Tribune and telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1855-1856, 1855-09-20

I
his name.
! More ashamed than he had ever been in his
] life, he obeyed the call, and with downcast ewes
and a blusmng cheek, presented himself expect
ing Notwithstanding the mild CALL to receive
summary dismissal, with severe rcproof But
cordial good morning, and invitation to partakc
! of the breakfast that awaited caused him almos,
to think he was still dreaming, and in his hesita.
| ton, he behaved so awkwardly that Elsy would
have laughed in spite of herself another time but
| now, she did not know why, but she felt not on.
ly pity for the stranger, but in some way rcspon.
sible for him. He did not look like an evil dis
posed person to her; she did not believe he was
| one; and she did not care what any body said
she would not believe it. Now no one had said
anything about the young man that Elsy knew
of, and 1t was strange her thoughts should run be-
fore and suppose an accusation, and take up a
defense but such was the fact and such are of
ten the curious facts with which love begins his
impregnable masonry
AS Jacob partook of the breakfast without
much appetite we may suppose) he kept invent
ing stories, one after another, with which to
make himself appear better than he was, in the
event of being questioned by his hostess in refer
ence to his past life, which questioning he mo-
mently expected.
At first he thought he would say he was turned
out of his fathers house for supposed fault. of
which he was guiltess and that he had travelled
IN.
in a fit of temporary deirium, he had lain down
by the roadside, and that was what he last knew;
he would offer to pay for his entertainment after
breakfast, and affect surprise at finding his mon
ely gone; and say that it had been stolen from
him during his insane sleep. But Mrs Goforth
talked OF the late storm and of her fears that the
apples and peaches would have been killed-of
her plans for gardening and farming-n short,
of her own affairs altogether; so the lies Jacob
had invented died i'll his heart If she had
breathed one word of blame of him, they would
have come out, black as they were.
His next plan was to modify the story some-
what; he would blame himself a little more. his
parents little less; and he would say he laid
down. because he was too tired to 90 on and
growing numb with the cold, had fallen asleep ;
that he discovered that morning his money was
all gone, though how he had lost it, he did not
know. This gave him little more satisfaction
and he was just on the point of commencing an
exculpation unasked, when Elsy brought to the
table some warm cakes she had been baking. and
offered the incest of all to him he felt obliged to
refuse: and when with her own hand she laid
one on his plate he felt the second story all go
ing to pieces.
He now wished heartily the meal was ooncIu-
dcd, and resolved to steal away the first moment
he could do so, without saying a word. He had
no money with which to pay for his entertain
ment, and what were apologies and thanks =
Nothing; he would steal away unobserved, and
some where, and some time, try to amend.
He did not know when nor where, nor once
ask himself, why then and there would not be
as good time and place as there would ever be.
When breakfast was done, Mrs. Goforth gave
him the best chair and the warmest corner; and
il III % spare lis soh afh H IL eR aa
for them that afternoon, she went herself to the
" lk-house," little cellar that lay under a
mound of snow, few steps, from the door,
odd
come; he stole back for the bundle he had left
took it up, and there was nothing in the way OF
escape, nothing but natural nobility of soul that
was not all gone yet. There was the white bed
Elsy's own bed, he knew, which she had given
to him; and there was the pot of winter-howcrs
blooming bright in his face; and there was the
Bible on the snowy cover ofthe table; all mute
to be sure, but they seemed to rebuke the purpo-
ses he had formed nevertheless. No, he would
| not, and could not steal away like thief which
he was not Was not the house, and all that
was in it, trusted in his hands If there had
been any suspicion manifested toward him, it
would have been easy to go; but he could not
return basely the frankness and confidence he
had met. He would see Mrs Goforth-te her
truly his destitute condition, nothing clse-give
her his thanks, which was all he could give, and
somewhere seek for honest employment.
SO resolving, and wishing the resolution were
executed he sat, when his hostess returned fol
lowed almost Immediately by Elsy, her cheeks
| blushing red with the rough kisses of the wind
and her eyes sparkling, notwithstanding the dis
appointment she had met. John Hill had gone
to town an hour before, and who was to chor
their wood she could not tell; but she looked al
Jacob when she said so in n way that implied
suspicion of his ability to solve the problem
Jacob ventured to say he would like to work
long enough to pay for his entertainment, if he
dare ask such favor; it would not be asking
but doing favor Mrs Goforth said and thro y
ing down his bundle, the young man took III
| the axe.
The old dog that had kept suspicious eye OF
him all the morning, arose now, and with some
little hesitation followed him to the woodpile
whence the sturdy strokes issuing presently
made agreeable music in the widows house,
That day, and the next, and the next, he kept a
work, and that week, and the next, faithfully thu
stranger had performed all the duties intruste(
to him; but he had spoken 10 word concerning
his past life.
Many of the neighbors expressed surprise tina
Mrs. Goforth should pick up man in the higl
road, and hire him to do her work they coult
not account for it, except by saying she was
strange woman; they hoped she might not b.
paid for her foolishness by finding her horse gon
some morning, and her hired man with it. Blu
when she was seen going to church, and this hr
ed man riding in the wagon with her own daugh
ter, there was such commotiOn i'll the congrega
UOu rs uot DccH KNOW II tleTe 1OT many q year
Some of the women, indeed, passed by the pew
where the widow and daughter sat, pretending
not to see them, and such sayings as that Bird
of a feather flock together and "a woman
| known by the company she keeps" and the like
were whispered from one to another, all havn
reference to Mrs. Goforth and the drunken man
as everybody called Jacob. But the good VIC
man had little regard for what her ncighbor
thought, so long her own heart did not accus
her, for, what have donc," she said, excep
practice what they preachi"
t All the truth about the young man, after hi
arrival in the neighborhood, was speedily brute
about, and lost nothing as it went. Esy belieN
ed not one word of it, for nicer or smarter pei
son than Jacob Holcom she had never seen i
her life. If she could believe it was true, sll
would not talk with Jacob freely; but sh
knows better; and even lift were true, she think
: those who talk of it might find some faults nea
or home 10 attend to.
1t was about the middle of the sugar-makin
: season-night, and raining. Jacob had bee
: busy there two three days, SO busy that h
+ had scarcely been at the house, except for tn
G doing of the necessary chores taking luncl
con now an then with him, but not remainirl
t long enough at the house to eat with the wido
and her daughter. The day we write of he ha
] not been at home since morning; he must
? very tired, and very hungry, and very lonesom
a Elsy thinks: and she goes to the window Otter
{ TO whether he is not coming, but she don