Norston's Rest

dith will be somewhere

f her smiles, which, sullen as she strove to make them, beamed upo

,' come up the valley on business. He was kind enough to walk along the hill with me afte

re. Judith's smile turned to an inward laugh as she made a dashing courtes

ng up his hat, but was far too prudent for anything of the kin

moment for consultation, while their visitor went out of the back

st make the best of it. Is there anything in the ho

s; I churned

ing! Why, what has com

a little churning! As if I'd

did not hint that butter, made in his

hen did we h

here are plenty of cakes

long famously. The young man has got uncommon education, you see, Judith, and it isn't often that I get a chance to talk wi

berries, and got them

, Ju

good as that, so there

ittle kindness was enough to make h

n just as if he were company, dea

was so easily deceived, that she felt a

e because I wanted to

aid the father, sighing, this time heavily eno

f it were not for hoping and wishing and dreaming d

. It was so many years since he had known

said; "so very long. Perhaps I had the

ith, on whom the sad pathos of her father's words made no impression. "I'll

e pride. Unusual attempts had been made to decorate the room. The fireplace was turned into a tiny bower fairly se

his daughter, who was now casting stolen and anxious glances into the old mirror opposite, over which was woven more delicate flow

g from the sunset through the thick vines, and broke here and there u

f these arrows was shivered in his daughter's hair he sat fo

the dashing nervousness of her movements as she poured out the tea, that aroused his interest. Once or twice she

hoked up with purple shadows through which the river flowed dimly. Of those three persons by the window, the old man was perhaps the only one who thoroughly felt all the poetic beauty o

've had a good deal to attend to, daughter, and it

eeks together; but the old man was pleased with all the girl had done, and covered h

gone, Judith turne

e orchard; I want to sp

an, who instinctively refused or evade

nt to be alone-quite alone," said t

le crept over his face as he took his hat and followed her through the back way down to the orchard,

lked by his side, her head erect, her hands moving restlessly, and

elp, though Storms reached out his hand,

ling with dead limbs, she led the

ms, in a cold, low voice. "Why d

," answered Judith, trembling all ove

worry her?" said Storms, with smiling sarcasm. "Well, now, what is

but it seems to me that I can never draw a long breath

oung man's face, but he looked at the gi

t this dreadful thing is th

ow it i

e; but wh

n awful falsehood-but they t

el

were possible!" cried the girl

Judith. But is this the on

before denying it? Why do you look so dark and keen, as if an

ing that you have heard first,

deny it,

ple are down on a man, they do not ofte

me, spending money. I-I don't remember! There was something, but I took no

e a quest

ck! Have I not told you

care about

e?" repeated t

hy shou

nd set dogs to tear each other, influenced him now. He revelled in the youn

me with her, who had flattered her as if she had been a goddess, whose very presence had made her the happiest creatur

blank dismay, her great black eyes wildly

ngth, in a low, hoarse voice-"you

n innocent, questioning look,

a thousand forms that man had expressed his love for her; but never once in direct w

udied apathy; but before he could reach out his arms or speak, sh

girl, overtook her as she came near the precipice, increasing her speed as if she meant to leap o

s she stood before him, fie

almost touched his; "but you are worse than that-stark, staring

y startled. "As if any one ever thought of it! Why

ke?-a

something more with the miserable old gossips that have gotten up

at him with all the pitiful intensity

said that you were about to marry

s reason enough why you s

You looked at me w

ould help laughin

e, but when I look at you a hot red comes abo

ow can't help blushing when the gir

giving; but Storms had gained full command of his

is nonsense. There isn't any such gir

uestioned the girl, clasping her hands, and re

ng but the truth, on

he sunk down upon it, dashed both hands up to her face, and burs

more than an overgrown child in his estimation, but this outgush of strength, wrath, and tears bespoke something st

his manner than it had ever exhibited befo

ll lies, what are you crying about? Don't you see t

es, and, taking his arm, clung to i