Page:The Land Claim.pdf/42
THE BANQUET AND ITS GIVER. 41
"I would like to send it to my father, if I thought he woulcept it," said Alicia, mournfully."I don't think he would, dear child; though husband was say-ing this morning that he seems a heap milder than he did at first.
I reckon what Allen said to the lynchers made him feel easier; anI hear that he has been to see your father a couple of times."
"He has been so kind! I wish I could see him, and thank him,Mrs. Wyman.""I guess you can," replied the kind woman, with a beamingsmile, for he is coming here to dinner. Well, I'll just put some-thing under the rockers, to hold your chair back, so you can rest; and then I must go and see about my baked meats and pudding."Left to herself, Alicia passed the hour in a dream between hopeand fear, balancing in her mind the pros and cons of her father'scase as she knew them, and trying to find some hitherto overlooked.ground of confidence. It had got to be an old employment-onewhich had occupied her thoughts ever since her head had been clear enough to think at all-and was to-day pretty much the same thatit had been yesterday, or any day before. This constant anxious thought had lent a touching expression of melancholy to her wanand delicate countenance, as well as a sober grace to her manners, beyond her years. But the fresh, childlike heart was nowise different to what it had been; only if possible more dependent, and more hungry for sympathy than ever before. She had been a long time lying back in her chair, silent, except to answer Mrs. Wyman's inquiries concerning how she felt, as the kind woman bustled in and out on the important business of her dinner. A slight feeling of weariness was beginning to act as a de- pressant upon the brighter hopes of the morning, and an occasional tear moistened the drooping lashes of her half-closed eyes. In the midst of this despondency, a sudden impulse of gratitude swelled her heart toward one who had been so unfailingly kind to her under all circumstances, and seizing the bouquet which Allen had that morning sent her, she kissed the flowers, over and over. "Oh, I love you so much!-so much!" she murmured, passion- ately.
She did not observe that any one had entered at the open door, nor know why such a glorious light shone in Allen's eyes, as he a moment later greeted her with a courteous good-morning, and asked in the gentlest manner after her health. Like a nervous little invalid as she was, she went from smiles to tears, and tears to smiles in the most capricious manner without being able to make any rational reply to his inquiry. Although Allen had neither age nor experience to guide him in this matter, he very easily guessed that the fluttering heart must be coaxed to relieve itself; and seating himself beside her, he took the slender hands between his own, while he uttered cheerful, caressing words, as he would to a petted sister. Young as he was he could Generated on 2018-05-31 19:45 GMT/ http://hdl.handle.net/2027/miun.ahq2270.0001.001 Public Domain / http://www.hathitrust.org/access_use#pd Digitized by UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN Original from UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN