTf fcfa? X'^aTd ' '"" "'"■SM the air 'hu-iugoufbeauHfulthinm-.-fr'"^' ""' '"'P'^ctant. 1 tave lived over th„2 ♦?*' ? ^,<''' ™'^«''' watt- torturing mv imlilr *™ minutes, a million times might hfae'eTCg^d h'ad'lTn "i^^"^ °^ ^ hadWynant acted diffSentJy °°'' ""'"• "'• *''*. or 'ion.'^'lf'^ittXn'sua^r''"^ *" "'^ -'»• wont in nearing home If wehtV" '?■" ""i "^ ^^^ his m our ordinary key If the ri^f f ™''",'""' *° "^^^o : ft t^'T '"'-'"^'-y' ou/ ; oTimi'r'^ if"" *''^ hi™ betVrfe "^ '"*pp-ed,s'r^-„4rn:v:; 1-sregte !° *!.r"^._<''.*^-tro«pect, the use- m..* .u_ ^ „ , ---- ..v.j..y ^""ging, 1 am walking on to i, which I fl,m c,,^.. „.:.( .. he oriole 18 --known plumage ure, which I am sure wUl wea? have told her I like best ;strai^ng iPi' 266 MY LITTLE LOVE. S is f.' iH >i ll ^' ! : 1 ! ^, my eyes to catch a glimpse of the buflf dress between tree-boles, and under low-hanging branches, the while I picture to myself what I shall see — a form as erect and a step as free as a gypsy queen's;— nut-brown hair tossed back from the dark, warm-tinted face, — the matchless eyes yet dusky with thought-shadows, — the smile that will end the song. Still the silvery, dreamy singing draws nearer and nearer. We do not lose a syllable now, catch the accent of each note. " Oh ! cold was the night-wind that biew 'round her bower, It chilled my poor Kathleen;— she drooped from that hour, And I lost my own Kathleen, my sweet little Kathleen— My Kathleen O'More ! " The holy calm of the sunset was broken by a wild shriek. Another and another followed, — wrung out by the extremity of physical or mental distress,— ere our swiftest run carried us around the curve in the road, and in sight of what it had hidden. The besotted wretch we had met that morning was there, grinning fiendishly into the face of her he held fast by both arms. We comprehended the situation at a glance. He had sprung out at her from the covert of underwood with a drunken notion of a practical jest, or in revenge for her uncle's language to him in the fore- noon. We both reached them at the same second. "Ailsie!" Icried. Wynant panted — "You villain!" I saw my darling reel and sink, released from the rough clutch, and caught her before she reached the ground. I heard, not conscious then that I did so, a scuffle, a rain of blows and kicks, groans and curses uttered in a thick, coarse voice. It was nothing to me how the ruffian fared, while I held my shaken flower upon my breast, and strove, by caress and reassuring word, to restore colour to the livid facS; arsd qiiipi the convulsive trembling that threatened to banish life aslt MY LITTLE LOVE. 267 road, I laid her gently down „1w' ^T« ™ i" the my arm, and fanning her™thmvZT ''/'. ?l'"^ "P"" Wyna^Toineft'L^ZLtM^'T'' ' »'''' "hen what has happened'" ""swer. Co on and explain fent'ts'SehedTthit' tlaf'^TA ''■"<' *« «'«- filthy with blood and duet^'Ti^'^'"'?^"™o^ dead, look, or a thought excentTnoL- ""'.9™ " " «eoond that Ailsie cold not see ft '"''""8 amotion of gratitude ! li! '$ ' Ml * ' III CHAPTEE XXI. GOOD-BYE, SWEETHEART." BESSLEY DAELING met me at the entrance of the grove surrounding the house, and, dumb with haste and alarm, held out his arms to relieve me of the weight that still lay against' my shoulder. He was her father. She had told me once that she was willing to lay down her life for his. But I shook my head and pressed on, never resting the dear burden un- til I laid her upon her mother's bed, and in her mother's embrace. Her hand fastened feebly upon the lappel of my coat when I would have raised myself upright. The eyeUds were lifted with effort, and the poor, unbent mouth tried to speak— once— twice— before the words escaped : " I am so sorry ! Forgive me ! I am very sorry ! " Sorry that, in succumbing to the shock that had pros- trated body and sense, she had given us trouble '* My precious love !" I said, heedless who might hear. Do not speak, do not think of us ! We are only thank- ful to have you look at and know us again. Eemember this, and nothing else. Can you swallow this for me ! " She tasted the lavender-and- water Aunt Evy had pre- pared, and did not Hke it. " Must I ?" looking at me. " If you love me, dear ! " She raised her head and took every drop, sinking back with a sigh of exhaustion, and a long, shuddering gasTi. It was dreadful ! The man, I mean ! " catching my tt Wy LITTLE LOVE. 269 fit '^t^-^!^,t- featu.es wo.W ™„„„. face witrtTaSdrsre fe'^L tt'^r' "^"^ '^-^'"^ ''^ suffering. *" "®^^^ ^o sob again m tearless Jtt^^^^^^^^^^ W^it ^'firT' -^ I ^-d a the mother's eyes in foS i ^^^'''^J^med fast from Aunt Eyy'smet^ mine acitss^rA'S^ *" ^'' ^''^^^ mg and entreaty. '' *^^ ^^^ ^^ awed question- thinfof^uthortyTl^^^^^^ -ith some- are quite safe, now. mtZfi^I tenderness,-" You shall ever annoy you la n W« "^f 1 ?°' ^^^ ^*^^r care of you in futu^re thautreThall L*'^' T^ ^'^^ He IS a foolish, bad boy-ZilL r««t- ^I''' "'^^ ^^ *^i«- him ? who meant to IZ a trick nn^''''"^^ ^?" ^^^^"««t iiamed you. He neveTshaH 7'''; ^u'^H'. ^^ ^^s not child r ^^^ ^^^ail. Try to beheve this, dear and supper is ready " ''' """' '*" "l™™' famish^ -eming to ban^ tLm in a d^st^'j a^f ™^ °' ^"--' ,^^^ As one when, his mother oo.Sh,. " Irepeated, beloved. '"'™ ''<'™ <««i'«nt to leave my best The sapper talilo wo;t„j ,..;.,._ . ':• Therest of'us madrs',^ '^;™ 'S"'^^ 1^««1'- ■■»atehi..my I -.^'^n^S\^^^^SZ^;^^o^^^^ 270 MY LITTLE LOVE. ! <*i: *■' I f llii the incident of the afternoon, in guarded tones, and with indignation that grew hotter with each repetition of the scene. Pressly Darling never sat down for an instant, and his stride from end to end of the portico was portentous of further vengeance upon the creature still lying, for aught we knew or cared, in the ditch beyond the road. Wynant could not forgive himself for having left a ves- tige of life in him. Miss Marr and I, seeming to harken to his bloodthirsty regrets, pondered, each knowing that the other did so, upon the probable extent of the harm already done, and what looked like the malignant fate that so strongly pursued a being so harmless and lov- able. Repeated disasters of the kind that had so strangely befallen her would be hurtful to children of stouter nerve and coarser sensibilities. We dared not speak of, or fairly contemplate what they might bring upon this one. Luckless Wynant blundered upon the hidden rock, presently. "It's confoundedly queer when you come to think it all over! It would appear as if Fate had an actual spite against that child !" he was so bereft as to say. " There was the first scare with the drunken loafer in town years ago. Then, the thunderstorm that killed this vagabond's grandmother. Next, the chill on Thanksgiving-Day. Now, this infamous piece of work. I don't suppose any of you have looked at it in this light. Odd— isn't it ?" His brother stopped short in front of him. " Don't charge upon Providence— for there is no such power as Fate — the egregious carelessness or vice of man ! These were the causes of all the casualties you have enumerated, with the single exception of the thun- derstorm. I do wish, however, that the consequences of uthers' sins had fallen elsewhere than upon the head of this sensitive, innocent baby !" he hidden rock, MY Lmi£ LOVE. 271 window in a gen fe ^WuW?^ 'f'^ &«>» an upper can cS np'^te^^.""'" "^ '^'^ 8^ to see you, if yon -Ippv'rffir - -- -'-^"^ to addressrg"me."^.^ife'is",±" *''-"^^'-" •>--<•• the evening has been „^ ?"' """"Pofied again, but The shuddering fits ^^cv^^ed^aTr- T /"'' ^^ ^«" J-n:^:rd^X!M?iL^^-^^^^^^^^ when* iXd' feT hf'S^^'^X^'S'"'" «-<» Ailsie. Regular n^Isanrti'^fa'r'Thr'"! "' ''• ^ «"" " I ever heard of. cSedl'v It """* ««^«tei child family." -L-eciaediy the scrape-y one of the She never hesitated for a vmrA re her hand she made one f^r ?J ^^ "■'""' '^^ "^dy *« with what she C to say """*'"'" ""* ''^"t "^ "Mr. Barry!" ^^'t'l\Z%lt^^^^^^ hand, as on loved her bettl ^hln'Tl/tL' tS Telf H^' ?^* ^ gaged hand stole timidlv un rnv «! ^ ^^^ '^'^^^- look were deprecatory ^ ^ ^ '^^^''^' ^^^ *one and .;;Mr. Barry ! Shall I alwnvc k. „ . ^ ~ - wm things go on happening to"me7ll ^./V-^r-^-^ ^"^ I hope so, darling! Very pleasant o »» things. You ■■^ 272 ;^if\' \l ■f li MY LITTLE LOVE, moriowl^^'^' ^^''^ ^^^•'"'* ^^' '^' yesterdays and to- nhl^^'^'Tr"'' \'^^^''' ^disagreeable ones. Catastro- 1 1 ^.^ tT""*^ "^as a mouthful, but she managed it cleveriy. ' I'd rather die at once and get clear offt alh Im like a foohsh little mouse, with a cat watching be- hind every corner. You wouldn't believe it, but every iTJ •''u?^ ^°^^l• ?^^y ^^^^^^^^ I was siUy enough to get frightened out of my wits. And "-stretchinlhe? arms over her head with a plaintive little moan-- 1 am so tired ! Twice that night I crept to the door of Mrs. Darling's room and listened for sound from within. Once it was a weary sigh, mtennitted by a slight sob that brought ^/n^T^ ''^\'' "^^^ *^^^*- ^^^ ^«*^^^'« soothing was prompt and love-full. s "c*d "Mamma's birdie ! I am here, my blessing ' " Ihe second time, I could hear nothing but soft regular breathing, and returned to my upper chamber' ^rf .r^.r^^"^*/^- ^^' ^^^ was up^^when S passed the threshold. At the other end of the passage 3 T^^^'f' dormitory. The door was standing open, and I had a view of the interior clear through to the balcony where she was wont to " lay her pillows on hot Zfi' 1' ^^J^??thleen, ' look at the moon ' and stars, and have the deliciousest thinking times all to herself." « Jot l'^''*/^"!^^ ^^''"S t^^ matted hall lest I should awake the slumberers upon the lower floor, and stood h^r nl r!ff T^ ^^^"^^ ^* ^^' ^"ight and clean, and A °^^, httle treasures were disposed about the walls and on the dressmg-bureau. An ambrotype of mvself I had given her last Christmas-Eve, had accompanied her from town, and now occupied a corner bracket. A tiny vase of flowers was set in front of it, and the frame was wreathed with ground pine. Streamers of the same trailed around the ova] mirror and mad^ ^ ^-.^r,-:^ f-.-. the muslin curtain of the broad' window thaT"J^ned terdays and to- moan — " I am MY LITTLE LOVE. 273 down to the balcony. It was a pretty and .isteful bower, yet the bare sadness of the place struck coldly to my heart. The white emptiness of the low bed with its unrumpled coverlet and plump pillows ; the prim ar- Z^r'^.