Harper's Round Table, October 29, 1895 Part 2

"What did she say?" asked the people.

"She said that she would never tell what she saw," said Obed.

"I shall keep a close eye on that girl hereafter. There may be witches, and she may be one. This is a very strange night, this Halloween." So said Mrs. Miller.

Obed had received an arrow in his heart. "_Although I cannot trust you_," the words spoken by Eliza haunted him. He went about a dull, absent-minded young man, and the people attributed his sadness to the sight that he had seen in the midnight ride.

Eliza was always very kind to him. She never spoke to him of the night that he had deserted her but once. It was on the eve before she united with the village church.

"Obed," she said, "I have something on my conscience. I owe it to you to say that what I saw on that Halloween night would never have harmed you or me."

This confession added to his depression of spirits. He had indeed been a coward, and forfeited the trust of the best and truest heart that he had ever known.

The Revolution came. A new flag leaped into the air. Obed had heard the cannon of Bunker Hill, and seen from afar the smoke of the battle as it arose on the afternoon of that fateful day.

There was a call for minute-men. A horseman came riding into Medfield, blowing a horn, and calling upon the farmers to volunteer.

Obed started up at the sound. He knew what was wanted.

He called Eliza out under the great elms.

"English Eliza, I am going. I shall never come back. You will never see me again. I shall never come back. Some one must die in this cause, and who better than I? Coward you think me, but you do not know me. I am not afraid to die. We were thrown upon the world together, and I have thought well of you. Don't you remember how we used to go sa.s.safrasing with each other?"

"Yes, Obed."

"And looking for Indian-pipe when we were not looking for anything?"

"Yes."

"And picking blue gentians in the old cranberry meadows?"

"Yes."

"And listening to the bluebirds when the maples were red; and to the martin birds when the apple-trees were in bloom; and to the red robins, and all?"

"Yes, yes."

"And we used to sing out of the same book on Sundays."

"Yes."

"You remember; I do. Eliza, I want you to make me one promise."

"I always thought well of you, Obed. I would die for you."

"I am going away, and I shall die for the cause. Some day the news will come back to ye that I am dead; that I fell on the field somewhere. I do not know where it will be. Will you forgive me, then, for being a coward on that Halloween night when I was a boy and you was a girl? Promise me that now."

"I forgave you long ago. I believe you to be a brave, true-hearted man, Obed. I think the world of you."

"But you don't _know_ that I am not a coward. You will know. You will forgive all, then?"

"Yes; there is nothing between us now."

"'Yes,' you say. That word is all that I desire in this world. I am now ready to go."

He fell fighting bravely at Monmouth. Then English Eliza for the first time told the story of the midnight ride on Halloween, and what it was that Obed saw, and she added in tears,

"_But_ he was a brave man, Obed was!"

HER FIRST SEA VIEW.

She walked across the glistening sands, Beneath the morning skies, With tangled sea-weed in her hands, And suns.h.i.+ne in her eyes.

Far off--as far as she could see-- The snowy surges beat, And once--she laughed delightedly-- The water kissed her feet.

She tossed her pretty curly head-- Her lips, half-open buds-- "It's mermaids' was.h.i.+ng-day," she said; "The sea is full of suds!"

Then part in glee, and part in doubt, And wholly in surprise, She added, "When the wash is out, I wonder how it dries?"

MARTHA T. TYLER.

HOW TO FIND AND MOUNT SIGNETS.

[Ill.u.s.tration: SCARABaeUS.]

There is nothing prettier or more attractive, hanging on the walls of one's parlor or chamber, than a group of signet impressions in sealing-wax of various colors, artistically arranged and handsomely mounted; while the pleasure to be derived in seeking them is quite as keen as that which the coin or stamp hunter enjoys, without the expense attached to them, for our seals cost comparatively nothing. The outfit is simple, consisting of a dozen sticks of sealing-wax in different colors--black, brown, red, gold, white, and green, making a charming combination with any other shades that take the fancy of the collector.

A light wooden or strong pasteboard box to carry the articles, a box of matches, a white taper (cut in half for convenience' sake), and, later on, a piece of stiff white card-board (16 x 22, 22 x 28 being good sizes) to mount them on.

[Ill.u.s.tration: SEAL OF CONFEDERATE STATES.]

Keep in the bottom of the box containing the wax a dozen or more pieces of thick, white, unruled writing-paper cut into ovals, circular, oblong, and square shapes, varying in size from one-half inch in width to two inches in length. This is all that is required. Now for our hunt. As you meet friends and acquaintances notice their rings and watch-charms. When any are discovered with a figure, t.i.tle, handsome monogram or initial on it, borrow it, and make your impression. This is accomplished by laying a piece of your writing-paper, at least half an inch larger than the seal to be used, on some smooth surface like a table. Then take a stick of wax between the thumb and forefinger of the right hand. With the left hand light a match or taper, and bring them together just on the paper where the wax melts sufficiently to drop freely, rub the end of the sealing-wax quickly over the middle of the paper. Then moistening the seal with the tongue to prevent the stone adhering to the burning wax, press it firmly into the hot bed prepared for it, a second or so, being careful to lift it straight up when taken off, thus securing a clean edge. If this is properly done a fine impression of your subject is secured. Repeat this operation several times, taking different-colored wax for duplicates, which will enable you to make exchange with other collectors, who are unable to get these same figures, but have others not in your collection.

In this manner one is able to secure rare and beautiful heads of men and women, animals, birds, and fishes. These should be placed in a box by themselves carried for the purpose--as fast as taken. When the writer started his group, which was mostly made in Was.h.i.+ngton, D.C., a few of the young people met one evening at a friend's house and decided to begin together, which greatly enhanced our amus.e.m.e.nt. Some one suggested we should a.s.semble once a week at each other's homes, and bring our friends with us, so that all could see the impressions and make exchanges.

[Ill.u.s.tration: KNIGHTS OF GOLDEN CROSS.]

This was carried out an entire winter, and we found such a course added immensely to our finds and pleasure, as there is no collecting that adapts itself better for club purposes than this for both boys and girls. The capital proved, too, a particularly good field for us, being full of people who had seals gathered from all parts of the world.

English, French, German, Italian, and Spanish coats of arms were found, besides quite a variety of exquisitely cut heads in antique rings, gathered from the tombs and curiosity shops of Greece, Italy, and Egypt.

In most cities the seals may be found in museums and private collections, and as the act of making an impression in wax is not injurious to them, and requires but little time, we found people generally very willing to allow it. When a sufficient number of seals are gathered, _i.e._, enough to fill a card-board, they are mounted by first marking the place where they are to go faintly with a lead-pencil.

Begin by making a square-cut line in the centre of the board, a little smaller than the writing-paper which contain the seal impressions. This is for the largest of them, then, according to size, graduating to the smallest.