John Ward, Preacher

rawberries grew there. The richness of the garden was scarcely kept in bounds by its high fence; the tops of the bushes looked over it, and climbing ros

hich flooded it from a gap in the western hills. Its dormer-windows, their roofs like brown caps bent about their ears, had lattices opening outward; and from one of

"if John Ward has a garden? I hope so; Helen is so fond of flowers. But he never said anything about it

, you don't like Ward. Now, he is a good fellow; yes, good is just the word for him. Bless my soul

said quickly, "if he wil

aid, "and I acknowledge he is odd; that talk of his la

y that, father,"

estness. And look here, Lois, you must not let anybody see you are not in sympathy with Helen's choice; be careful of that tongue of yo

dear me, I suppose I've told you that a dozen times. What? How to-day brings back that trip of ours! We came through Lockhaven, but it was by stage-coach. I remember we thought we were so fortunate because the other two passengers got out there, and we had the coach to ourselves. Your mother had a striped ribbon, or gauze,-I do

r chair and lighted his cigar, while Lois sat down on the steps, and began to

with a faint aureole, fell in a broad bright square on the lawn in front of the house. They had begun to speak again of the wedding, when the click of the gate latch and the swinging g

rather than of being supported by him, for each little lady had passed a determined arm through one of his, and ins

at noon for the wedding, they saw no reason why they should not come again in the evening. So the sisters had put on their second-best black silks, and, summoning Gifford, had walked through the twilight to the rectory. Miss Deborah Woodhouse had a genius for economy, which gave her

sk of the garden. It did not interest them that the young people should wish to see, as Gifford had said, how the sunset light lingered behind the hills; and when they had exhausted the subject of t

hey had always felt themselves the most cordial and simple friends. Then had come the time when Gifford must go to college, and Lois had only seen him in his short vacations; and these gra

sparkle of indignant tears in her eyes and with a quick impatience which made her an amusing copy of her father, she said to Helen, "I suppose he meant

rences, which were many, and her judgment was final; Lois never doubted it, even though Helen generally thought G

near Helen, and make the new place less lonely for her, she said, onc

a back, and it looked like an altar ready for the sacrifice. The thick blossoming grass, which the mower's scythe had been unable to reach, grew high about the corners; three or four stone steps led up to it, but they had been laid so long ago they were sunken at one sid

ed blown across the sky, up into the darkness; then Lois took her seat

r steps, and leaning on his elbow in the grass, so that he might see

id, disappointedly. "I though

er. Lois sat absently twisting the fringe on one end of the soft scarf of yellow crep

in Lockhaven. Of course Ashurst will miss you. Oh,

ympathetically, "you'

off a cluster of the star-like blossoms, and held them absently against her lips. "You don't seem at all impatient to get away from Ashurst, Giff," she sai

y be called the world," Giff

go because it will be such a pleasure

st of his big fingers, and was turning it thoughtfully about. "I don't believe," he said, "tha

he place of father, and the rectory, and me. I know it wi

est difference, Lois. She'll have the person she loves best in the world; and

pinion of John Ward," Lois said

an. It's love, not John Ward, which means content

Helen. I suppose, though, I'd say that of anybody. And he irritates m

nd of grass, and began to weave it round an

hat," she added; "of course I

to say it to me

is wrong to say he's different; it's certainly t

fair, don't you know, to say anything about them, they are so

ration for the sentiment. "Well," she said, rather meekly for her, "I w

k it, smiling, and tried it on. Gifford watched her with an intentness which made him frown; her bending head was li

k of you with Helen. You must tell me everything about her

ered, "if you let

ed to have banished. "Let you write?" she said impatiently. "Why, you know I depended on your writing, Giff, a

turned away from her, and was pulling at a bunch of violets. "I tell you what it is, Lois," he said; "I canno

?" Lois asked

s big figure looming up in the darkness, "it's this talk of

hear the bubbling of the spring, like a soft voice, complaining

ng; somehow, I could not seem to make you see it,-you wouldn't see it; but I do

, sitting down beside her; but he did not take her hand, as he might have done in their old frank friendship. "I'm so sorry, but I couldn't help telling you. I know you've b

n, his voice trembling with a sudden

wet eyes shining in the darkness, "you know I care-I've always cared, but

were too young; it would not have been right. And then before I went abroad, I tried to tell you once; but I tho

stn't! Why, don't you see? You're just like my brother. Oh, do pl

I won't make you unhappy; I won't

in a relieved tone. "I-could not, Giff. So we'll

f it will make you any happier; but you cannot ask me to for

dship? Indeed-indeed, it never could be anything else; and," with a sudde

tterly. Friendship separated them as

f sentiment, in which she felt as awkward as she was unkind, "and you know there are a g

ledged; "but if I didn't love you so

watched her twist her fingers nervously together; she ha

to break the silence,-"oh, so s

I am unhappy. I am better, Lois, yes, and happier, because I love you. It shall be an inspiration to m

d then, with sudden trustfulness, s

ver comes when you can love me, tell me so. I ask you this, Lois, because I cannot bear to distress you again by speaking words of love you do not want to hear

omething. "But, Gifford, dear, it wi

ou pro

wered, soberly

ily a moment. "God ble

ed his forehead; then, half frightened at what she had done, but not yet regr

reverent head bent as though he had received