Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1865-01-20
MiscfllaMspMs.
Golden Pippins.

SAS~S~A - ~ATG>A~A0s
Nov, Ray, seriously, you are not
vexed with me ? You yourself would
have been the first to bid me CO."
Far down below the precipitous ledg.
es Of the mountain path the valley seem.
ed to swim ii, mists of gold, while here
and there, among the oyerhaDging trees,
a deep-dyed sumach tossed its crest OF
crimson plumes in the spicy air Of mid
October, and the coal.red berries of the
dogwood glowed like burning Goals in
the tangled wilderness Of the woods. 1t
was very pretty background for wood
nymph or hamadryad, and Rachel Mar
tins attitude was unconsciously artistic
as she played with the blue asters that
covered her little basket of hickory nuts,
spoils from the great old tree whose giant
branches overtopped the whole forest.
She was plump and pretty, with round
wondering blue eyes and mouth like a
maguifed cranberry,@hilc the roses on
her check seemed to come and go with
every breath she drew, and tho faint
touches Of sunshine on her brow gave
additional charm to her fresh, rustic
beauty. Mark Douglas leaned over the
twisted beech-root that separated them,
ana tried to take the brown hand in his,
BIT it WAS drawn away with decided
lqu ckncss.
"R y, dearest -
Ah, he did not see the blood mantling
to her cleck under the euvious shadows
of the atrocious Shaker bonnet" The
did not hear the quick, stormy throbbing
of the petulant heart. Dearest" iu-
deed When Kcziah Truman's beau
never so ouch as went to Boston with
out asking her leave, and Charley Jen
kius lad distinctly intimatea that the
whole programme Of his future existence
was to be indicated solely by Miss Mar
tins wish. Yes, it was very well for
Capt. Mark to stay at home, officiating
in the Home Guard department she
liked the uniform, and didn't object to
the martial eclot. But to 60 down a.
mong the rebels without so much as con-
sulting her inclinations, the spoiled beau.
ty thought that was altogether different
thing.
II see you are in no mood to discuss
this matter impartially just now, Rach.
el,' Capt Mark said gravely, IL had
thought, had hoped to find you feeling
differently"
"In no mood :" Rachel colorel scar.
let. What right had Mark Douglas to
treat her like a naughty child?
IL beg your pardon, Capt. Douglass
she said petulantly; "it isn't at all me-
cessary to discuss matter SO perfectly
indifferent to me-"
Now Mark Doug las was only man,
with all the inirmities incident to man.
kind. lie bit his lip, and his brow grew
dark.
Rachel, you seem to have forgotten
the engagement"
"Engagement" |" she repeated sharply.
II am tired Of an engagement that ouly
fetters one party while the other is free
as air."
"Tired!" -" He hesitated moment, as
if vainly striving to command bis voice.
"Do ysu wish to be released, Ray 2"
She did not answer-perhaps she was
not quite prepared for this phase Of at.
fairs.
"Tell me-yes or no." he demanded
sternly.
"Yes," she answered with pettish alb.
ruptness.
"Then, goodbye, Ray"
Gone? Yes. hewas gone. She watched
him descending the mountain side with
quick, even strides, under the scarlet
draperies Of clinging vines, thro' patches
of deep, still shadow, into belts of golden
sunshine, until the over-hanging rock hid
him from her view; yet it seemed SO
difficult to believe that be was really
gone
; She looked down on the tiny engage
ment ring that sparkled ON her foreinger
"a simple turquoise set it virgin gold,
whose blue glinmer shone dimly through
her tears-and she could not but remem-
Der the tender words with which he had
placed it on her finger.
AeG ~ Do y eVhcu uoV"oCn uS, u0atco',
like the signet ring Of old times. Where.
ever l may be, this ring will always bring
my heart back to its queen"
a ought to have returned it," she
pondered, shrinking as if the slender cir
clet Of gold were ring Of fire. II will
some timc!"
So Mark Douglas lost his sweetheart
and marched down to Petersburg soli-
tary man, marveling, as many one has
done before him, on the inscrutable mys-
teries of the female heart.
"Dretful keen Wind ain't it 7" said the
Widow Taylor, untying the strings Of her
worsted hood; powerful sharp frost last