* fu ^^'' furniture, telling that no living could bear ^ ""^^"^ night-were more than I I shut the door upon the pathetic vacancy, and fled t^e spot as I would fain have sped away from the asso- ciations I had aroused. ^ ^ In the main hall on the first floor, I stopped to select my unremarkable summer straw from half-a-dozen hats 01 similar pattern that crowded the rack. I had just discovered that I had taken Wynant's instead of my own, when a traihng step that I did not recognize stole bwn the stairway behind me. It was Ailsie, dressed Jvpn of ^"^*?P?ry care, but heavy eyed, and unsmiling even at my dehghted salutation. Is It possible !" I said. "Good morning! I am very gJad to see that you are well enough to be stirring so early. How do you feel ?" I took her hand and finding it drier and warmer than 1 liKed, would have slipped my finger to the wrist, but ual liveH ' ^^^*^' ^*^^^ ^^^^' ^^^^^ ^^ ^^^^ °^ ^^^ *^^^^*" chicSns^" ^^"' ^^^^^ ^°"' ^ ^^ ^^^"^ *° ^^^^ *^^^ "Is that best ? Let me do it alone, for once. Are you strong enough ?" "Of course I am ! Why not ?" My catechism annoyed her for some reason. Her tone was almost pettish, and she went off to the barn lor her feeding basket, with no intimation by word or sign, that she desired my company. I read the riddle, or believed that I did. With nerves still irritable ^nJ j-eB.eiuaystrial, she was ashamed &h th memory of Her weakness and shunned all referenc : lo it. With ff -^i f \ ■ ■ \ 1 . i 1 r if 274 MY LITTLE LOVE. thp l!ff '' P^ijosopty she had determined that since the matter could not be helped, she havine as X judged made herself supremely ridiculous aTd^the cause betrr'^ fr'^^ *". others-the less said about irthe better It was natural, too, that she should avoid he tion of the roadside scene would be hkely to awaken She was a sage and prudent little woian, I decided Tol ctlL'f anf *f^'^' ^^^derations and assisting herfn collecting and feeding her feathered bantlings. Anv other child would have enjoyed the prolonged sensaSon and contmued petting, maintained the .d/fof heroine as long as we would indulge her in it. Our business n the WHile she, sv(M;t into the kitchen to wash her hands T Z^'^^'^^f'^ ^^ *^ the breakiast-^o^^Sei ^^le'of -l^i^'J-^ assembled there to emulate my example oi . . adly discretion. Her entrance was greeted &Tve th^nM* ^J*i""* T^'^'^ domonstration^of any cockonlLSri^^T*''^''*'^*^^ fi^^'^* wood- he wo?l]f!oKJ''^^? ^^^''^S, with the promise that he would teach her to bring down more and larger birds nn/^nAt ' -""mi '^^ ^^^ «*^"' w^ile we talked merrily oSr lead ""VhtV''''^'^ ^'' indisposition to foUo^ fi^to the niln ? if ""'^^ ''?' ^^'"' «^^ was allowed to go to tlie piano for her morning practising. Aunt Evy and I talked comfortably and without fore- ttnWTn1tt?n?Tt ' T'^^'^^^ s" 'S ner lancy-knittmg, while scales and exercises and «pf StZi:r '''' ''"^™"' -- -St tit quishad foe had come toarapM? and rXXd rmined that since having, as she 0U8 and the cause lid about it the should avoid the as a recapitula- ily to a^vaken. )man, I decided, i assisting her in bantlings. Any ionged sensation role of heroine as ir business in the ss time and with evious occasion, ih her hands, I room and served to emulate my mce was greeted nstration of any r closer to him, be finest wood- e promise that and larger birds e his pupil next 3 talked merrily 3sition to follow was allowed to id without fore- i she busy with ercises and set ecuted by the irly this morn- e. " His van- , and retreated MY LIT :LE love. 275 in tolerable order. I imagine our young Hercules would have been better pleased if he had been obliged o towrL r' ""^ ^' ^'^^^' ^^^ ^°^^«- She-" motioning yorthink's?"?"'"'" "''"^^ ^'"^"'* ^''''^' '"' d«?'t " Except for the slight depression which is the reaction after extreme excitement, increased, I suspect, by a tmge (.f mortification at the part she played. Wo are actm;,' wisely in letting her believe that we think lightly linlh'n^ ^^' ll *?-.T''.^^' ^^'^ ^i" b^ disposed to laugh over it. The fright is too recent now." so ten. If. '^""^TS ;'^^^^^.^ ^'^^^" i* ^^« ^^ded « ?x/ ^' ^^^^^^1 experiment ! " nn^f ''m '^'''^fy but a brute or a fool would make ! J^on t spoil my last day with you by setting me to specu- late about what has not happened." 1 had meant to give most of the day to Ailsie. but a succession of untoward trifles thwarted intention and desire. Pressley Darling, who had come up from town but two days before the termination of my visit, invited me to a ramble with him before Ailsie's hour was more than three-quarters " oflf her mind." With the pardon- able energy of proprietorship, he led the way over upland, dale and glen," in the refreshing persuasion that every stick and stone and clod must be as replete with interest to nie as to himself. It was twelve o'clock when we got back more tired, hot and dusty than our gunning tramp hau made me. Running up to my room for a cooling bath of face and hands before dinner, I observed that the door at the other end of the passage Znl -i ^^1?^' '^^\t'^ ^^^" ^^ «i^Pl^ toilet was compk ed. Hoping that Ailsie might be within, I whistled softly, two or three times-a signal long ago agreed upon between us. The doorway remained a solid blank. Nor did T rpp the Tnio+ypoo ^f |u^ i,-i__^.-- j bower until we all sat down to dinner. In the afternoon Squire Darling, with his lovely old Win 'h\\ IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 7- // ..^i- 1^ :/. f/u & ^ 1.0 I.I 1^12.8 L25 III 1.4 M 1.6 V] <^ /^ ^V 'V' ^> Phote)graphic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-4503 iV W.^ ^\ ^5<\ > «« woods. Sittine with fhp.v lu '""S ."^amWe in the bearing a decent mrt in ?V.- "^'''' "" ""^ P'»^^« »"<> ''Midgut," rfllLtspeckttf thT^;i' '';^°^^^^ of the water; heard^hryoZvole LThe hn f'^ S^^r'wsit^ttd'af^^^S^^^^^^^ vre tC^my impatient aS "' ''^ S"? ?"'~" "'"'«>'■ or this min^S "'S;^r.d"trLttee^ wa^trtnT™:i;if ^f^Zerwftn '~'^'5« ^^«• aaid.^"" rirhfi!; ^!^i°.T. -'/-> ^"-.i fy lonely and home-sick for SIX >f grandchildren, most formidable arty remained at monopolized his They -rent out ? ramble in the the piazza and e, I watched the icarnadine glory in the boating- other, but never ug wave •ave. 3r the billow." ity that had its pt myself aloof uld have a fair thus watching I. Not so, dis- atives had post- re heartily that st eight o'clock, • ed-time, before iv sentences to adroit manoeu- im to be called, iot have been looking lake- Jw and sweet- ead — my arm Jh speaking. Jry week?" I e-sick for six MT LITTLE LOVE. 277 yo^''let?e^" *'^''^^^^ ^^^^^ "^ *^^* ^° ""^''^ I receive "I shall write every Tuesday, regularly," sherephed The quiet monotone was not her vmL ^hf^ weary after the bustle of entertainfng her visitors an/ like myself heavy of spirit. She would miss me ^adt' enjoyed m company. ^ ^"'" " How you have grown this summer !" remarked T Z^d^nT^*^-"^- " V''"^' ^"* y««*erday that you were Klvf '"'^'''^ "P *^. ^y ^l*^«w- I^on't outgrow you? inched!" '"" '""'" '"'^'*^ '' ^^^^*^^^ ^y preVolCs '^Hnw?nf/ ^''t^^^^ *«"«h my hand to her lips. irrelfvanth " YonTi?''" *' T' "^^^^^ ^" '^^ «^id, irreievantij. lou will never know— becansp T hIioIi never be able to manage my words well 6^ to te you-how dearly, dearly I love you '" ^ Ailsie r ' ^""^ ^''''' ^'' ^^'^^'^ *^^^ ^«r^« for that, , Her head with its wealth of hair—- outwardly brown inwardly golden"-very dark in the moonlight Jetumed to Its resting-place upon my heart, for a long moS tho?gl^to??a^^^u\^^ '' ''''''' -^- *^^ P--eof in;ferri];|L%rsM^^^^^ of onr cprreBpondence. " Staying here doesn't make it any easier to say ' good-night." Xnd that Tans ' good by, to-mght. You wiU be in a hurry in the mornin" Everybody else will be around, too " ^"inmg. kiss her'teH I'^ii??'',- ^'^^ ""^ "^"'^ ''■' ^ bent to oi^sptakif again" " '""^^ "="""' "'"' '*« ""' ^"h" >|IM | PHM-Mwi''wjni CHAPTEE XXII. WITHERED.' Lh''^''-!''^ ? mid-October, I loitered upon the hospital steps, after an hour's walk in the Tess Jthf • t"-' '' ^r "^*^^ *^^ «'«! dim! less noiL fhoif *''''^'- ^^ ^'^y «*^^^*« ^ere iesa noisy than was usual at that busy hour The turmoil of traffic was attuned to somethr. dav Autu^^T^^ ^'^^ *^^ P^^^^^ Perfectnes^of Se La ^"*^5^°--^he ripeness, not decadence of the veai t'^ees wrbHl'f'^'^V'-- ^^^^^^ ^^g^ts garlanK trees with bright, soft jewels, opened the nutshplir changed the crude juices of grapes and tLLsS pears to spiced syrups. But the mornings and eveSpr were bracmg-not keen ; the noons richlnd bland '^ '"Lustrous and smiling i'" I nnofprl liri^i-- j luxuriating. .;01d Burtol-lspWt7„'at/rfineis''dd It of a woman's hair. It paints this day to a charm A wain, loaded high with wheat straw, had stonn^rf on the comer. A man was walking slow y towaK ctfdrl';TaV;«h''";T " V"""''" "'"dLrsrsuch" stnt?n^if h'^nd'. ' nMr stw te^"^ *"« globes caught and pleased thfiye°n the ii^^V"T? tempered the fierce brick-dust^ and vfcfeus Selns Sf wal 8 and shutters in the tall buildin JliZ» rt.1 ?h. oughfare. The whole was a goodlyZdyTcrur' and' "jHstrous and smiling!- I reiterated, and smiled « < T . MY LITTLE LOVE. 279 myself m recollecting who had said to me once, as I stroked and praised the gleaming waves of her hair • It does well enough, I dare say. If only it didn't have red streaks-real blaze-y lines across it. after I have been wearmg it braided ! On the shiniest parts- the crinkles, you know !" , My office was on the second floor of the hospital, sur- rounded by rows of wards. Not an attractive retreat for one s leizure hours, and certainly not a place to which one would care to mvite his friends. Just without the door I met an attendant, who told me that a lady had ^I'iTl^l. «^^\Ji^« 1« «ee me. Without presenti- ment that she might be there upon other than profes- sional busmess, I entered and saw Mrs. Darling sitting in my one arm-chair. ^ ^twug "Ah, Barry! At last!" The exclamation was nervous, or impatient, and I answered it by an apology before she could explain "I am very sorry I have kept you waiting. I am seldom out at this hour. If I had had the remotest ide^ that you were in town—" Here the coldness of her hand, perceptible through her glove as I pressed it, made me look narrowly at her Y\l^^^^^'f T?^ cordially, but her eyelids were slightly flushed, and her lips twitched in a manner Tery foreign to her habitual serenity. ^ allwdl r^*^'""^ ''''''^^" ^ ^''^^^ ^^^^'^^- "You are She resumed her chair. The trembling of her mouth was more perceptible. "luum "I do not know that anything is far wrong. I have been sadly uneasy for several weeks. Pressley is awav h« mT"' "^Q/r ^^^T' *ra^^lli^g on business through the Western States. I have not written to him of what "-;- "}j i^ax° tixc Du vague, ana anxiety would only unsettle his mmd. In a case like this where there 280 MY LITTLE LOVE. II' [', ',* sym;tor;c™rlt:!;'.."