Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1869-02-11


my apologies for the annoyance whic b
the mistake has caused you. ] can
assure YOU that YOU do not regret il
more heartily than do myself
but YOU were quite aware from
the first. Mrs. WINCH said the young
man. THAT nv name was John En-
glish. and nothing else. ] am really at
a loss to understand how such n mistake
could arise
$50 was l.. when | came to think
coolly of it afterwards said the Wild
ow. $50 stnpid of me. was it not!
But besides the singular coincidence
Of the surname. there were other cir
cumstances on which | need not enter
now. which induced IN TO think that
YOU were the person had in my mind
when that note was written. But now
| that the matter has been clearly ex-
planned. hope there is nothing to pre-.
vent our being good friends for the
I future"
/ John was silent. Was this woman's
/ explanation To be accepted as the
truth: To his ear, it had not the fine
ring of sterling coin. I'VE will put
aside for the present your explanation
/ Of the note. Mrs. Winch. which NAV or
NAV not he correct" said John in his
simple. straightforward way. which
had Vet nothing of rudencss in il.
There are one or two other circum-
stances which wish To lay before you.
ami which YOU may. perhaps. be able
T Ia explain equally well"
The widow had been steadily sewing
Z all this time she now paused TO bite
OF the end Of her thread. and then look
rl NJ at John with a smile. She did
not speak. hnt her cye~ said go on
~ plainly a. wor,is could have done.
You had brother" began John
and then he stopped. for the widow
started at his words, and turned on
him a quick. terrified glance. which he
lid no; fail - note But next moment,
she was herself again. a- cool and col
lccicd ss before. lou had n brother.
resumed John: by name, jeremiah
krcefe by profession, a surgeon who,
with his wife, emigraiei ID America
twenty wears ago.
Quite true said the widow , and
who. YOU might have added, unfortn-
nat ely died there some seven or eight
wears since. Proceed. sir. pray"
MIR krccfc walked with a limp. and
had peculiar cast in one of his eyes"
Admitted" said the widow. His
misfortune, and not hi- fault, in both
eases
Mr.. krcefe never had a son think :
Certainly not. n far a. | am aware
lie was in the habit. believe, OF
corresponding with YOU occasionally
after his arrival in America"
Yes Jerry and ! were always
friendly and have had many letters
from him at different times. But really.
Mr.. English, these are purely family
matters. and DO not see in what way
they can possibly concern you.'
Il shall come to that presently. said
John. As YOU were on such intimate
terms with Your brother. YOU can doubt
less give me some particulars respect
ing the name, birthplace, and parcn,age
Of the child-a hoy-whom he took
with him from England. and who lived
with him in America for four years.
Can YOU not do this =
The widow felt her heart cease beat
ing for a moment or two: she seemed
10 grow pale internally but her voice,
when She spoke. expressed nothing but
genuine surprise.
You astonish me, Mr.. English"
She said, more than can tell. |
think you must have been misinformed /:
but if what you say Is true, assure
you that know nothing whatever Of
any child taken by my brother and his
wife with them 10 America. Surely YOU
,asS. have been misinformed."
There i nothing hut the simpl e
\ truth in what have told you." said
John sadly II. whom YOU see before
/ YOU am that unfortunate child. was
taken across the Atlantic in the care of
your brother lived with him for four
years in some little country town ; and
/ thcn" -
Yes, and then: r said the widow
eagerly.
What followed after that does not
concern my story at present" said
John.-''Do you mean, Mrs. Winch"
he went ON, Ito tell me solmnly that
you know nothing whatever of such a
circumstance
Il assert most positively, Mr.. En-
/ glish," said the landlady. that am in
utter and entire ignorance of the tran
saction YOU mention. Ny brother. in
this matter. never favoured me with
his confidence and certainly his letters
never hinted. even in the most remote
manner. at anything Of the kind. You
have surprised me more than could
express to you in any words.
When came here this afternoon,
said John. lit was with the conviction
that. if you only chose to do so. YOU
could give me some particulars of my
birth and parentage-that you could
perhaps even tell Inc my farther's name.
and reveal to me who am. But sup
pose | must go back as ignorant as |
came"
The widow had triumphed. and she
could afford to sympathise. i declare,
Mr.. English, it is quite little romance,
she said; '.hardly to be credited in
these sober nineteenth-eentury days,
is it! Sad for you, Of course. and l am
sure ! feel for you sincerely. But the
world holds many good man who has
been obliged to do without farther
and am sure, Mr.. English, that you
| ho,- &aln