Abram's Daughters 02 The Betrayal by Unknown Read Free Book Online

in. iicxi to her, his long black nose pointed toward the nil 1 ''In1 reached down to rub his furry neck. "Something illiii 1 hrewin'*' she whispered, trembling now. "I feel it fill I" i\ y in the air."
    57 58!i59^f
    Hi
    Until finished hoeing and weeding her patch of the irdf n Thursday, along with the girls' separate charity Standing up, she arched her back and attempted to lirr aching muscles. Gazing at the sky, she noticed a i londs drift across the blue at a mercilessly slow pace
    ii si range connection to them. Ever so restless, she
    I 11 it- slow-poke pace of her days waiting for school i inj . In a little over a week!
    I1 both her and Hannah off at school, Mamma would iiill'er with less help around the house. Still, the law
    law, and Mary Ruth was happy to be required to
    I ii i nigh eighth grade. In one more year she'd be eligiln^'h school. The thought gave her chills of both
    II id dread. She held no hope of Dat ever giving her ilu-iid; it would be next to impossible to obtain his
    I Ic would simply quote the Good Book to her if she i en enough to share with him her deepest longing. ii wisdom of this world is foolishness with God'" I with Bible in hand. And that would be the end of
    60
    '/ , J2e
    their discussion, though sadly, it would never reach the phn.se of true discussion at all.
    Even the term high school was not without reproach. It rep resented high-mindedness and pride, and she'd heard msiiiy times growing up that "self-praise stinks." Yet what was she in do about the inner craving? Was she the only one smitten with the problem amongst the People?
    Hannah wandered over, hoe in hand. "What would yn think of go in' to Strasburg with me?"
    "To stop by the little gift shop?"
    "I have a batch more handkerchiefs to deliver."
    "Okay, then we'll go right after lunch. And 'bout the time Mamma and Lydiann are up from a nap, we'll be back home."
    Hannah nodded, all smiles. "Just the two of us?"
    "Sounds gut to me." Mary Ruth hoped to squeeze in a visii to the public library while Hannah handled her consignmeni shop transactions. Getting a head start on her studies w.v. heavy on her mind. If she had to, she could easily hide tinnewly checked-out books under the bed. Hannah could Inpersuaded not to tell.
    It was clear Hannah was already counting the years till sinmade her covenant with the People and God. Unassuming and on the bashful side, especially around strangers, her sisiei would make a fine Amish wife and mother someday, whit I > was just as appealing to Mary Ruth as the next girl getting married and having children, that is. It was the unceasinj; hankering for books that got so dreadfully in the way. The thought of committing the sum total of her life to the People was troubling at best, and she was grateful to have a few more years till she had to decide one way or the other.
    61
    I Itin'l mind if I run across the street right quick . . .
    I ij4t I" the gift shop?" Mary Ruth asked Hannah as
    I ,ilnii|i; in the enclosed carriage. She had chosen
    I - i driving horse of the two, as well as the enclosed
    I ny. With the gathering clouds and the increasing
    I1 n| hi in, it made good sense.
    I nut just say it outright?" Hannah said softly, almost
    :' iir );oin'to the library."
    jj>.... ili Hiii to her left, eyelids fluttering. "Truth be ' I I'lrlcr the summers. And you . . . well, you live for
    I Viir."
    i I now me awful gut." She paused, then added, "What
    11imk Mamma would do if she ever found my library hidden away?" -.'hi say in' you honestly can't curb your appetite for
    ! i lire like* friends to me. Words come alive on the
    '"inning one shoulder slightly, Hannah said nothing. ,. i'i >hc I'm addicted, 'cause now I've started readin' other [ i.pii," she ventured. "I don't mean bad books, don't li. r.iiind. But I must admit, I like readin' stories things In I'nivly made up but that, well . . . could happen." She Iiim wh;ii hesitant for Hannah's reaction. Ri 11, I don't know what to think" was her twin's dismal
    1 I i