Ellsworth American., 1867-06-14
How I Won my Wife.
AN ENGLISH STORY.

AN ENGLISH STORY.
Jessie Hale was the mcrricst. prctticst.
most provoking daughter Of Eve that ever
existea--at least. thought so--though
perhaps I was not an impartial judge. as
must confess was deeply in love- and,
in fact. don't believe could remember
of time when was not in love with her.
Ii certainly was not when yOungstcr of
twelve took her under my especial care.
feeling proudcr of my curlyhcaded charge
than could now Of mine Of gold; nor
when tall, awkward boy of sixteen, first
vcntured to ask for her company home
from church or still later. when after four
years absence. returned to my native
town and set up as a surgeon in the house
where DR.. MoOre's name had been since
my earliest rccollectiOns.
Oakdale was remarkably healthy place.
or else the good people felt little afraid of
trusting their lives in the hands Of n vOnug
scapegrace as they had known me to be,
for somehow my horse and gig found more
employment in CARRYING Jessie Hale to
ride than any moe profitable business {;
and it is certain more of my time was spent
in Mr.. Hale's pleasant parlor. than in either
study or practice Of medicine. Some of
the ncighhors silly remarked that l must
have a very sick patient there to occasion
such frequent visits; and was certain
that if had no patient there all the pa
tience ever had was required there at
ii mes tor all the tantalizing little wretch
es that ever fascinated and provoked "A
poor tcllow-until he could not have told
whether he was in the body or out Of it
Jessie II le was the worst.
Aud there was William Trcmainc-
standing six feet two in my stockings, big
enough to have known better, that is sure.
led about by that little elf coming and 60
ing at her every beck and call, rs if | Were
a great simplcton. as i'll truth l must have
been, for after playing yours most devot-
cdly' for six months. was no nearer win
ming than at first. Open hearted and can
did she was Oh every other subject but
just let me speak of love or marriage. and
l might as we'll talk to Il stone wall for all
the sense | could get from her. No matter
how cautiously might approach the sub
ject. she was ALWAYS ready with some oil
haud answer as far from what | wanted ~
the equator from the poles. until was al
most IN despair. but more eager after any
failure. All is fair in love and war; or
at least thought sa. and resolved 10 try
the result Of strategy Oh my "iliul little la
dy love.
One fine morning. as we were ahout
.tartin. for Il ride ON horseback. and | was
assisting Miss Jessie into the saddle, her
horse commenced rearing and kicking nj an
alarming rate; of course the jagged bits OF
iron had cautiously inserted beneath the
saddle had nothing TO do with it. BY the
t.nle she was fairly seated he had become
perfectly unlnanageahlc, throwing her vio-
ienrlv from the sridle: of course l caught
her he fore she touched the ground. No
sooner was she in sal, ty, than, with deep
groan. stagg, red back against the fence,
INV right ara. hanging helpless by my si!r.
1t took nicely. for Jessie was beside NE IN
u moment.
% Will.' she said ptcously, that terri
bic hoi So has broken your arm; and What
will YOU do! Poor Will poor Will
How like "A rascal felt at sight of her
distress; hut was not going to give up
then so | answered. with another terrible
groan. 1t is nothing. dear Jessie | would
suffer IA thousand times more to feel that
had saved yonr precious lifc.'
But OH, | am 50 sorry What can be
done for your she said. in such touching
accents that half repcnted.
The end jus,iiies the means thought
The end accomplished certainly did. My
answer was in II Voice low and faint, as il |
was just dying.
Only tel me that You love me, Jessie
darling it will saothe my pain more than
ANYTHING else in the world And then like
the great simplcton that | was, put that
right arm around her, aud never discovered
nv mistake until she sprang suddenly
away fr"n me.
Wouldn't "A little brandy and water do
us well. Mr.. Trcmaine' she said archly,
There don't seem to be any bones broken;
the injury was in thermal. should think
Woulln t have sold myself fort siXpence!
But there was no help Tor 1t; so had to
own the trick, and Wen home wishing
had broken my arm. or neck, didn't care
much which. AZ er that. fora while, was
,athcr shy of the love subject. for did not
fancy hearing nf my last attempt; but '"ut
ol the n.outh speakcth, land my heart was
so full of MY love for Jessie Hale. that |
could not force my tongue to keep silence
very long. So one morning, aftel ounsing
in my study until | was tir, d of everything,
lnNSctI C'!lhi-~ WV 'NS' WV Wy
resolved that the matter should he decided
before returned. Jessie WAS sitting ny
the parlor window, busily sewing. and
humming some merry tune to herself when
entered. She was looking pre.iier than
ever. thought: and | found it terrible
hard work to talk on common place sub
eets. wien my mind was so full of the one
SO important to we.
At last broke in upon some of her care
less nonsense with-"WhN in the world,
Jessie. don't you say whether vou love me
pr not What is the use in keeping fel
low in suspense forever? believe you do
in fact, know You do"
Here was again making a simpleton of
myself | might have known She never
would have told me after that, but did not
woman kind as well then as |
lavc done since.
"Oh, you know, then. dovou !" she said
,oolly, with merry twinkle in her eye
Then, Of course, there is no need Of my
ceiling you"
No, Gid not mean it, Jessie" said
,enitently. "But do you love me! viii
,ou answer Yes or no!'
Yes or no.. she answered demurely. u
40 J,ssieHalc, / exclaimed impatiently,