°^ '^ "' ">»- how to describe that fs ?fiL.^''''X? ™F^ d«'=^<=''«« in flesh and weight Twice we have fo>mf^ P >" • """^ '""""■ ^'^ anywhere! Si-^corvtsS- rtt^fe^it-^^^ theK^sprS'g^rg^^^^^^^^^ "'' conscientious. But ' When did you begin to notice these ihma^ 9" t vortharTrm;^"^ ^^*^-^ *« recover hf'fStLing Sful to bphnM^i?'''' ^,°f«^^ation. Her agitation was h?biW ' ^' ^'^^'^^ "« «^^ ««^*^«ded lith its ex! ^^'^7^lltet~ ^"* «l^e slept at Brightwood I h?// ^' i^'* ^W^" "^P^^* ^^^^ '^s tii„« ffo^?!:;^ .\^.^^ *« ««^d,«P to her room atdinner- .Tv....n xiGr. Evy and 1 have feared-yet we My little love. 38 how to describe 3h, and paused to uietly opposite to I by what I had was my own by imble referred to letter from her ekly bulletins of 368 to Aunt Evy's did not seem as alarmed you?" k of interest in but this is not tally unlike her flesh and weight te is moderately and anywhere, parlour floor in e that. Wlien i, she shows a f the time. It about the light She is faithful iientious. But le things?" I • her faltering ' agitation was d with its ex- , but she slept spent with us 3om at dinner- iared — ^yet we 281 TplsSv^^bnAr *^"* «^^ be-we dare not admit sK «n ^iy^.i * these symptoms manifested them- selves so soon after it— Do you believe, Barrv thatth^ fright had anything to do with it ?" ^' She burst into tears. " Evy IS well— for her, but inexpressibly anxious " aho returned, drying her eyes. " She has no? wSn you that WP t? Tr, "«"^\^o* come to us. It was enough After «Vw« ^1 ^^^^VW, without distressing you Alter all, we may ])e unnecessarily alarmed." 1 Have heard from Ailsie every week " I said wJfh an eflfort to examine the case rationally ''' Her I'etl^rs f h?f' .r* ^''^ ^r«' ^"* «b^ ^^Plai^ed that by saying oSnttv^'ir^w 't ?^. '' ''^^ ^^««* h^' ^'-^^ country, now that I had seen everything at Bright- «^A®u??,*^^^'^ *®*^^ ^"«^e^ "P again. of parent rZllf'"' ' ^^ ^".^ }^^ ^"^««^^ ^^^* P^^^r 01 patient resolve was expended upon them you would prize them indeed. On a certain day, at a given hour 8he would address herself to the business of wrrtingto you, persevermg until the bottom of the thirdTage was haWhen' v"^'^ '^''^' 'r^'^'^' *« fanFroSr cHau- when this was accomplished. I have urged her severjil times, to postpone writing, saying that vou would excuse her if she were not well. gLr Lswer IZ always to the same effect : '' I promised to writrev!ry 1^3t^'^^'t^ ^ T "°* '^^^•" Once she added, " IlS to write better than to do anything else At ]pfl«f T would, if my hand didn't get so'iired' sleh wflte tired all through, now a days. Mamma, do you sup pose 1^ am growmg lazy ? " She was so exhausted by Jl »,1 282 MY LITTLE LOVE. I' ;. I- i ;:j ! i' I, i ! ITrA't^l^'- *'"* ' P"' ^» '0 ^^ - -on as we " li' '%''"'■''• *^/° ? I" your own house ?" see you and secure medical advlcp Xl'u a"^'^^^ animation, this morning, at the thoul^ n? ""'^ •"'°'' ;,Sr»S >tSf SiiL'f.'.. »■;'•■- som r" ™"''' ""' '"""' ^^'- B-^ry-our withered blos- I «?' ""5 '°'«™«w ttat had overturned the world for m^ '^Mm > bed as soon as we I house?" )ther children by a ettled, and brought eally, that I might She showed more ?ht of receiving a r display in many 3rnoon," I replied, I— perhaps for the hted. That is "— -" as nearly de- li know her, Barry iuce ; stood there, J I had done, not ibered as placidly le steeple-clocks 3wer some blocks 9 let us cherish." g along the side- loon recess. One ize, looked up at my dizzied head, d mechanically, ir withered blos- he world for me, , and the deeper ►te me with the so painfully, of MY LITTLE LOVE. 283 ^'olZl^MM^^^^^^ - -strength I ered ! " My hale E«^l-H • i^ ^i^''^' ^"^^^ ^ " With- of vitality might K^fi ^''^' T^T ^^^l^some reserve the sea, wire steamin^^f ^^ ^^^ ""'''«' "'"•''""g of east. Thelow sT J ^ i'" ?'""?y ^"'"""'^ from the hardly blye\nZnTh.T^J'''^^t''- 0"^ ^-W phrase stayed ot^JLl^^L^ ^'". *^ ''■'^^- The tongue. "Not know it ? ^v^ """^ """i f™" my other change be as wofnl?' *M 'r!l\ '^""''l *"' with difficultv »« T r J • ^y '•^'"^ •'""t fast, yet street ^' "' ^ '"""^ •°*'' ^e well-remembered within tCd^r the wate ^''," ■"^'" """"^t I was Whepl„.rro^^^Xr^^^^^^^^ kna^t^Sf wiL'kss'uk?°»' •'Ti'' ""y »'«'''' like a chUd HerrLT ■ * ''* *»° »° etherealized The„ wS even a&o7:f T'^i^ ^t'^""* '"■^^"^ some mv8tert'?L""!!o°°lS"' "'i"?T''-^'''^ ^^ think. " "* ^hai, angel, I shuddered to ,ff 384 MY LITTLE LOVE. ,:,i ill 'I H ■! '" ii i< "Don't stare at me so hard!" she said, trying to avert her face. " Indeed, I am not sick. 1 haven't an ache or a pam. People worry me out of all patience by saying how much I have ' fallen away.' Old Mrs. King our house-cleaner, screeched right out yesterday, when she opened the door for us. ' Land's sake ! but ain't she failed powerful, mem?' I wish they would mind their own business ! " " So do I !" responded I, sincerely. "But my busi- ness IS to set you up strong and plump again, and I mean to set about it, forthwith. What is the use of having a doctor in the family if you never give him any- thing to do?" "^ The hand I fondled was thin, and the palm dry, with a peculiar look about the latter that, more than anything else m her appearance, justified the epithet of " with- ered." I noted this at the time, as a phenomenon, with no misgiving as to its real significance. Nor, watch and study her as I might and, throughout that portion of the evening she spent with us ; nor in the long talk I held with her mother after she went to bed, could I detect the probable secret of the fearful change wrought in these brief weeks. For all our united wisdom could dis- cover, it was as causeless, save for the nervous shock she had received in September, as the wasting of a snow- drift on a sunless winter day with the thermometer at zero. The east wind was strong and bitter when I emerged from the house. For this reason, and no other, as I then believed, I chose a different route from that I gen- erally took back to my rooms— one sheletered for most of its length by solid blocks of houses. Skirting these at a swinging gait, with my head down and thoughts busy with those I had left, I ran directly against a gen- tleman who was coming from the opposite directisn. ** I beg pardon !" we said simultaDeously. "Dr. Tremaine !" I subjoined. " I trust I have not MY LITTLE LOVE. 285 said, trying to ik. 1 haven't an )f all patience by Old Mrs. King, yesterday, when sake ! but ain't hey would mind " But my busi- np again, and I it is the use of er give him any- palm dry, with a e than anything ithet of "with- lenomenon, with Nor, watch and at portion of the ong talk I held , could I detect ige wrought in isdom coiSd dis- ! nervous shock istingofasnow- fchermometer at ^hen I emerged no other, as I rom that I gen- stered for most Skirting these 1 and thoughts against a gen- te directisn. sly. ust I have not hurt you !" recognizing a leading physician of the city and a constant friend of my own. " Dr. Haye— is it not ?" holding his hat fast on his head in the rushing wind. " This is an odd happening ! I was thinking of you. There is a man in your hospital in whom I am much interested. Would you object to my turning back with you for some talk about him? Your oflBce is nearer than mine, or I would invite you to go on with me." In three minutes we were snugly established before my fire, launched on the high tide of conversation. The original topic disposed of, he arose. " You are doing me a personal kindness in promising to look after this case," he said, in his terse, nervous style. Everything pertaining to moral, mental or pecuniary disorder falls, with the man of medicine, under the head of " case" as naturally as do bodily ailments. " If I can ever do anything to prove my appreciation of it, please command me." Thus it happened— again a "happening," as I sup- posed — that I entered upon a description of Ailsie's con- dition and my perplexity respecting it. He listened, standing, to a synopsis f '^he symptoms, —then, the physician soul fairly alive, bo dropped into a chair, and questioned sharply and rapidly. This over, he sat in profound deliberation for at least five minutes, plucking at his under lip and projecting his eyebrows as he had a queer habit of doing. I got up to mend the fire. *' He knows no more about it than I do !" I was solilo- quizing mentally, leaning over the grate, tongs in hand, when he spoke two words. The tongs crashed upon the fender, and I confronted him with a face which I felt grow ghastly. " Impossible i" I said. •• It is easily ascertained," he answered, with diaboli- I ft I' i^ 286 MY LITTLE LOVE. cal coolness. " If the case were mine I would know the truth m less than twenty-four hours " I had to control myself by the recollection that he had never seen he proposed patient before I could reply. It shall be yours ! I cannot go -yith you in the morning, but you can return the slight service I have rendered you, a thousand-fold, by calling upon Mrs ductJon.'' ^ '° *^' ^^^' ^ ^'^" ^"*^ ^ note^ intro ^nu'l^^ treacherous fingers I penned the few lines that told Ailsie s mother who the bearer was, and what were his recommendations to her confidence. Dr. Tremaine eyed me keenly ^nder his beetling brows, thumb and fore-finger pulhng at his lip. ^ nl^"J'°^ ^^^'A^^ child is between ten and eleven years old ? he said, puzzled probably by my evident disquiet and searching for an adequate reason. «^«quiet, '' She will not be eleven until late in December. hpr ^pfoV" K^^'""'* ^f""' 'ir^ hypothesis with regard to her malady be correct. There is not a case on record n!fflT'^ ^'T *?' ^'''^'' I *^^^« "a^ed, when the patient was^under twenty years of age. Frankly-and I have made the matter a specialty-I regard it as incurable at any age. Much may be accom^plished L the way of sustenance of the decaying powers by tonics ihl^^l'i^ ^ "^Tu ''^^^^^ ?^*"^^ ^^"''^e' at that instant than at any other period of my life. I hated him in whose hands 1 had placed the verdict of living or dying for my darlmg. I could scarcely reply civilly to the friendly nonchalance of his " Good-night '' " Eely upon my prompt attention to the case we have been discussmg " he said, as he took leave. - The more I think of it, the more firm is my conviction that my interpretation of the mvsterv is ih/riahi nr..