The Bondage of Ballinger | Page 5

if sweet Hannah Playf air's eyes were a little brighter at these times, and if smiles played more frequently around her demure mouth and lighted up her grave face, only the rascal Tom knew the secret. For Friend Ephraim, though a just man, was stern and unyielding, and looked with little favor on the visits of the youth not of his faith and giving no promise of a profitable career. Long and solemnly he discoursed to Hannah on the evils of unguarded associations, and bade her steel herself against the impulsive dictates of a foolish heart. And Hannah listened and sighed and fought against nature as her father commanded. Yet Tom was no less eloquent and persuasive in his own way and pleaded his cause so successfully that the words of Ephraim were forgotten in the greater joy and hope; so these two kept their own counsel and lived their love life in themselves, though what plans they made, or what plots they devised, it would be an insult to true love to detail. But one night and all the village knew that Tom was going back to the city on the late train little Hannah was graver than usual, and when at nine o'clock her father shut the Bible before the evening prayer, she came and knelt at his side, and put her head on his shoulder. And after prayer she restrained him, and threw her arms about his neck, and pressed her cheek to his, and smoothed his silvery hair, and petted him, while the tears stood in her eyes and her voice trembled as she spoke. So Ephraim went to bed little wondering, for he was a dull man as well as a just and stern and unyielding, and not until morning did the light break in upon him, when Hannah did not respond to his call, and when investigation showed her room empty, her bed undisturbed, and a letter addressed "To Father" pinned on the old-fashioned mirror. Ephraim read it laboriously:
Honoured Sir: If I have gone contrary to thy wishes, and in forgetfulness of thy great goodness, I pray thee to think kindly of thy little Hannah and to remember that she loves thee now as always. By the time that thee has read this letter I shall be married to Thomas, who truly loves thee and would be an affectionate and dutiful son. If we may return to ask thy forgiveness, and to implore thy blessing, let us know this proof of thy kindness. But if the great sorrow comes to my happiness that we may not be forgiven, and that thy heart is hard against thy little daughter, give me leave to keep on loving thee and blessing thee for thy never-failing love and tenderness. I am, honoured sir, so long as life shall last, Thy true and devoted daughter, HANNAH.
Then Ephrairn Playfair, a dull man, and a stern but just man, felt a little tugging at his heart, and a choking in the throat, and while the impulse was yet on him he sat down and wrote simply: "Thee may return to thy father." So Hannah came back to the village, with its quiet streets of shade elms and its routine of droning life she had for the first time put behind her, and it seemed to her as if she had lived many years in the few hours that had passed since Thomas came and topk her away to the bustle and roar of the strange life. She went on down the street to the old house with the wide porch, where Ephraim Playfair sat with her letter in his hand. Her heart smote her as she saw him, but she ran quickly up to him, with her cheeks burning and a half-merry look in her eyes, and drew his face down to hers and kissed him. He said gravely:
"Thee acted hastily, Hannah,"
"Nay, father," replied the girl, roguishly, "how could one whom thee has trained act hastily? We acted only after much consideration and argument."
"Still I think," went on the old man, ignoring the correction, "that thee will live to repent thy choice, for Thomas is but an ill mate for any woman. Thee has taken him for better or worse, for richer or poorer, and I fear thee will find thy lot both worse and poorer."
But little Hannah only kissed the old man more tenderly, and looking shyly into his face, said softly, "Then, father, I must only endure the more patiently my fate and remember the good words thee has taught me from my youth up, 'Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might.'"

THOMAS BALLINGER began his honeymoon characteristically. In the flush of early love and the excitement of approaching marriage he had managed to save money