Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1866-09-08
ASHTABULA, OHIO, SATURDAY, SEPT. 5, 1866.

more blunders generally, than had been
laid to her charge for years before Mrs.
Masters opined that she was going crazy.
But neither she nor the girl herself know
quito how mad poor Eiiie was.
Tea was on the table and Mrs, Masters
busy with some dish she prided herself
upon, and the sound of Merrick's whistle
was louder every instant as he trpped
homeward from the forge, when She
slipped up to her room, and putting on
her things, tiptoed down the back stair
case, and away toward the village
If Mrs. Masters missed her, she knew
she would only be too glad to have her
son to herself for a while, and there
was no chance of Mcrricll following her
But it was hard to choke the tears
down as she ploddcd through the long
green grass--tor the snow had gone long
ago, and it was summer and not winter
now--and she only made herself brave
by the thought that Mr. Moreand would
die if she did not keep her promise.
" ! couldn't break his heart" she said
TO herself, "evcn if I could bear to marry
any one else" -.
She reached the miliner's shop at last,
and went in to talk to one Of the girls.
The plan was, that when Morcland was
ready, he was to show himself at the
door a moment, and she was to 90 out to
meet him, and say "good-by," just as if
she were going home.
Eifie sat with one eye on the glass
door which opened from the work-room
to the shop, while she tried to chat care
lessly, and in few moments she saw
man enter from the strect--not Mr..
Morelan,d but, ofall the people in the
world, Merrick Masters. IIer first
thought was that he had followed her.
but in an instant she saw that he had
business of his own. He spoke some
words to the mistress Of the shop, and
she brought out band box.
THAT'S yours" she said It's prct-
ty bonnet, don't you think so? Going to
make birthday present of it? pink and
black"
lie said, "shc'll look well in it,
| know"
And Effie saw bright, tender look
como over his face, rs though he saw her
III it.
Of course the bonnet was . surprise
for her, and it smote her to the heart to
remember that she should be miles away
before her birthday dawned. Poor Mer-
rick! would he feel badly, and was it
cruel of her?
again, letting Merrick out with his two
bundles in his hand, and two ladies in,
ladies from the hotel, whom she had often
seen riding with Mr.. Moreland. They
asked for ribbons, and went on with their
talk while examining them.
"Who was that standing before the
door,"
go, MOreland."
81 thought so. How oddly he behaved.
He didn't seem to want us to see him"
'Perhaps he didn't; he has his secrets,
l expect. One Of them is that Irritation
, with the blacksmith's girl"
shocking! Some one ought to write
, to Mrs. Moreland."
"Poor thing, she's used to it. You
know she's quite middle-aged and plain,
and he married her for money He's
been at his pranks ever since. Actually,
my dear, he ran away with Il girl last
summer. The brother tried to shoot him,
and she drowned herself 1t was shock
ing scrape. If had such husband as
MOreland I'd have a divorce"
$50 would |. hope it wont come to
that with the blacksmith's girl; she's
quite pretty creature,
'Alrs. Print, Pll take four yards of the
blue;" the ribbon was cut off, and the
ladies took their departure u
"Eflie sat thunderstruck. They had
been talking of Mr.. Moreland. lie was
married already, and SO could never
mean to marry her. What did she mean
then? And as she asked herself, the
truth flashed across the girls mind, and
she saw the pit Of shame and dishonor at
her feet.
Love her oh, no, no, thought Eflie.
"it is hate, not love, or he would not
wish to wrong me So" Then as she
shrank from the very memory of his
false words and falscr smiles, the honest
face of the blacksmith arose before her,
and in trust and tenderness grew plain
to her again, and she was saved.
She left the girl with whom she had
been chatting, and ran out Of the store.
Al she prayed was not tomeet Ne. More
land, and the fear lent wings to her feet.
She turned her face towards the forge,
and had reached tho cross road when a
wagon stood across her path-Merrick's S
wagon, a1l he was hard by chatting with
a farmer over the gate. She heard his
voice and saw the dusky outline of his
fofn but she dared not speak to him yet.
She clambered up into the wa5on, and
hid there crying softly The bandbox
he had been to get was on the seat, and
she kissed it as she crouchcd behind it
thinking of his kindness.
Then peeping out she saw some one
sauntering up the road to the miliner's
1t was Mr.. Moreland; but the sight on
Fly made her shudder.
Ten minutes after Merrick was driving
on again, and heard little noise behind
him. He gave sudden start
"Whas's that ?" he cried.
"Only me; Effie," said voice. Then
she crept up to him.
"How did yon come here ?" he inquired.
81 saw the wagon on the road and got
in" she said. Oh, Merrick, I'm fright
ened It's lonesome and dark and wretch
I'm SO glad were going back to the
forge. .p.