^ ^ " How dared he ! how dared he !" I gro'and out, from JfY LITTLE LOVE. 287 [ would know the ction that he had I could reply, vith you in the it service I have lling upon Mrs. a note of intro- le few lines that , and what were Dr. Tremaiue >ws, thumb and nd eleven years evident disquiet, December. 8 with regard to case on record i,med, when the Frankly— and I regard it as ccomplished in owers by tonics . It is a mere tt that instant hated him in living or dying civilly to the )i e case we have leave. " The jonviction that pand out, from between my clenched teeth, when the room was clear of him and his odious theorizing. " If it be proved that he 18 mistaken, I will never forgive him, never ! " Then I threw. myself upon the floor, and wept Uke a hysterical woman, over my withered blossom. Us I CHAPTEE XXIII. i i * )■ i 11 '■1 ■'■' ■ \ i L It PULLINO THROUGH." .N three days we knew the worst there was to tell or to hear. Terrified and overwhelmed by Dr Iremame's opinion of her daughter's state, lUfrs' ^ Darling called a consultation of the ablest men known to the profession in our city, to reverse or confirm his decision. But one gave the shadow f . +• fiF-^' ^^? ^^^ ^^^^^ ^^^^ ^ased upon a foreign treatise on this and cognate maladies, of which he hid just received an advance copy. I borrowed the pamphlet, copied it entire, and the regimen imposed by it, as the slender chance of salvat on from doath, was adopted without delay. I am thankfS there is no need for me to enter here into the details of the privations to which the patient child was subiected by our obedience to the Paris physician's code. I tot d rather remember that no medicines were given her excent tonics, that every luxury permitted by the regulaS governing her die was procured for her; that, one and all, we followed zealously the unanimous recommendation of the doctors to afiord her freely the diversions of exercise m the open air, cheerful society games and story-books, and to spare the tried nerves and brain bv every device that the ingenuity of love could conceive Her father purchased a horse and gave it to her , ''For my verv own!" she said to me at my afternoon visit on the day of the event. "And either he or vou ax. to take me armng every day. So papa says. 'Oh ' let us be joyful ! ' as Mr. Chadband says," ^ ' MY LITTLE LOVE. 289 there was to tell whelmed by Dr. iter's state, Mrs. )f the ablest men city, to reverse, gave the shadow d upon a foreign f which he had sntire, and the mce of salvation I am thankful 3 the details of d was subjected I code. I would ?iven her except the regulations ; that, one and 3commendation 3 diversions of ty, games and I and brain by uld conceive. it to her. my afternoon her he or vou pa says. *0h ! She waltzed three times round the room, flying back to me on the tips of her toes. "Now I shall get well! It would be very ungrateful if I did not." "She may pull through," said the doctor, who had allowed us to hope. "She has an exceptionally fine constitution. Her recovery would be but a degree short of a miracle. Yet there have been miracles, even in the nineteenth century." Every moderately fine day, therefo. "Ailsie's phaeton" was brought to the door, and her father left his counting-house, or I my office, to act as charioteer. Aunt Evy's parlour looked like a Vanitv-fair wareroom with the pretty knick-knacks collected" by and for the household favourite. Each morning I left in person a bouquet for the vase in "Sister Anne's window," as we named the post of observation from which she watched for my evening visit. The days were short, now, and when the street-lamps were kinlded, I could only trace the outline of her form upon the red duskiness of the background. She would not have the parlour lighted except by the fire-glow until my ariival. "Gas lights made the frames like black mirrors," she said, "and the world outside invisible." The outside world saw little of any of us during those anxious weeks. Ailsie was never left alone by day, and at the eventide we gathered about her with so- licitous fondness that must have seemed overstrained to those unacquainted with the imminence of the danger that threatened us through her. After our first an- guished consultation, we four— her parents, aunt, and myself— never spoke out our fears to one another, but each felt that it was a hand-to-hand battle with the de- stroyer, and as one day ^fter another dragged by, the honfi +,rfiTnhlpfl in+n lifp in +Vio V)rpaa+ ^f pnf»V. +V.Q.f :^«u X"^- ' -.-... a-. ...... .Jir^tuijl/ ..-i CtlUxi I'UdiU, lli^^li by inch we were gaining upon the foe. Drowsiness and lassitude were vanquished symptoms ; the step had its iiiw' >M mi ■'H 290 I If 1,1' f, n ^^^^^^^^^^w m / 1 I) 1 ^ 1 5 ^^^Hm~ 1 1 i ! 1 i: MY LITTLE LOVE. former lightness, and was at times as flppf tu « had never drooped Thp BL-vrj ^*- ^^® figure oughbred" defied diseai TJ ^^ ^'^'^ °^ *^^ "*^or- that which had robbed ?h7l'' i'' ^"^'^^ '^ ^^^^ly as thesuppj limbsSr^rtSr" ^' ^*^ '^^^ *-*«' to anroutVtaT Se fcaf ^^ ^^ ^--^er day within a fortnight we shook f /"* ^ ^^"^^ «^ ^^^^ over a national victZ and l^^vf T'" *^' °^^« «« faces-we two belrded mpn -^^^'^ '"^ "^^^ o^^^r's dimly through w^rm misTs VatesT *'^* ''^ *^"* tio? oTi^ntV^nr^^^^^^^^ -«^-^^ t^e reflec- nance. Ihad gTowHrLt^vV^^^^^ ^ ^^^ ««^«te- tolerant in my trZ^en^^ni^ ^'S^'.' ^" sympathy, very my blossom ^JfT^^f I ho.f'T W*'^^^^'«' ^^"^ lous. I am sure I had not hf ^^^^,^^7^^ been cal- sional dealings, but the dS?l Pvff ^^'^ ^" ^^ P^«^^«- of fever, the sight of fb^nn^i ^t ""{ '*"P°^ ^'^'^ *l^e fl«sh round, ouched mfnowri'^''^^*^^* had once been where;er I went amonVtbi ^"i'^V Whenever and chnical or surgical ward f .« '""l^ ^^ unfortunates, in heart beat to ? s fervpnf l. '^ ^""^ ^'^^^^ ""*il W Physician oFold andJoTev^^^^^^ remembered th^ mighty work among HLownl^nd.!^''' ?'.'^"^^ ^° "« of His boyhood because of f^ kmdred and m the home great com^ssion t'haT ts'^n^''^il%'^'^''f upon a few sick folk and hpnL A ' „. ^^« ^^^^^ snatched hastilv irom Th.- I ? ^^T' ^« *^e sick- road, cloggeTfc" t^fto^t^^^^^^ ^^ *^,^^^^- whose end He was never to fo.!!?/ «oi ;owful way of His three-anrthSrvPnrf ^f /°u^T ^^^ing hour His robe, I clung to tL^^nTr^"!'?'^ ^* *^^ ^em of seeching Him aiL He knefw^^^^^ ?^"^^"^*y> »>^- weakness of faith and what stJpWh 7? '"^ man~what -to have pity upon i^P ,4 !??*i?f^"°^^? affection even than the ruler's daughter) ^hom I Wed"' ^'^'""^'^ ■^il eet. The figure e of the "thor- te so deadly as of its rich tints, e November day pound of flesh er the news as in each other's I that saw but ized the reflec- a wan counte- ^ympathy, very rangers, while lever been cal- in my profes- • and the flush had once been iVhenever and ifortunates, in ayer until my uembered the [e could do no I in the home yet out of the id His hands As the sick — in the high- >i owful way waking hour t the hem of umanity, be- i man — what nan affection ^id (younger d. MY LITTLE LOVE. 291 The shadow up jn the dial of Ahaz went backward ten degrees that trembling Hezekiah might know, for a certain y that his prayer for life was answered I thought it not presumption in me to ask that I might discern in the success of my ministry to the Lord's poor and smitten ones the sign that my cry for help had been heard. If, by unsolicited vigils and tireless labours be- side and for those who, to mortal eye, seemed marked for speedy doom, I could wave back the shadowing wings Sious life ? '^''''^P*^^ ""^ P^^* «^ *^^ ransom of the "Ye look as if summat had heartened ye up a bit " observed an Englishman-a Yorkshireman-who had been dragged out of a fallen house, the previous week, with a broken collar-bone, a compound fracture of the leg and three cracked ribs. "Something has !" I answered, smiling. 4. a7^^ }i^^^^ *^^*°* ^^^^^ heavy," he pursued. " But tudday they bees uncommon loight and delikit-loike. Ye couldn t handle yer sweetheart's feenger more tender nor ye re easin thot beeg j'int o'moine." 7*5?l^?*^ *S^^^ ^^^ ^®^* o^ with the bandaging. Mebbe ye bees thinkir/ o' hur, the whoile ?" he ven- tured, with a broad, kindly grin. "Perhaps so!" . "You've got one, then, hev you?" said another voice. m unmistakabe Yankee dialect. ' A thump between my shoulders emphasized the deli- cate jest. /i.^'^'^^^'^i ^^" ^f .^^ ^^"^^ '''" I demanded, frowning at Ezra Gaskm, in his Sunday suit, his leathery jaws wrmkled m longitudinal creases with his best attempt at an engaging smile. ^ " Come with a friend of ourn who ain't likely to give me much more troublft for n. Hn^ii if o »«,, -»,iJ.:«« u-,„ gom to make a die of it. Ther's been a row, some kind on the wharf, and this fool-fellow, h^ was into it, of it ? Ill iti! 292 MY LITTLE LOVE. chap up al, .,„a„, will yol AiyZ'l^l *""' ^" P.tch hin, out of the window.l^d'^t aftSV"""'' " rlf °°\rf'f =" ''^ I had meant that he should tome now " he reRnmp/i ,'« « * -, ■ "'""• 'eodling. '■•Taint rhT«i,".„\',T..^''«'8?.^'l ^r and an inques ?n % C«« So "off iT T'"?-"'^''' town, and eot him ZJZh^Uv. ' ^ bnidles him to What come on irvouTe " T«:4bS:'^f •-??'» *'« - fton. Ms h«ts, my skirts is cleaf tcan-tZsZS MY LITTLE LOVE. I me we had jest , and I happened p, the Mary Jane I the hospittle fur mg, and see him nighest of kin ? ' a've did that 'ere in hand?" he establishment " I would sooner iter him !" ath a grimace of flesh under the " I said to him. for the sins of that he should, le designed for bear malice. I )me right for to 0, I s'pose, you prit thick — ^you ne mought say. 1, turn him out 31 an orph'n, — immer. I was —that blood- ^ynant— would 'ose you think, bad lot, I'd be m unprepared, )undles him to er, and this is hould happen n't answer for 293 the Darlings. People's conscience ain't all cut after the one pattern." He appeared nowise averse to the prospect of his rela- tive's "regular and decent" demise in a city hospital. I imagmed. "It is against the rules for you to stand talking here," said I very curtly. "Your nephew will be properly cared for by competent doctors and nurses. You had better go back to your wife and your shopping." " 'T would be a raal comfort for to leave him into a friend's hands," he persisted, without moving. " So's I could hear how he was a-gettin' on and in case of any- thmg happening, I'd hev information sent to me. I'm his guardeen by his father's will, and ther's a piece of prop- erty on which his father bed a mor'gage. It's in the court now— the property, I mean— and ef the fellows don't swaller it up with the first mor'gage ther' maybe a chance o'somethin' coming' to Ziby. And, in the event of his dessolution, I'd be his heir, seein' he ain't of age." I beckoned up an attendant— a stalwart porter. " See this man down stairs and into the street !" I said. " He is distubing the peace of the ward. Don't let him in again without my permission." "By jarge!" uttered my Englishman, eyeing the slouching yeoman as he was escorted down the long roona by the broad shouldered Milesian. "He'd fain talk 'ee legs off an iron pot— yon chap ! Ye wur hard on he, maister— main hard ! I'd niver tho't to heer ye coom so naigh sweering. It's the mairciful as obteens maircy, sir. No offence to yer honour!" I bit my lip to hold in the tart word his interference merited, and finished dressing his injuries before I trusted myself to reply: " There is a text, too, in the Good Book about being angry and sinning not, my friend. You would have kicked that fellow down the stairs had you been able to 'in m vn !