The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1862-09-12
Wintergreen Berries.

reclining, as was bis custom, and the latter
industriously working, as was his custom.
Suddenly tiny rap was heard upon the
door, followed by the entrance Of q pretty
child, about twelve years old. who, with a
basket of apples upon one arm, and another
filled with tiny crimson berries on the other,
came in. Jor dress was of worn and faded
calico; and little scarlet WOODEN hood sur.
rounded her face, tied on one side 10 a pic
turcsque knot.
Buy some wintergroen berries, this
morning, sir !"
She came forward as she spoke, throwing
the hair back with a single impatient move
ment Of her head
Don't want 'em for anything under tho
sum-" observed Albyn, phiosophlcally, but
| suppose | shall have to buy EN-, neverthe-
less, little one, if you will give me credit
| for three cents"
Il would rather not, air." said the child
gravely, her wide.open black eyes fixed full
upon his faco.
mo = said tho somewhat Disconnected
questioner, still searching his pockets for
the necessary coin and why not, pray
Are you afraid should become insolvenI :"
Il don't know what you mean, sir" said
the child, looking a little bewildered at the
sound of tho long word. Il should not be
afraid you would not pay mo, slough, for
have sold you apples great many times,
but could not carry the money homo to
my mother, and she could not pay the man
who brought our wood yesterday"
"Well 7"
"And he has got a sick wife, who can
not work, and maybe, if she did not havo
medicine, she would die."
80 my three cont piece goes to buy med.
icine for the wood. merchants sick wife, oh =
said Albyn, thoughtfully.
"A slight illustration" remarked Wilmot
"of the curious way in which the links OF
humanity depend on one another"
Here, Wintergreen," said AIbyn, II can
, find the smaller coin but here is q quarter
of dollar. Never mind the change-yor
keep it all ! and III think over that anti
credit theory of yours at leisure u
The little girl thanked him with radiant.
ly bright smile, and gIided away, under ber
wrappings, like a second edition OF Little
, Red Rlding.hooG. Charles Allyn sat in
, thoughtful silence for several minutes al
/ longtb ho spoke;
r "Wilmot," said he gravely, "Wintergreer
f Berries taught mo lesson. A man has NJ
+ right TO embarrass by bis debts, boweve
$ trihiDg. intend to 90 to work in serou
r earnest, and be a man, instead of q languiC
, diIcidR!e. Don't look so iucreduous-only
wait ten years Little WDtergreen's daily
visits shal keep up my resolves, and reminC
, me of their force"
0 But little Wintergreen never came again
The ten years of trial, as Albyn laughing
. ly phrased it, had passed by, and tn,
+ Young firm occupied q spacious suite o
: rooms instead OF the narrow down town oi
8 fce where the street passengers brushe
: against the very panes OF glass. They ha
d become rich and popular lawyers. Abby
o had kept bis resolution, and all things ha
:. prosPered with him, even beyond his antici
pations.
= The partners wero sitting together, jus
' as they had sat on the stormy Mach day, tel
d years before, talking quietly in the fire
Q light, while the dark shadows of evenin
j. crept through the rooms
# "And when are you to be married, Char
:, ley:"
"Iu about three weeks, believe. Mind
@ Wilmot, you are to officate as groomsmap
f and that reminds me that Evelyn is quit
Q offended because hor lovers dearest frien
t. don't even pay her the compliment of cal
o Will you 60 there with me tonight :"
e "If you desire t." said Wimot, with a
le air of resignation; "but you know l am nc
is much of lady's man."
N 81 particularly wish you to do so" sal
ID AIbyn. because Think perhaps you ma
1t be able to explain curious sensation th
t. always passes across my brain in Evelyn
/; presence-the certainty that l have SOM
Q where seen her years ago."
8 THAT ia impossible" returned his frient
,f "because you yourself say that you wer
IS first introduced to her on her return fror
d Europe, at the house of her uncle, M
h Lernier."
is The very impossiblity of the thing add
'r to its mystery" said Albyn. "Sometimes
q think that have seen her in dream"
ID The superb apartment into which Mil
is Lernier received her guests was family illr
l. minated by single light glowing through
D. shade of frosted glass. As the young lad
Of came forward to welcome Mr.. Albyn IN
i his friend, Wilmot involuntarily started.
"Where have seen that girl before :"
mentally exclaimed.
Evelyn Lerner was q charming brunett
with black hair, and melting, tropical eyes
a little foreign in her manners, but mo-
fascinating witbal. Her dress was of golC
N coored silk, with draperies of the richer
r lace, clasped with sparkling diamonds, viii
!. her slender arm and hands cleaned wit
- jewels. She chatted away, with livelie
y gayety, to her visitors, for a while, but
r length turned abruptly to Mr.. WiIprot.
= "Why do you look at me so earnestly
& she demanded, with little piquant pettisI
ness.
le pardon me, Miss Lernier," said wilmo
d coloring up to the eyes, but to tell tt
At truth, find it impossible to divest myse
70 of the idea that, improbable as it may al
io pearl have seen you at some previous time
DO you really share in Charles singuli
e. fancy :" said she, laughing l b.
!. lieve / must solve the riddle, or you wi
h dream out the solution for yourselves.
n order to do so, must tell you story !"
~ "Speak on, sweet enchantress !" said A
y byn, gaily taking her snowy, jsweled han
"a in his.
"There was once little girl" she begal
of gazing abstrectedly downward, but t,stoppin
n suddenly, she took from the table box {
- - inlaid pearl and gold, and, opening it, di
=. ~ closed an exquisiteIy clear little cGbin'
L psinting on ivory, saying-"Perhaps tn
Ar will aid your memory"
e The picture represented a child scare
ID twelve years of age, dressed in worn brow
of cloak, with hood tied loosely around ht
"a dark, lovely face, and basket of Grim so
n, berries on her arm.
~ All at once, with Evelyn Lerner's larg
smiling eyes gazing into his own, Charlt
rs Albyn penetrated the mystery, and oaugl
i'll the young girl to bis breast, exclaimipg,
IN 'DArling little Wintergreen Berries !"
a sand YOU never suspected this before |"