Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1866-09-08

when she found 1t out tor Ellie was, al
ter all, only. "the help" and the black
smiths widow and the blacksmith's moth
or felt proud to say that "none Of their
folks had ever hired out"
'But, for all that, there are people in
this very village who look down on ms
because l shoe their horses and mend
their wagons" said Merick.
"AIore fools they 90 take airs" said the
old woman.
$50 say ~ said Ncnick; ''and we
would be as bad rs they to look down on
Ellie for washing our dishes. She's as
good as YOU and deal better than me,
rich or poor
And AIerrick Masters had his way, and
the whole place knew they were engaged
in a fortnight.
Now. when he went in to tea, the first
question both asked him was about his
new customer
"Eilie says he's the handsomest man she
ever saw said the old woman.
$50 he is" said Merricl, not whit
jealous; "but who he is, don't know
lie came and went, and~ had his horse
shod, that's all I know; and he asked who
you were, too, Fife"
'And had this dreadful old apron on
too," said Efiie
"IIe didn't notice that guess" said
Merrick.
"Why not?
NIerrick laughed.
Oh, do tell me-"
"Well, he askad who that pretty girl
was"
Efie hid her face in the old apron, and
Mrs. Masters turned her head She never
quite admitted Efiie's beauty.
"W bat notions to put i'll the girls head!"
she thought: and it was pity, for Efiie
was vain enough already. A greater
pity, too, because, whenever horscman
galloped up to the forge thereafter, she
ran out, under some pretcxt, hoping it was
the handsome gentleman who had asked
"who that pretty girl was." Not that
she meant any harm, but to be called
pretty girl by such man was something
glorious.
She saw him at last; and there was
look, smile and bow, and after that,
somehow, they kept meeting, still, no
harm in it at all, only Etfie did not men,
ton the fact to Merrick or to his mother :;
and Efie learned that he was Mr.
Moreland, stopping at the great hotel in
the village, and guessed that he was very
rich and fashionable.
Often she saw him riding with elegant
ly dressed ladies and gentlemen, but he
always seemed the most elegant Of all to
her; and by-and-by she fell to contrast
ing Merrick with him, and wishing Heay-
en- had made lim like Mr.. Moreland
From that she went on to wish that she
was a lady herself, and somebody else
/ was in her place, and to feel above the
forge snd the cottage kitchen, and the
| blacksmith, and his mother, who had
was the "hclp."
One day Mr. Moreland found her shed
ding tears, in little quiet spot, where
they were III the habit Of meeting by ac-
cident, and would have the reason.
OTIS nothing-only Pm tired" said
Ehie.
Mr.. Moreland drew closer to her.
Tired" said he, no "wondcr; you are
too good for all that sort of thing-too
good to work in kitchen and wear cot
ton gowns-and altogether too good to
be a blacksmith's wife It's no use deny
ing it; you know you are"
'Oh, hush" said Efie. Merrick is the
best man in the world, Pm sure, Pm not
tired Of Merrick."
"Oh, Of course not" said Mr. Moreland,
''and we can't help our feelings" and he
sighed.
Then he whispered a good deal that
| Ellie could not understand entirely, but
knew was very fine and sentimental, and
quoted poetry, and made great eyes at
her. Out of asnovel, the girl was sure no
one was ever so charming, and she went
home with the firm conviction that fshe
chose she might iiilt the blacksmith and
marry the fine gentleman.
From feeling sure she could, she began
to wonder whether it would be so very
wrong to do ito doubt whether McT-
rick cared much about her, and to feel
sure that Mr. Moreland loved her better
than his life-and sharp word from Mrs.
| Masters finished it. Something had gone
to waste in the store-room, and the old
woman fused and fumed about it, as she
always did.
"Them that has nothing is alters most
wasteful,' she said. You'd orter remom-
Der you're to be married to Il man that
has something to manage and take care
OF. There's Peggy Gray-neyer lets a
bit spoil, and darns and patches, and
mcnds, year in and year out. But
she's got three thousand in tho bank, be-
sides what will como to her when the
old man goes and wasn't took in on char
ity. wish Merrick had took notion
to her. L. -
Say good-by, and let him do it now,
then, said Mr.. Moreland, when the girl
had told him her new trouble.
All, but have no other friends, and
no other home TO go to, sighed Effie.
"You have" said Mr.. Moreland, ga
friend who will never cease to love you,
and such a home as he deserves. Share
my home and my life, Effie.
Then The put his arms around her
and called her loving names, and she
promised all he asked of her.
She was to meet him on Monday even,
ing (that was Saturday. at a milliner's
shop in the village, and there they were
to take carriage and go to meet the
train The first practicable mos,iS1t. .fhsy