Roe_Opening_a_Chestnut_Burr.txt topic ['13', '324', '378', '393']
brink of despair,
and given the first faint hope of immortal life. blinded
his eyes, but the bow of promise shone in them as he looked
heavenward, and said, " ! how kind of ,
in view of my past, to give me this dear earnest of my
heavenly home!"
sound of approaching steps aroused him, .and spring
ing up he saw through the thicket, with an emotion so deep
that it made him tremble, the one woman of the world
to him.
an expression of deep sadness, and the manner of
one taking a lingering leave of a very dear friend,
came slowly toward him along the brow of the hill.
tried to still even the beating of his heart, for he would
not lose one moment of exquisite anticipation. yet he
was deeply agitated, for he knew that he could not maintain
the brotherly disguise an hour longer.
she looked toward the cedar thicket, and, as
if recalling what had occurred there, covered her face with
her hands, to hide the painful scene. he saw that she
would not even come to the place, but was turning to go to
the house by another way.
darted out from his concealment and rushed toward
her. first, in wild alarm, she put her hand to her side,
and leaned against a chestnut- tree for support recog
nizing him, with a glad cry, she permitted him to take her in
his arms, while she hid her face on his shoulder. moment
later they recoiled from each other in blushing confusion.
"?" said , stupidly.
was the first to recover herself, and said, "0, ,
'm so so glad you have come at last!"
" look sorry ?" he asked, taking her hand.
"!" she exclaimed; "this is too good to be true!"
"'s what think, i feared you would take flight
the moment appeared."
4 ' hen did you arrive ? , tell me everything. ' '
416
" all at once, dear . let me give you
a seat on the rock by the thicket, and then will say the
catechism."
", no, ; not there," she said, drawing back.
", there; we will give that place a new association."
she was glad to reach the seat, for she trembled so
she could hardly stand.
he told her how he purposed to surprise her, and
answered every eager question.
", " he concluded, "how have longed for this
hour! did that dreadful ocean seem so wide before."
looked at him more fondly than she knew, and said,
", ! your blood is not on my hands after all."
" me see," he said.
" know it is not," she replied, putting them behind her
back; "don't see you there well and happy?"
"1 don't know but it will be on your hands yet," he said,
half- tragically, springing up.
gave him a swift look of inquiry, but her eyes
dropped as quickly beneath his eager gaze, while her deep
blush caused her to vie with the sugar-maple on the lawn
in very truth. he said after a moment, ", dear,
't you let me interpret another chestnut burr for you ?"
", ," she tried to say innocently, "all
that are on the tree. ' '
" don't make fun of me, because 'm desperately
in earnest. don't want one like that chose with a great
lonely worm-infested chestnut in it a good, whole
some lesson you gave me then you, ,
darling."
" don't use such strong language toward their
sisters," said , looking on the ground.
"i can't help it. tell the honest truth 'm not much
of a brother. do want one like that which you
chose with three chestnuts in it , faugh! 've had
enough of that. want to find one like that which you
brought me the first day met you here."
417
" will never find it if you stand talking forever."
" won't go away ?"
" not."
looked at her doubtfully, but she would not meet his
eye. he started on his search, but kept looking back
so often that she laughed, and said, "'m not a chestnut
burr."
"'m afraid of you."
" you had better run away."
" shouldn't tease their brothers."
", forgive me this time."
caught a branch full of half -open burrs, and peered
eagerly in them -till he found one to his mind, and pulled it
off regardless of the pricking spines, then came and kneeled
at her side, and said, ", , dear, look into it care
fully. is nature's oracle. see two solid, plump
chestnuts."
"?" she said, faintly.
" you see this false, empty form of shell between
them?"
"" with a touch of sadness.
"'s , poor wretch! flow unspeakable was
his loss!" and he tossed the worthless emblem away.
" now, , loved beyond all words can ever
find to tell you, see how near these two chestnuts are to
gether as near as you and are in heart, trust.
my poor pretence of brotherly character has not deceived
you for a moment. 't you please put your dainty
fingers down into the burr and join the two together?"
lifted her drooping eyes a moment to the more
eloquent pleading of his face, but they fell as speedily.
a low, thrilling tone she said, ", , but you
may."
dropped the burr and sealed the unspoken covenant
upon her lips.
a few moments he said, very gently and gravely,
", do you remember when my arm last encircled you ?"