|l . 1; (, 294 MY LITTLE LOVE. Stand upright and known all tl-nf t ^ i. . his blackguard nephew Or vou«i^l°"* ^^ ^«d you for." ^ ^ ^®" *^^6 not the man I take whjcr^^r^ste^ twTs*«?^^''"'^. *^^ ^^d on and I could avoid it convenientiv T '""^ "^ *^^ ^^^d, after by my coadjutor TcWr l ^ ""^^ ""'" ^°°^^^ tbe case to me as severe mZr^^'T'' ^^^ '^P^^ted chief cause of apprehen«inn ^^^"^ dangerous. The state of the BystTct^eTuU^pon^t^I^^^^^ I took advantage of AilL'-T f .^ ^ nahits. the room that evfninL to ^^^^^^^^^ S«^^«« ^^^^ markable instance, of r ghteo, « If w '' ^^^' *^e re- the wretch who had done ^e^n! I? '''''. *^^* ^^^ ^^'^ my mercy. ^ ""^ "^^^t harm at the door of pend!d"*urn Jot' JoTsslonT"' 5^^ ^^'^ ^- ^^^e de- " I doubt it ! krha ' T^ -^^^^ - '^'^ '""^'^^^^ cian's oath might Ik? t"Z«/'^^'"°^ ^^ *^« P^i- an artery to keep ^m from hft'^ T^ «^« to tie up would^notliketo^ng^^^^^^^^^^^ But? her sigh softly. ^ ^ """^ "^^^t them. I heard -myrte's'L'dfo^tir^^^^^^^^ lamtooyoung a feat of forgivenerir;Me'tv7T^P"^ attendance upon Ziba Gask n H^^'''^°^^«d m personal may be." ^^askm, however badly hurt he sta^td%;ertha?'w^^^ qSly W I 'T'' -^^^ *^^ to Aunt Evy's face Thn? « -^Jr °* ^^ lowering brow had been o^verheard. The S^ '' *^^ ^^«* «^^^^^^^^ mentioned in the familv and Sri ""^^^ ^*« ^ever imprudence, I watched her n^J^nti^^^J ^^^"^ ^* ^^ ^^n mvHfov fi,'*T .^t .^?^nai^owlydurina f.h« ,.ln* -.x " •''"^^^^"^^S^^J^^g^formyselfifrar^iJi,;,'^ ) about him and )t the man I take »ach the bed on end of the ward, was well looked lan who reported iangerous. The le inflammatorv J habits. *^ V absence from s Marr the re- )n that had laid at the door of lad his life de- said seriously, ig of the physi- n me to tie up death. But I en that much on me, I knew, lem. I heard am too young complish such i in personal >adly hurt he red from the )wering brow last sentence B was never d at my own ' th« V/io* ^£ irm had been MY LITTLE LOVE. 295 tr^y 'h ^^-x ^^' ""^^y S^^*^^ a^d cheerful. Her ^fp^?^TwT•'l^™!J''^P'""g'^^ilyi^*oaloveU^^^ 01 calm that heightened her resemblance to her "twin " iir.J'u ^T r^ ^^^''. ^""^"^"g ^^s^-'" I said, gayly, pat- ting her head approvingly, as she occupied her low stool at my knee. "We shall have you as round and rubby as a Spitzenberg apple by Christmas." bhe smiled, held my palm to her cheek and made no otner answer. "Beefsteak, oysters and omelets ought to pad one's bones pretty comfortably," I continued. "I say, Ailsie 1 am growing distressingly gaunt. Can't you persuade your JJr. Lawrence to prescribe such diet for me?" 1 dare say you take enough of them without his pre- scriptions, said she dryly. "They seem to do you so nttle good you had better try a course of Graham bread and gentian tea. Dr. Lawrence says there's nothing better for restoring the tone of the system. The olde? tHe bread and the stronger the tea, ^the better for you. One ought to get up a very loud tone upon such stuff as that— a perfect yell/ I know I feel like it when I take my bitters." "You are Rowing saucy as you grow stronger," said her aunt. "That is a good sign." "We must take her to Brightwood early next summer. By the first of June ^t latest," I went on. "By nutting- time she will be as well as ever. And, Ailsie! don't let It afflict you too much— but I am to have six weeks' vacation then. My two years' apprenticeship will have She did not reply, nor turn her eyes from the fire. What are you thinking of?" asked L "Of several things. One is, I am glad you are to have a long hohday after working so hard. Then, I was thinking of the time— ever and ever so many years ago --wnen you took me nutting in the winter, and what a rage I got into with the lady who sat down at our table .,,>?"» 296 MY LITTLE LOVE. andjold you-what wasn't true. What a little spitfire P^Ltsl "a" ' ' FroIiJhasIt w"* ^ *^^°^ "-* ^^P" reminiscence/ -I would r^^^^^^^ ^ '"^^"^^^ ^* th^ jolly day we spent amona th^t^iT ^?", *^"^^ «^ *he ago last month. W^n lo„ nio ^,^1^^.^^ ^^^^«' ^ year this babe-in-the-wood ami f^^'^ ?^^^^ Redbreast to jewels' besides Tnd of the-- ^^^^ ""'^^ ''""^^ there together, next year.'' ^ ^'^^''' ^" ^'^ *« ^^^ve thrsfte'^fnTuite^^^^^^ r ' we burn from sticks upon the firHo^s'X"^^ *^^ blazing It's onl^ a notion ofTourse BuJT ^ ^''^ ^\^^^"'*^ suffer more in the fire f b7n A* i. 1 imagme the logs don't know or are where T In? *^'/if°^' ^'""^ ^^ air and sunshine wire tip/ JtM"'* ^^^ ^^^^^^ ^^^^ how fresh and sweeUhe s"^- '^ *^'^' '^P' ^°^ to patter on theTleaves '"S^f ^^^^^'^ were that used to see their life to f drin . ^ ' '^' V"'^ ''""'^ ^^ste hearth." ^ ' "^'P ' ^rippmg down upon the real and cruel wrung mTLi^^^^^^^^^^ cousirtrSntetcrnext*:,/'^' *'f^ ^^«*^- --^ fancies," I said ''you '^'^s?lT''^ Aunt Evy's wood fire "' How^f *^' '^'^"*^ ^^ Jack will take your prefere^rp f5 t •1'' ^^^ ^^PP^^^ voice scarcely above a whisver~'UZ^ -f""''^' ,*^^^^^^^g to talh tv,„^u _i " vymsper — that it 18 wpII fr^r i- •'"^ngs that may never happen ? at a little spitfire nything that hap- coloured at the you think of the )od hills, a year bm Redbreast to De with 'crown cs we are to have )od we burn from ^ing the blazing I wish we didn't ! nagine the logs come from we how lovely the their sap, and J were that used uch cruel waste own upon the she knew that or waste more iers. r brother and ^e indulge such the beauty of you suppose 'y?" (the new to drive him ?" ■ hands — very yhtly, but she motion. ^eet, thrilling s well for us *^er happen ? MY LITTLE LOVE. 297 BrTgVtroTt'hr-'^ "'^ ^^- ^^^° '' ' ^^^"^^ ^- ^' in ^t ZT f""^ ^""^f^ ,*° }^' ™^«^ ' P^e««ed her face to the glass, feignmg look out-then quitted the room. n«nflv ^^Wl f^*^^'''"^*^^'^^" demanded I, indig- nantly. What do you suppose she means ?" bhe may be nearer right than we," said Aunt Evv tremulously. ''God only knows! But the notion- pray Heaven it may be nothing more-is her own. We are all hopeful of her final restoration. I have never lelt that we were to drmk of the cup the thought of whose bitterness makes us heart-sick unto death. Even o^uil^'"'^''''^' '^^'^ '^*^® impersonation of professional caution, IS encouraged. '' As he ought to be ! He would be purblind if he did not see how rapidly she has rallied in the last fortnight. Ihese bracing northwesters have put new hfe into her. 10 loster these unhealthy fancies would be the worst thing conceivable. We rely upon her indomitable spirit -her game blood,' as Wynant calls it, as much as upon her constitution, to pull her through." Aunt Evy repeated the four concluding words That 18 a genuine doctor's phrase. You all use it in speaking of her I ought to remind you, Barry-it is best for you to bear in mind-what a wreck may come ihl r ^l 7'f' ^^' ^^'' ^''' Lawrence agrees with the rest that she can never be altogether strong again ; that should she grow to womanhood the care Requisite unStYn ^' "" '"^ ^ moderate degree of health must be an invlif/il^ '* '" ^ ^^^^^^^t Promptly. If she remain r^M T 1' ^\T^^ reason why mine should be the dear right to cherish her. No ! no ! Aunt Evy ! you cannot intimidate me by such prognostications. Not though I were sure she would never know another dav or V'lr of health." -" ^'"^^' She^did not tell me that this impetuous \g of. the i! 11 ■ 1 1 II 4 ■1 ' ' H' '1 i :i| M m ' 298 MY LITTLE LOVE. gauntlet into the face of Fate was selfisli, if sincere I thrc-« It/* ™ '-''' ^^^ ''^^ ^'^ --^"- oftit^ht "7""' ?'* ''^^' ^ ''^'^^* ^-^^ brought to my ofcce ^y a hired messenger. Just under the lid wSe u. letters. One superscribed in Aunt Evy's hand- liead thisjirstr contained but eight lines. r^^iw ^^ ^'"'l .*? ^'^^^^^^ ^^^^ I bave told the dear one nothnig except that Ziba Gaskin is in the hospita ba^; huit. All that follows her knowledge of this is the out flow o her own heart and such Christian chadty as on^ cannot name without reverence. She has just come to ask my assistance in packing the basket, and devirng a what she 18 doing may not meet with your approval I need not counsel you to discretion." ^PP^o^ai. l ihis was Ailsie's note : hearfyo71lMbot'"''~^"".* ^'^ '^^^ ^^^'^ ^^'^ I neara you call that poor man's name, last nighi vou Z: iTlf^'Z f °"' 'f ^^^?.^ ^^ ^'^^ hospi?aT^P^;a says 1 ought to know it, so that I need not be afraid Sid "; tLTtf""' "^"^ *^^ ''''''' ' balettte'en airaicl ol this for some time, now. I am very sorry to hear of what has happened to him. Would you mind giving him the things I send, and telling him I W never forgotten that the poor old lady, his grandmother was kind to me the day of the thunder-st^orm ? If he should feel badly because it was meeting him last sum mer that made me sick, please tell him^ot to minH any longer He d dn't know what he was do ng Tha 18 the worst about getting drunk. I hope he will get well. I prayed for him, last night and this morning^ " Your dear little Ailsie. JL^i^^^'^'^^^^T •^"''* ^^y ^«^ *e"i^g tales out of school.^ I made her do it, and wouldn't be put off. " P.S., No. 2.-1 open this to say that you must not MY LITTLE TiOVR. 299 mnrf pLI? ^?''T '" ^^'^^^ ''^'^^ ^ '^« ^o the poor man People who do not understand that the doctors wont let me eat fruit and other sweet things, are all the time sending them to me. I am glad to M some body who needs them. It is a real favour to me you uht^u ^7^ ^""^ intimated truly that commonc^mor'tals should attend reverently upon the impulses of such a fvn 7,l^^l?.^vithin this fragile child-frame. ^ 1 htted the white napkin covering her offering as the firL^rf ' ^^'T^ ""^^^ '^'' *^P^« ^"d shadows of the first dispensation, might have handled a sacrifice after it was laid upon the altar. Beneath were hot! It w?