240 



RECREATION. 



A trembling hand was tenderly laid 

 on the small head, and the other 

 beckoned to me. I drew near, he took 

 my hand and said: 



" My days are almost spent, Allen, 

 and were it the Lord's will to call me 

 this night, I would be ready to go if 

 this dear child had found a protector; 

 but I tear to place her hand in one 

 whose owner yields to ungovernable 

 fits of passion, and who is at enmity 

 with his father and brother. If this 

 be so, what guarantee have I thou 

 wilt not, tor some imaginary slight or 

 offence, leave the sweet being at my 

 knee?" 



A hot answer rose to my lips, but 

 when I turned and saw Jessie's eyes 

 fastened on me, I bent and kissed the 

 upturned face. Then turning, I 

 walked over to where my father sat, 



"Father," I began; "it is possible I 

 may have dealt harshly with you and 

 my brother, for I have misunderstood 

 Jessie and myself, though I cannot 

 tell why you left me, or what cause of 

 complaint you have against me." 



" None, Allen, none," interrupted 

 my father ; "Steve made me leave, 

 but I wish to go back to the old farm 

 if you will let me." 



" Steve," I rejoined, turning to my 

 brother, " I partly understand your 

 feelings, but the battle has been 

 fought and won, though the "contest 

 has been an unfair one. Are you 

 willing to start anew ? I do not de- 

 sire to work as a farmer, and have 

 about concluded to lease the farm to 

 Mr. Yost. I would prefer to let you 

 have it on the same terms Mr. Yost 

 offers." 



" I will think it over," responded 

 my brother, "but in any case I would 

 prefer buying it." 



" It is not for sale," I replied cold- 

 ly, for I knew he wanted it for some- 

 thing else than farming, though I 

 could not imagine what else the land 

 was good for. 



"Well, since father is anxious to 

 go back to the old place, I will see 

 you to-morrow, arrange for a lease 

 and advance you sufficient to enable 

 you to pursue your medical studies." 



" Such being the case," I continu- 



ed, turning to the venerable pastor, 

 " I will commence my studies to- 

 morrow in Doctor Sprague,s office, 

 and enter college in the fall. I have 

 not felt so at peace with the world 

 for many months, and all I now de- 

 sire is your consent to my engage- 

 ment to your daughter." 



"Jessie's happiness has been my 

 life study. If she feels her faith and 

 trust is not misplaced, I bow to her 

 judgment, but I fear thy temper." 



"Jessie will not regret her choice 

 on account of an infirmity I had not 

 even suspected until I was being 

 wronged. I mean to bury the past 

 and will never allude to it again." 



"Jessie," I said, taking the girl by 

 the hand, " my father desires to give 

 you his blessing." I then led her to 

 my father, who kissed and blessed 

 her. Steve held out a trembling 

 hand, and his face turned paler than 

 ever I had seen it before. I knew 

 what it must have cost him to go 

 through the ordeal of seeing me pub- 

 licly taking possession of the girl he 

 would have shed his heart's blood to 

 have won. I longed to offer him 

 consolation, but felt it would have 

 been like mockery. I pitied him in 

 my heart and offered him my hand. 

 His face could not have turned paler, 

 but in the uncertain light of the little 

 parlor, it seemed to take on a vivid 

 green as he turned his back on me. 



Suddenly I felt my hand clasped, 

 and Jessie, seizing one of Steve's, 

 cried: 



" You brothers have been at enmity 

 long enough! If I have been the 

 unhappy cause, I am sorry I ever 

 came into either of your lives. I 

 have been compelled to make a 

 choice, and my heart led me to Al- 

 len; but it would be foolish and 

 wicked for you to continue in the path 

 of strife you have trod. Allen has 

 rightly offered you his hand, as he 

 can afford to make the first advance; 

 you will make me very miserable if 

 you refuse it." 



Steve looked at the troubled face 

 before him and replied: 



" For your sake, I will accept the 

 proffered reconciliation, and in time 