418
crimson face turned pale as she recalled that awful
midnight when he rescued her from death.
breathed fervently, " good has been
to us!"
their joy, as in fear and sorrow, they remembered .
", see!" cried , "your hands are bleeding where
the burr pricked them, and you have stained my hands
again. blood is on them, ' ' she added, almost in fear.
", and the best blood of my heart ever will be.
not the 'blood upon us 1 the deepest and most sacred hope
of our hearts ? it not the proof of the strongest love the
world has known ? mine there be the pledge that my
life is as nothing when it can shield and shelter you."
so he changed the meaning of the omen.
hours passed unheeded. last they went across
the orchard as before, and stopped and looked at the place
where the ladder fell, and then at each other.
"," said , shyly, " gave you my first kiss
here. ' '
" am repaid then."
going to the house, they called on .
was so amazed that he could only ejaculate, " in'."
". , have acted on your suggestion," said
. " thought would be good company
forever, and have the promise of it. ' '
" think that should have cussed you!" said the old
man, in an awed tone.
" you will give us your blessing, now ?" said ,
smiling.
" blessin' ain't worth nothin'; but know the good
will bless you both, even if never was an
awful sinner."
". ," said , " own that place over
there. you take me for a neighbor till you are ready
to be . 's?"
", !" said , with a glad cry, "is that really
true?"
419
", it became mine yesterday; or, rather, it remained
yours."
". ," said , his quaint face
twitching strangely, "if anybody steals your apples, 'm
afraid 'll swear at 'em, even yet."
", you won't, ," said he. " 'm going to
bring you over to spend an evening with us soon. - by 1"
found in the parlor, pensively packing
up some dear little relics of a home she supposed lost.
put his arm around her and said, ", 'm
going to claim relationship right away; put those things
back where you found them, and sit down here in the cosiest
corner of the hearth, your place from this time forth."
" is this?" she exclaimed, in breathless astonish
ment.
", owns me, and therefore this place."
came bounding in, and caught him, and
said, " is the prophet of my fate. did you tell
me your managed people, the morning after
my first arrival here ?' '
' said she kinder made people love her, and then they
wanted to do as she said," replied the boy, timidly.
" me tell you a secret," and he drew the boy and
whispered in his ear, "she is going to manage me on just
those terms. ' '
little came sidling in, and took her
in his arms, saying, " dimpled, yet so false, you re
nounced me for a chipmonk; and now am going to be
's beau till 'm gray."
next appeared with a basket of wood. gave
his black hand an honest shake, and said, ", , old
fellow, what is the matter with you to-night? last
time saw you you looked as if you were driving me to
the cemetery. ' '
", ," said , ducking and shuffling.
" did come mighty neah takin' de turnin' to de cem'try
dat day. tho't you looked as if you wanted to go dar."
420
they sat down to tea, put her head in at the
door, and said, " gude bless ye, for ye ha' kept
the auld 'ooman fra the cauld wourld yet."
could not pass a biscuit without a
courtesy.
evening the hickory fire glowed and turned to
bright and fragrant coals as in the days past, but
looked wistfully toward her father's vacant chair, and
sighed, " father were only here!"
"'t grieve, darling," said , tenderly. "
is at home, as we are. ' '
few evenings later brought up from the city
a large, square bundle.
" have you there?" said , greeting him as
the reader can imagine.
" epitaph."
", ! so soon?"
answer was a smile, and quickly opening the pack
age, he showed a rich, quaint frame containing some lines
in illuminated text. it where the light fell clearly,
he drew her to him and said, " that."
" sent messenger of faith,
whispered in the maiden's heart,
' up and look from where thou art,
scatter with unselfish hands
freshness on the barren sands
solitudes of death. ' "
"0 beauty of holiness,
self-forgetfulness!"
a caress of unspeakable tenderness he said, "
are the maiden, and sent you to me."