^^''' r^'g^^' golden-russet pears, some dd - cate wafers and a mould of calf's-foot jelly. I caS the basket with my own hand to the cot of him who had notWn.'y hT '"* '' *'? r ?* ^«"^S life,-fo7ge'tting nothing of his crime, while I compelled myself bv thoughts of his victim, to greet him civilly. ^ ' ^ . , You recollect me, I see," I added. " I am the phv- sician in charge of this ward. I saw you last summer while I was hunting in the Brightwood woods ^r' Darling s youngest daughter-the one you met in the road tha afternoon-sends you this^ basket. Your grandmother was kind to her o^ce, when she came ?o see me at your uncle's and she is glad to be ableTo do you a kindness in remembrance of this " I felt that every sentence ought to be a living coal upon his head, nor did I regret, as a Christian should IZe'Zy b^ngX "" ''' ^^^^ ^' ^^^^^ ^^^^ , J'^.r^^^^^^are of the fruit and other things for you'like.'^' '* '^'' '^* ^ ^"^"^ °^ ^apes nW, if «y- MY LITTLE LOVB. Hie lips were dry with fever and the drunkard's thirst His red eyesghstened at sight of the luscious cluster IlbitlTI/T'T?^' \" P'i' "'^"' •'^'■y "ith the back nltttftiem of i"^ '"" °™' "" '"' P'"- - - "rdasliefswallersomuch p'ison as to eat one on em ! he growled. " You needn't kick a feller when he's tT'y. ^TT f'' "^^*^^^- I ^i»'t got quite low as to be beholden to none of the Darling tribe. You can IZmlTiir *' """^^ "^ean.spirited sneak what ^ I was detained by a press of business at the hosDital that mght, and coukJ not pay my evening visit to my it e evangel. I wrote, mstead, as follows : ^ Precious Child :-I am too busy to come to you this evenmg. I have only time to writo , little story for you to dream upon. -^ Ja^ %Jf ce grew by chance, on the edge of a mud- ^ A^!t ^h '^''"^* ^^« t^^* t^« lily looked very white and the puddle very black. ^ ' 1! A^H'T^*^ ^"""^ ^^^^^^ ^»<1 message as requested -AuntEvy can put these two paragraphs together and tell you more than I have leisure to do now ''Lovingly your Barry— and yours only " nJ««^rf-'''^'fu*''''^^'^r .*^ *1^^ particulars of' the presentation of her peace-offering. It would have been like throwing mud over the lily. B CHAPTER XXIV. THE WINTER ROBIN. E all attended church on Thanksgiving-dav even Baby and Aunt Evy who rode thither in a close carriage. By appointment, I called by for Ailsie, and two happier beings did not breathe the pure air of that morn- ing than were we as we walked to the house ot (joD in company. "I've kept this new suit for to-day," she informed nspect It. "I had a fancy to be new and fresh all through on Thanksgiving-day. It's the first time I've put on rmZ winter clothes, and I thought about offering the first fruits. It's natural for womeni^.s to like prettf dresses and all that ; and though, of course, it ?ea% makes no difference, I felt, somehow, that I Wed o sanctify the first wearing of mine. I haven't one thing ""Vhe '« «nT?'. T ^'^T' ^'"^ ^y ^'^^ t« ^y «hoes." i iie suit —dress and sacque— was dark green cash- mt.., edged with black fur. a band of the same encircled her cap, which was of dark green velvet A sma 1 India scarf with a ecarlet centre was tied about her throat. Tlie dainty ruffles she loved were in neck and sleeves. Gloves and boots fitted to a charm. ^^ A French child ! " I overheard a lady say in passing. A good many people call me that," observed quick- sThrntn'^'n ^ T^^""'' ^'^^"'^ ^^ ^^'' ^^^ skin are so brown. One of my very great -grandmothers wua j^rencn woman. I knew that her bearing and the indescribable and !i III i 802 MY LITTLE LOVE. mJll° ?V" "?°"''''' ''*"•> ""^^ ™s ibo lady born-not topico Ie/o™'irk,7''' »''^ «»"'i°»e4 leaving the self '< Sh , "' '" """ ™"™ interesting to her- vervZd hn w™'' '■'''' ""' *™o last year ! I am Sfr'nlleBicirrd-s""'^"' ''^^'" "" «-''»*' ""^ "So am I!" Srw'entin? """""^^^^ ""> '»'''='' " ™^ ^^'id. beaUveTrj''',T''"'.i'r8 *'^*''™ months longer to ue aliye to-day. Doesn't it come over you all in Irnsh sometimes, how good God is, and how much we have to r^all7and*ffl;''"'r'?; ™'"'^^ "> yo»-df irthere a ^ :rtt'^"" "" °"^ shapely toe,L a 'sJ^M tTkenTf day," Tsaid!"' "''"'''"*' '""' """'^ ''""" '""* ''escribe to- to 'mS •"'' ""^ '"''"" ■" ""'"'"8 °P '''»«e and eagerly I repeated — In Winter'^ il"^'°.^ •'^^ *^^* sometimes comes, in wmtei s front, so fair 'moug its dark peers It seems a straggler from the files of June ' And half Its heauty ; and when it returned, Finding Its old companions gone away It joined November's troop, then marching past." " Poor daj !" said Ailsie comnassinnot i.. «. p,,i. ^. Will rejoice and be glad in it now th7t it is here. I sup- i on, which was a was clearly and ad no susi)icion. ! lady horn— not eeding. aed, leaving the teresting to her- 3n, nor too ^old ist year ! I am bat fearful ride 1 it was said. 3nths longer to >u all in a rush luch we have to 3elf if there are and pain and read and heard ? That's just ite ! " whirling slight token of lat describe to- Je and eagerly comes, ers, past." J- JuUt W(J here. I sup- MY LITTLE LOVE. 803 lI%Tei'th!s^''Tf^- 'Pl^^ '''' '^'^y ^^y i^ heaven as lao ovei this. That's a pleasant thing to look forward " Life is a pleasant thing as it is," said 1. " Esneci ally when my httle winter robin is 'well and bright?' I held it there. " You are running up like Jonah's eourd Chh-i^ • are^qmte tall enough to^valk arm in ar'm Sh me." '~ And are you, hke Jonah, exceedinc^ olad of fbp mZ'tl/h^f^'^'f;"^*?^*^^^ "1^™^ twist'of eye and mouth that meant teasmg. "It is not a verv ele-ant Ta^v Sl^ ^vf 'T' '''' '' ^^" berTuc^ t vul- onL whOe vm, ]!^/'''* '^y 1^^'^P^^"^' ^' c^icumber, at brsome In-i^ n^^^^ '' ^'^ ^'^^^ '^ That would oe sometbmg origmai, and more useful as well as sweeter than gourd. I tasted one once. Pah''' ±5ut Jonahs gourd was not what you think " I de- fended myself. " It was the palm-christ, a taTl gracefu plant that shot up hke a tree with long broad leaves drooping over him like an um:.ella." excited Iv '* ^'TJ ^ i-r^ r" ^'' ^'^^^S ^^ •'" «he cried the stj; nf '' ^'^'^ to imagine him as sitting in tHe shade of a coarse sprawling vine, hke the one ?bn+ ran up a po e at Brightwood last year, t'tli bi^e Imv flowers, and maybe, httle green gourds, bumpin. h s orlr /oTS ^""7'^- • ^^\ '"^ '^' hip being tree tore.d t^f^r'' ^"°™g ^^at it was a beautiful tree to read that God prepared a worm the verv next pooiJonah ! I am afraid any of us would have ou ir relied about it, and said, to God's very face, that we dM r^^^''^ '' '""'^ ^^^^ - '^^ -Sht iiave e^oyel ha;i^i^r!!s^^-{^t^^r;^i^ ill %!|: '"nj#'*r : 804 MY LITTLE LOVE. I. haff me?ry hainoilLlr^ ^T^' ^^'^^S a glance, reverentl/knd stered f hT ^'''; Then hers settled side. ^^"^^^ *^^ sanctuary softly at my haSalS;t'mt"^^^^ T^ T-^ ^^^^^ ^- in the sermon omrif.' u, ^^""^"^^ mention was made daily fooS raiment raridr^^^'-""^ ^^^ ^^^^^d«' sat throughout th^serVce *' "'^ ^"""^ *^^ y^^^' '^^ " saw' he'r' tTa's^ 1}'^^ T ^^'^l^ ^^^ *^^ ^-«* ^ymn, I Otherst'si^e myU t'ppreld'th'"^ ^' ^" ^^^^^•" the clear tones so fu 1 an JLf f l*^^'"" ""^'"^^ *« ^^ar see that they Lued from « I?mV^-^ ^T- '"'P"^^^ *« sacred songf ^ ^ ^^'^^ ^ ^^P«' which raised the " ° w °." long-expected I weary Waits my anxious soul for Thee wi'^mM"^ earth is dreary When Thy light I do not seZ O my Saviour I When wilt Thou return to me ^ " N«„arer is my soul's salvation Spent the night, the day at hand • Keep me in my lowly station, ' Watchmg for Thee, tUl I stand. O my Saviour I In Thy bright and promised land " ^stT//TP ^«"-trimmed and burning Swift to hear, and slow to roam ^' Watching for Thy glad returning ' To restore me to Thy home Come, my Saviour ! U my Saviour, quickly come ! " hoit' repeated the second stanza whUe we were walking saw it before ! " ocrange that I never UD^to 'l^';'^ ^fi-'f ''T"^ it_ above-stairs when .h. ho A ..«e »P to Uy off her hat and sacque. The refrain7''b^my lashing a glance, Then hers settled lary softly at my i once laying her nention was made ealth and friends, I'ing the year, she the last hymn, I ce of an angel." r voices to hear s^ere surprised to which raised the 7 Thee. ty e, ? hand; .nd, nd. d burning, am; e were walking d tune!" she that I never she had gone rain, "0 my MY LITTLE LOVE. 305 Tplf M^^ number of us sat down to dinner that day George Marr, his wife and six children, Wynant and his i,i«? ^.1.'"'*^ *,^' ^^"^^"8^- A* «^^ conclusion of the meal, the parlours were left to the children by the adj^ournment of their elders to the hbrary for a quia? At ILs end of an hour I arose. vZlr ^^^.^<^* obliged to leave us already?" said Pre«8ley Darling, hospitably regretful. "I thought you had an all day furlough." "^uugut you acrlss^hpCn T^''!,^\ a -f ^°^.^"^^§ ^« ^"^^^^^ than across the hall to see that Ailsie does not over-exert her- adl^tS^SroTtf^^^^^^^^ ^- P-Po- to "Shame!" ejaculated his sister-in-law. I laughed. "That will be as she shall choose. Just now there is a professional bias in my interest." in hind '^^'"^vl^'^-iM'^Si^i^y '^*^^^^^' l^andkerchief in nand. You will be Bluif— won't you"?" fullvl In 1h ' *^' «P^\^*;?^ being performed so faith- at the roof nAr f^^^'^^^^' f^^ threaten an embolism ilnH/rl ^^^}^^'l'. I" three rounds I caught and dentified her and pulling off the bandage, proposed to tell the small mob a story. I established mVenTn an easy-chair near the fire. Ailsie fluttered to^my knee noflnr ^fi^T^ ^^""* ^«' ^«^^ «« chairs, some on ttrth rui Mv h'^!- '^f""^ r^ ^^^°g^^g ^P«" the nearm-rug. My darling leaned on mv brpasf. nr^aor^+K, ana m fciie hope that she would fall asleep ri'spun'out my narration by unnecessary details and digressions *riy'l!S 806 MY LITTLE LOVE. i1! \m ^ What makes you do that?" I asked, quickly thaf?tll1"' """'""^ ' ^ ^"' °'- '=<'"='' in m7&-eath- ru^ Stt„\t^^d:" 'Tz ':^-'r' \ " "-•' rompiugtooharf RlinV .,.,£'''''' ^ou have been ta.:;ntiS''or;v^io^E;;f^^^^^^^^ chamiiiR than to lit ?n /i ^'''"'*'^ ''''"''■'g mof" twilight LdTsten •• " ""^ ''™"""» *''<' «'■<' in «"' da4rs"^*!'d%hry".' *?i"' ""'" '""S" became their nu/ses, flMtrtea^^^Lttotd '"'* """^-^ ""^ "^^ Ailsie and I had the room and red half Uahi, ^t .1, ara--t;t;t ^x^*- '- ' gotd^ail tt tentedlv Ivino h»^I „„ * /^', ™*' murmured, coii- mine, ^' ^ ® """'' ^ "^ *»«"«. ''« cheek against acheTtThe thtntr, o^".'' """"fr'T' ^'*°"« -^ h«»'- to my li « , .LtIw.,/ ""f S'^'l ^'''^ band I pressed the sffiledlook^nd fr'i"'''"'',*'''^ P^l-" '^teincd now tha^S I'fir^rtrcdvS'lt"' i"f ''r*''^''''''" She would get well, 'f dS' ' th"t™ better. cations relative to future weakness 'and "^olSS" MY LITTLE LOVE. h 807 fering. How could she fail to recover, with voiith a faultless constitution, and all the ass duity of love's theTra'nsient h"''/ ^''^ '^^"' '''^''^'' tl^-b succeSg the tiansient heart-pang was a pman of gladness in the joyful going out of this Thanksgiving-day. Ailsie talked on brightly. ° ^ -^ h.Vj^^^ ? '^'*^' *^^ °*^'''' ^^^>'' «f a book-keeper who S hk «t1^^'T 1 ^^' ^^^^^ desk, and ihen he ZT:' a ^}%^''^. «*ayed on the wall for six months vou ?t lltf'^ r *%"?