Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1866-06-22
ELLSWORTH, MAINEs FRIDAY, JUNE 22 1866

room. A fire dull for want of fuel flicker
ed on the hearth, and before it, trying to
warm its slender fingers. bent boy about
twelve. Mr.. Richmond's eyes, in theil
comprehensive gaze round the desolotc,
barren room, rested on him, and remained
fixed. He was slight, fragile beg, who
might have passed for younger than his
except for the expression of maturity on
his thoughtful couutenancc. But those
violet eyes over which long lashes curled,
and dun gold hair falling softly round the
pensiyc facc-whose were they He had
never seen such since. the day he parted
from her-his enemy. lie turned at last
and looked at the mother. She remained
quietly awaiting his pleasure, woman OF
at least forty. worn by sorrow and touched
by time, yet with q certain proud grace i'll
her manner, as she stood in the same atti
tude in which she had stood twenty years
before. on a day he could never forget
For Mts was his enemy he would not have
known her, perhaps. save for the golden
haired boy,-but now he saw her old sell
i'll her changed features. She was waiting
to learn his pleasure-what was his pleus-
ure ! Before to-day he could have ans
humiliatc her--to see her starve-to push
her to the last cytremity-to be reyenged
upon her by any and all means for the
light esteem in which she had held him
Now,-would any revenge of this kim
satisfy him! Vaguely as something heart
afar off some words came back to him
he thought he had heard his mother roat
them i'll his boyhood
" If thine enemy hunger, feed him, if h,
thirst, give him drink"
His heart throbbed strangely, but h,
kept all emotion out of his voice.
hear your rent is not ready, Mrs
Maflit."
=" 1t is not. Frank has been i'll so much
and required 50 much of my attention,
hoped you would be willing to give me ;
little time ! think he will be better whel
spring opens"
But YOU ought not to have expected
much lcnicncy from me. You told me year
ago, that was stern, hard man. lol
might have soitcned mo if you had trie,
then But think time has been turnn:
me into stone
She recognized him now, and her lip curl
ed with touch of the old scorn. To hin
OF I'LL men she would not sue for grace.
:" WAS true to myself then she quietl,
said, Il ann not sorry even now
His enemy still, he thought--his starvin:
enemy. Should he offer her bread or
stonc' have said that new impu scs wcr,
guiding him, and with him impulses wer,
all powerful. He went to the golden hair
ed boy on the ehearth.
..}E ,ntl yn,t II, tiyn vJfh p,npi Ia,
asked him. The fires are bright in ny
honsc and the carpets warm and soft
There are pictures on the walls, and b2pli
without cmd in the: ::eases,.
At The sound Of pictures and books tn
boy : eyes frightened; but he anSwcrct
with Il sturdy resolution which reminded
Pierce Richmond again of whom he ctlle'
his enemy.
Il should like the fires AMI carpets til
books and the pictures bcttcryct. But II
no' leave my mother"
"Will Your mother come" Mr.. Rich
mond turned and looked into the wor
face llnshinga II little with Indignation a
his words II do not mean to ask any
thing You cannot grant" he fastened t
say, III tones OF quiet Reinsurance. -
am %, alone i'll the world. Wife | shal
never have and need Il house-kcepcr
u woman faithful enough to look out IL
M, interests, and kind enough to nurs
patiently through my old age. II You vi
come 10 my home, and keep my house,
shall be Your home, and Your boys hom
while live, and at my death you shall b
insured against want.
The widow lookeda moment into hi
eyes and then gave linn her hands III Il pnss
ION of eager gratitude.
Il dcscrvcnothing from vou," she sal
land you have saved me from despair
But think rs time went ON, that til
elegant abode where Pierce Richmond ha
passed 50 many solitary years, took on nc'
aspects of ease and grace under Il woman
fingers as little Frank met him whenevc
he came in with loving cagcricss and !,
began to understand something Of the dill
ercucc between II house and home, Ii
never repcnted that he shown mercy to HI
enemy.