Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1870-07-07


thing but friendliness of feeling. As
Flora saw the figure, she gave fright.
ened little start, and flushed to her
very temple.
;'Afternoon !" observed the man in
the blue shirt.
GOOD afternoon, Jethro," replied
Flora.
I'D stop few minutes. if thought
was wanted observed the stranger,
biting of the end Of wisp Of hav
winch he held in his hand.
Come in" she said, IL would like
TO have you stop"
NO." replied Jethro; Il don't be-
iiese YOU would
Arthur Ro!leston, thinking the last
remark aimed in his direction. closed
ms oooS, and said he thought he would
take stroll. Then he removed his hand
from fIora's which had lain quie tly in
his own, all this time, and sauntcrcd
ohtoward the beach
>liandsome chap, that. said Jet!:-
ro.-'Spose hes nice company. aint
he
Flora bit her lips. and made no re-
ply. The man was silent, and then
continued. "lle's qri,e cut me out,
lately, amt he! don't s'pose you
care anything about that, though,
Hes better looking than | be, and |
dare say he knows a good deal more.
wish YOU joy. Miss Grant"
''Jethro, said Flora. You are tor
getting yourself. What right have
YOU TO talk in this way, to me-
Forgetting myself? Good Lord
Isn't il c:ough to make man forget
when YOU drive ne mad !?
just think Of it awhile. 1t will do YOU
good. When he first came here, |
cared about it. don't now, after
what I've seen this afternoon. Good
bvc /"
Good .bye Jethro'
Singular, was it not. that when he
was gone, Flora bent her head upon
her hand, and criel Singular, to-.
that Jcthro Butler. instead Of NJ once
returning 10 his work in the field.
strolled lazily along the cliff. after
RoIleston, and finally came upon him.
unexpectedly, of course, sitting upon
A great stone ON the beach below.
Halo" he said, grinly taking i
seat near him.
Halo, replied Arthur, .Jcthro But
Ter. isn't ii: have head of YOU.
That's my name said Jethro.
Then, n, though his heart and head
were both hot with some feeling tina; was
r. 4 ,iaas, .i.-s- - -'-.~-.- ->-~. .s~,,s'..
70 IKE yonr own company better than
YOU 10 Flora's.'
" nat OF L.: asked Arthur. sharply
ga, nothin', I'm getting that way
myself. lately. didn't use 10 he.
though
RD.leston regarded him for All ms
taut, IN silence. Then he sald. You
don't seem 10 like me very much;'
'No- replied Jethro, drily.
.Why.'
You had better ;>,h Flora why
She can tell YOU as much rs | can
about ii She knows why don't like
you. and knows why nate you.'
'.Iethro, said Rolleston. suddenly,
as ii new light had broken in on him.
if | had ever known or thought that ]
was blotting any hope of yours. even
though | knew it to be a delusion, |
should have left this place long ago.
have no reason to be other than your
friend. and have never had
Veil said J replied Jethro. Il like
sou for that; but it is too late-too
late.
How do you know! Tell me that
you love Flora Grant-assure me Of
her love for you-and | am gone to-
morrow.
Its too late, tell you ? said .Iethro
iiercely. Haven't | seen it? Didn't |
watch her while ago, drinkin' in your
words with all her soul2 She might
have thought Of me once, but that's all
over now
You may deceive YOURSELF said
Arthur. \ on are not certain she does
not like you STILL
4 am. he replied. 1T has been
sort OF fate. don't know about such
things, but am beginning to believe
in destiny
He raised his arm, and pointed over
the pulsing sea.
Look there he continued its ebb
tide. All my life has been one great
ebb tide-eyerything going out, moth
ing coming in. 1t was ebb tide when
YOU was thrown on shore, to take away
what was dearer to me than life. I've
watched every hope and ambition l
ever had, drift out to sea beyond my
reach. Nothing has ever been brought
to me, and nothing will be, except
death. A flood tide may come in and
bring me that, some day.
He said that in tone OF such utter
like a man whose life fate
had rendered one long, sad future, that
ROlleston's heart was touched with
pity.
! would help you if l could Jethro.
Can ! say anything to her that would
turn the scale for your
No! l should hate you worse than
l do now, il you did. I've begun to
feel better toward you since I've sat
here. Don't make it worse
This, thought RollestOn, "is one of
the problems that try mems s-uls.
Flora is dearer than all the world to
me; yet here is a man that has loved
her all his life. His claim to her had
grown old before mine was born
A wild crash from the cliff above
Il