*• ^^ ^ ""'''' *« «*«P ^vatching for f W 1* V i ?f '^^'^ ^ ^'^''^ '^y .^^^ w«^^ld see something "T wnnf. ^'\\^' *^^^^^ ^°^ ^"^*^ ^ ^i"i^ afterward.^ don'f iTw f^'f*^'"' see you!" I affirmed, honestly. "I don t like fetches and shadows." She glanced awfty from the subject to tell me how well Evv ^''.'d^l'*"'^ "^ ^'^f^ ^''' ^^""^^*^^« ™k. "Alt fushinn. L /r '^^^'''^ '' ^'"'* «*«^'^ «f ^^t«' tidies, kent « ;w ^*f''' '*';'.'*'^" ^^''' manufactures being recipients ' '''''* ^''''' '^'^' "^ *^^^ prospective ouf't '' '!l.l'^'^^y''^~i^^f ^y "^y pocket-money has held economt '''tuTu^^ the satisfaction of a' judicious Td ?^ .1 /// ^^' ^^atf lals I Bball need are paid for, ^^oodiP. ' ?n^ dollar-and-a-half in my purse for Christma goodies lor the children's stockings." ;;And you don't o^^ a penny? Happy Ailsie! " Not a cent my dear sir! The world and I are even. " btie did not see me smile, being engrossed in her much-loved study of the fire. Mt>ssea m ner "Only one month more !" she sighed, presently. " Mr quest^on^?" ''"''' '^"^^^ "' '''^' ^'''^^ ^' ' ^^^ you one " That ia the last thing I should accuse you of, even in you eat, the better I like vou/' Rnp'nf-^nf!?^' '" ^^r* ^«^,bi*lden fruit. I don't like to speak ot it here at home, because they all feel so badly If 1^ !!) i (•f 308 MV LITTLE LOVE. to be excused before it comes on ?hp toi i m^^^" ^^^ eat more comfortably fn?l?i • *^^^^- ^^^y ^"s* eyes watchinnvery m ^^S^r^/^^' ^."^^^-^ that I may have iust ZTh^tr, ,^"* ,^o« * you believe eat them, lam sure to wll. "" "i-"'^ ^'"'^' '^^y *» when I passX™o"f^„trne:7wind„r T hteT'rt' the other wav or T fll,n,,i^ i. ",^^°"Ows, i Jaave to look »'!'-?- aM ?an"d'/a'„VS^.'' '" ^""'^- " P''- realtSntrTSed'lhT'rt *" <''^^''"""^ "er 1» hSlTF= -^^^^^^^^^ strength and flesh YeMhl ^Ju ^^"?^ ^^^ ««^«^^ed had ever spoken ''^' *^' ^"^>^ complaint she theleafd^4L?v:?er:iVl^^^^^^^ *'.^* ^^?.«^^" ^- answered. - The fruits of «1 1. ."'*'• ^'^ ..*^^* ^^y'" ^ had. For twentv fonr Ln! ^^ *m?P'''' ^^ *^^y ^^n be the doctors.'^ ^' ^'"'' ^" ^^^" «"^P «"r Angers at "Thank you a thousand times ' And— dnn'f i.. I try not to be impatient— bnf if T 1 ?? * ^^ ^"^^^ ' and less skeleton.rCvn't I bfJ/f f ^f '^'f ^^^^^g"' New Year's? rmr^]Ttl:-AFJu '*"^^ '^ ^^«^^ after dunce out-and-oS.'' ^ ^'^ ^ '^'" ^^^^ "P *« be a r '11^"^,?^* • If yon continue to imnrnye dur-- ^^■- ne.. a.onth as steadily as you have inihe Lt ;7;m ut 80 many things, t if I didn't beg her nt. So I always ask e table. They must ^mg my big, hungry ut don't you believe «^hite grapes, and one ly? It seems babyish tvant such things so , almost every night, sveets either. I am rchards, loaded witli my hand, ready to ven in the day-time, >W8, I have to look ed to smash a pane y to dissemble her k so near my lips, 1 the fierce cravings lices were perverted ito greed for that hich had consumed mly complaint she at you shall have , on that day," I )ics, if they can be map our fingers at [ — don't be angry! n getting stronger study a little after grow up to be a the last, we will MY LITTLE LOVE. 309 begin to talk about lessons with the New Year. Am I a very stern master, pet ?" ^"i x a JJ Never anything but good and dear !" she cried cling- ing o me. " That IS one of the reasons I hope God will let me live. I want to do something for you--some- hmg to show how thankful I am to ySu, how much I love you, if I ever have a chance. I have been such a bother and nuisance lately! nothing but a great, clumsv. fa'nd\TdT:n ifg^^^^^^ "^ ^^^^^^^^^^ *^^* '^ g-- t^ I put my finger upon her lip. "No more of that-or I shall think you are fishing for a compliment ! " ^ "I seem never to have known how kind people could be until this Fall," she resumed, when 1 would let her "P^,r ^ ^r^^^^* ^^^^ friends I had. It is a lovely world, and this is one of the lovely times in it-to sit with you on Thanksgiving evening, and talk just as I please. It is good that you could get away from the hospital. You said that poor Ziba Gaskin was getting along nicely, didn't you ? " & 6 hos M^'^^^ ^e well enough in a week to leave the "I hope he will do better after this. I am almost sure he will. It has been such a sad lesson for him Un t you keep an eye on him, and help him, somehow, to be good, after he gets about again ? " " I will try, Ailsie— if you wish it." The reserve of the sentence had to be brought up to help the van off the field. She noticed my stammer. I vuuuer This was not preaching-only thinking aloud. The shm hands were chafing each other slowly-the eves lu 01 shadows that were lovelier than earthly 1 ghts^ " For ^;ur*7al" V^' '^"' ^""''^ ' ' ' -P-ted,"sinW "Philandering as usual !" called Wynant's pav tones them ?""'• " ^" '^^"' ""' themselves'and nobodVS totiiifbfJ'T'^ ""* ^"""i"' saucy defiance, not offering to quit her place on my knee. She even stole one arm around my neck. He was jealous of her preference fo^ see' tl?m'''Th!^ ^'^.'1*^' '^^^^ P"'**^ ^^^^ ^^^en you see them, she said, her eyes dancing. - You sneak like a person of experience.'' ^ The others were too close upon his heels for him to pai-ry the thrust. He contented himself wi h a gL e pull of her ear and a - Sauce-bov r utter-dT4de 1 had promised to be at the hospital by 'ten o'clock MY LITTLE LOVE. 811 At a quarter past nine I took leave of Ailsie in the hall tjJn, ]:^^Tir' '^^"^^'^^ ^^' ^--p* ^^ n/+/°? ought not to sit up ten minutes later," said I, ^ui ^1* 'ii ^^l' 1^^"^' ^"*^^^ *^^^* ^'' ^y^^^vere Ian-' Attracted n,i 1 "\' ''^'^^'^ *^ ^^^*"^^' ^^^^ ^^^^ atti acted my attention once before that evening of pressmg her hand to her chest with a laboured brtth You are weary, precious child ! Tell me ! have you On the landing she looked back aud seeing me still watching her, threw me a kiss, smiUn^^ly Then I heard her begin to sing in the upper hall catching up my word—" weary:" ^^ ' " O thou long-expected ! weary Waits my anxious soul for thee !" In passing from one room to another her song was muffled for a m mute, but whilo 1 stood below and hark- scarcely defined into uneasiness, another verse floated "With my lamp well trimmed and burning, Hwift to hear and slow to roam Watchmg for thy glad returning ' To restore me to thy home; Come, my Saviour!* O my Saviour quickly come!" The door of her chamber closed. I should gather nothing more by longer waiting. ^ .hl^^^^^\^^'''' ''?^^'''^ '^^^*^^ ^*il the angels' song shall awaken me from my death-sleep. ^ :! '' i U !i CHAPTEE XXV. "at six o'clock this morning." t?^^^ ^^^^'^ "^^^°^ ^oo«i' with a row of win e beds on the side bounded by the inner wall. Ihe windows on the other carefully shaded by green jealousies. In every bed a man or a boy-for Thanksgiving frolics and n arvTfl '^^"^^"^^^^^"P ^^^ brought the custo- mary influx of patients to the accident warrl a'lr'ar'doV"' ^- -ith bowls, plaTefan • w' tH' u Z""^?!^ bending over as many beds f^P^n^^''''?'^^r*'''?™^«^^^* ^^^ farther^nd of he apartment a s ice of pale blue sky, out into irregu- i ;^ by a peaked house-roof. Midway in the afsle between beds and outer wall, myself, staring at an open note which contains a single line. s **" «-" open I have had it perhaps a minute, but I have had time to pass out of my own personaHty, since I opened it -^o doubt and then to disbeheve that this can be the same man who bound up the shattered hand of the boy ov^r khty that the young bones would knit soon and Irmlv Have had time to see myself as the soul, rid of the My' might survey the motionless figure, rooted to the floor' with blank eyes bent upon the one line • pollfble.'' '" ^'"^ '"• ^^' ''"^*' y^"- ' ^^^^ *« "«^ if That is all, and it is in Evelyn Marr's handwriting No date. No signature. « writing. I^think an attendant accosted me, and finding m- deal, touched me. But I remember nothing that passed li MY LITTLE LOVE. 313 ;ning. ' m, with a row of ided by the inner e other carefully In every bed a giving frolics and brought the custo- le accident ward, plates anc band- as many beds, le farther end of , out into irregu- va,y in the aisle ;aring at an open I have had time 3e I opened it ; to ian be the same of the boy over he strong proba- soon and firmly. I, rid of the body, ted to the floor, Come to us, if i-'s handwriting. and findin» mp hing that passed his sh^ouMer: rndtrtuuT Wb t""' ""' ^'™««^'' in my hand, thLJYnT ^te T^.sifZI Z •"*?.« the call be urgent, Dr. Haye-" ^' ^ ~ '' 1 waited for nothing more. house""' ^'' ^^'^"''""' ""ming out of Mr. Darling's ;; That dear little creature-" he began. " The enj ^"I'TS^f ^^- " ^hat is it ?" soon/' ^"' ^ '""' ""* «"»"gW « wold be so " You are sure ?" uTl^Hi f\^^1^l' °^ ^ '^«"''^*- You see-" oquy ""''^ ^'' pathological summary in solil- My darling ! if / could bear it all for you' could Ha down here m your stead ! " ^ "® wou?d hav^'^fd'" '"^'^ ^^"^^^^^ -^^*-- ^1- B^e it ;^;^y:no^^r^;^ ^-rosity, in heroism, She stayed with us all that dav All tbnf ^«.. i a a tw*e hours before we had pro^mis^' ^ ySis up^' -not one of us left Father, mother, aunt and lover- 21 314 MY LITTLE LOVE. i!lV i^t '''''' ^J^i oi-.vvas admittod-the pastor who had baptized her a babe m her fatlier's arms, who had yes- terday bidden us rejoice iii the possession of health and friends and unstriclven hearts. She knew him as she did each one of us, thanked him-with the native grace which must still bo hers, because so essential a part of Her, in heaven— for coming to see her. . He was a good man, and his heart softened to yearn- 3?r7v ! ^'f'''^ ^''^''''- ^' *^"^^d no platitudes, nor did he torture her, or us, with many sentences. ^^ Dear child ! do you love the Saviour ? " w V ^^I'r ^ Senile surpvised smile. " I always did." lou believe ;that He is as certainly with you now— as certainly loves you as does your mother here? that come what may of suffering or change, He will never leave, nor forsake you?" " 1 know it l" Her voice was feebler, yet steadier than was his. The thrilling tones never lost their music. ^^lif t''^\^ r^^ ''''*^' ^^^'' "°^' ^^^^ Ailsie ? And what shall I ask for you ? " " Would you mind— " the familiar formula— " would it be wrong to ask that I may breathe a little easier? bes?for me/? ^'"^ ^' wilhng-if He thinks it is «itlr^"l%^^*''*^r^^i''^ ^'^^ "" ^^^^^ *« «ee her aunt sitting at her piilow, she put out her hand in entreaty. **Aunt Evy! do go and lie down for awhile! You must be worn out. You will make yourself sick. i^apa, mamma, and my Mr. Barry will take care of me while you take a nap." had miTde^if ^"^ ^^^^'""^ ^^^ beef-tea, she inquired who " Norah," was her mother's answer. " It is very nice. Thank her for me— please ! " At dusk of the heavy-footed day, I lifted her into a MY LITTLE LOVE. 315 e inquired who fitting posture, while her mother re-arranged her pi,, tried to «Tg: ™"' ""''• "^^ "'"<• ^™n'Iered, and she " Nearer is my rouI's salvation, Spent the night, the day—- screened from the dyb. eyes LiZi '''^""""^ ^^« loved faces about her From fl: 1^ /n ^^l^g^^^ed the a cry or groan or the foinT.f • ^ '' •*^''"' ^^^ ^^^^ »>een The strong fearlLlLn] IV ^^ impatience, in the fulf know edL o wZ h'!?'*'"^ !^t ^^^^^ ^^'^^^rs but for us; though ^°^i«"«. resolved to spare , 1 nic * ""*' ^'''' °"^« ^^^^e ; memories ^ "' P"'"'"* P^^" ^^^^ heart-rending niglt-rlKltk^^^^^^^ f ^- P-*-g' last eager tone : ^"i^^iy-a rmg of exultation in the "Opapa! papa!" ,, ;^^- -Barry ! I wish— " What, my dearest 9" I shall never know in this life. Nor, though she lay thus in our sight, seeming to "■■■^iTT--r,rT«W5SWWTOr«BBSE!.;ft-Tift^;'j ! .11 Sr pi I hii i ■ill 'f:i' 316 MY LITTLE LOVE. sleep peacefully until the dawn of another day, did she ever speak again, or give other sign than the deep breathing of a tired child, that she might still be num- bered among the living of earth. At day-break, as the night-lamps began to burn gross and yellow, the breath fluttered over the lips for the last time. I was back in the surgical ward before the sun shone over the obstructing roof into the window at the eastern end. I was not faint, although I had scarcely eaten a morsel since my breakfast of the previous day. Not weary, for all my trying vigil. Nor had grief acted as a tonic, bracing me for the work of the hour by beget- ting indifference to personal comfort. I was simply be- numbed and incredulous. The desire of my eyes had been taken away by a stroke so sudden and stunning that I did not know it had been removed. Not even when a shambling wretch, his arm in a sling, and his lank jaws overgrown with a carroty beard, ar- rested me in my rounds. "I say, doctor !" he said awkwardly, "I s'posel shall be let go in a day or so ?" I nodded, and would have pushed on but he detained me. " I've been a thinkin' since you fetched me that basket one day, soon after I come, about that little girl of Darling's. I don't mind sayin' as how I'm downright sorry for what happened last summer, and you can tell her so, if you're a mind to. Ezry Gaskin's wife— what I won't call "aunt" — had some bug-a-boo story 'bout it's having kinder upset her so's her health has been poor, ever since. However that may be, I wish I'd never played the trick on her. How is she gettin' along?" " She is dead ! " I said, briefly. '* She died at six o'clock this morning." -daverout ang jaw drop in dismay, and I went on to the next bed beyond I*! her day, did she than the deep ht still be num- an to burn gross e lips for the last :e the sun shone iw at the eastern scarcely eaten a i^ious day. Not d grief acted as hour by beget- [ was simply be- of my eyes had n and stunning i. is arm in a sling, rroty beard, ar- " I s'pose I shall but he detained 'etched me that t that little girl w I'm downright ,nd you can tell in's wife— what boo story 'bout lealth has been be, I wish I'd is she gettin' Jhe died at six 18 hue, his jaw 3xt bed beyond. MY LITTLE LOVE. 317 dpn<->i aa T «,^ ^J 1 "im. 1 iiaa tola bmi of her wife's o'harsT'by'hirC' if foil: "'''fu"' '""^ ""«''" duty to do it. ' ' '""''" '" *'"' ™y of my on Thanksgiving nTglit : ' '""""'^ '" "" «y'"«^-<=^"« "She is dead. She died at six o'clock this mornin.. " heart. ""'^ ^^ grieved to the age whThlid V" ^'^ "^ f r"°8 f**""^' ^ho"' my own age, wno had been severely bnrnpfJ +lia «;r»i,+ i r*^ • attempting to extinguish t'he^alf ^sf ^/ThiM wardlt trtime' ^,^-^1^^ ^epoi^ed my substitute in he Tg sil ntlv h^ f '' S^'^-^S^* ^^- I ^«^^d him cry. mg sutntly, his face hidden in the pillow Are you in 'much pain?" I enauirpd '' PovV, tresh dressings may be a\,reat relie??o y^u." ^"^'^"''^ whnt T t? i"^""* P"'" ^""^ "y^**"- I ™s thinking of her 8 X years old, and all I had sin^e mother dfed Th. :aeTfsr;rnr 7ir,;,t\f-":'rT ■"'" m I saw the breath was"ourof he?.*"Then" Tdnl caxo what became of me. It's ha^d lines, doctor ! " " * 318 MY LITTLE LOVE. Hf <1 I ,{ I '' Somebody else is dead—" I was near sayme to mm. She died at six o'clock this morning." I know I had the impression that if I were to tell him Tewan^d' ^°"^^ *^'"^ "° ^^^^ ^^ *^^ ^"^^* ^^^^ ^® The forenoon's work over, I sat down at my office-table to make the usual summary for the chief's inspection. My mmd was firm on its poise. Brain and memory were competent to their duty. Yet I actually began at the top of the page, bearing the date, the haunting for- mula that had pursued me all day. Guarding every pen-stroke and reconsidering each sentence I framed before writmg it down, I finished the record, and show- ered sand over the fresh lines. Then I put on my hat and passed into the street. My sister met me on the second block from the hos- pital ; ran up to me and seized me by the button. '* This is dreadful about dear little Ailsie ! " she cried her eyes reddening with moisture. " I suppose you have heard it ! I was never more shocked than when Mrs. J3urtiss stopped me and told me just now." " She is dead ! " I answered, looking curiously at her easy tears. " She died at six o'clock this morning." 4- -'VT^^ XT^"^'* ^^ ^^^^ yourself, Barry! You look like a tright. No more colour than a ghost. I do hope you are not going to have another spell of fever. You will call upon the Darlings very soon, I suppose ? You ought to. Ihey have a right to expect it— you've been so intimate there. Please tell them how sorry I am to hear of their affliction, and give my love to Mrs. Dar- Img and Miss Marr, and ask if Sam or I can be of any service— that's a dear boy ! You doctors don't mind going where there has been a death. But it fairly uses me up. I don't recover the tone of my nerves, for days axt-erward. And do take care of yourself. Y'ou are overworked in that horrid hospital. I can't see why near saying to aing." Jvere to tell him ) burnt baby he my office-table ef's inspection, a and memory tually began at 3 haunting for- ruarding every 3nce I framed 3rd, and show- the street. from the hos- i button. 3 ! " she cried, suppose you ed than when I now." iriously at her morning." ou look like a do hope you er. You will ippose ? You —you've been Borry I am to to Mrs. Dar- !an be of any 3 don't mind it fairly uses rves,_for days ilf. You are m't bce why MY LITTLE LOVE. 319 yhJ:tn2 IZlna rf""'" T"' '° *''o sidewalk on the other Bide o the t^nf "^ l^^ '" *^' ™*'=h«- the heU.„oh. t^Hi'-? r/H^^-Tkrht'4T h/wThr,„rdtsre3t«^/"^T*f -<• the recollection now wh™ Tfitit ! • "^f"* .™"^'' »t one was visible in tl'e hal?s Th. 1 '" ""^ ^""^^ ^^ it had no ll™ tenan?s:^:-hi:"':,, nrdTLV'entrei' 1 linew where I sLnnU ^^ i \"'' T^ J"^'' entered. mounted thL stairs to the mtj^^ \ '°"S''*' ""'' ^ was locked, the kev on ttLTt^^Tj""- "fhe door drew it, and locked mj" el/in'"" ' *"™^'' "' ™"'- facfrandV'ed'^ithoV/ef'' "^V'''' ^''-* '-- the obseWationf ^pon tt i , ™- 1 *?°" ^™'" '"'"''■^' concealed. There was L"-""^, S' ,''°™""g h^d The beautiful spir^ had left »?„ j"''f\i'"''''"<'"t. pillow, as it sped to join it" mates °Tfff "'"'°."'' the cheek and chin «,„ "1 ^^ ,™'= P"''e oral of bow of the mouth w.« ^ ^^ "' '"'™' the carven began to wa/e '"''''"' "P""' "°til the daylight The merest trifle broke the spell. I had brought a ruby ring to Ailsie from Paris, which ! M 320 MY LITTLE LOVE. she had worn constantly since, shifting it from one finger to another as her hands grew thinner. If it had not been left upon the forefinger of her right hand wnere I had seen it yesterday, I would ask it of her mother, as a souvenir that should never leave me. I drew down the covering, and lifted the slender fin- ^^y?u ? *?® ^^^^* glimmering between the barred shutters. Oh ! the piteousness of the wasted little hand ! In one flash— swift as vivid— thought showed her to me as 1 had seen her first; the nut-brown sprite of the wooded creek— then, portrait after portrait, each more clearly drawn than the last. The demure duchess of our be- throtiial evening; my dauntless champion against slanderous and ; sarcastic tongues; the tricksey play- fellow of my town and country rambles; the earnest student and the tender comforter; the unconscious preacier of righteousness to my ungodly youth— my eyangei— my Cherie— my Kathleen— through all, above al.. — my little love ! •'And has it come to this !" I cried aloud, in a passion ol horror and grief that told me I had not, until that mstant, been able to " make her dead," God forgive me, if in my frenzied lamentation I bold- ly declared that I did well to be angry that He had claimed His own! I humbly believe that the Man of Sorrows accounted it as my infirmity— not my sin- that I forgot in Whosi hand she had laid hers, and with what loving faith when flesh failed and tongue faltered upon her last earthly wish ! ******** Evelyn Marr rejoined her " twin " fifteen years ago. Eobby— a noble young man, whose gray eyes, lightening with mirth or darkening with earnestness, often thrill me by their likeness to others I used to study— is my ofiice-partner. He will have the major part of my practice in time. "Baby" was married last week. It was at her ing it from one inner. If it had her right hand lid ask it of her r leave me. the slender fin- e barred shutters, little hand ! In ved her to me as te of the wooded ich more clearly 3hess of our be- ampion against e tricksey play- )les; the earnest the unconscious odly youth — my fough all, above oud, in a passion not, until that > lentation I bold- ry that He had hat the Man of — not my sin — id hers, and with tongue faltered teen years ago. eyes, lightening ess, often thrill o study — is my jor part of my MY LITTLE LOVE. 321 bouquet in my fattSolett'w'''";°S ■'' "'"'''^l mere fhreadlet of a sold chain ../T *^°eled in a breast-poeket of n,y ve'sf a locket "" "^^^ '^'"^ '»"' firmed olTbl^hteSs -a " ^"t ^"^^-^^ mo- llis heart!" """"'^ •» ™e