The Plymouth Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1869-1941, 1870-12-15
MISCELLANEOUS.
4 E0IAS'S WAY.
BY Mrs. v. \. EDWARDS.

AiH- through TIC II;C rye, the Daliey
heads swinging heavy and yellow; the
meadows emerald green; the home lot
white with daisies the brown gabled red
rooted, old farmhouse, mellOw-tinted in
the enchanted atmosphere; the wide river
creeping lazily by; the glistening White
beach shelving down to it-this was the
scene on which Jessica Dale looked from
her seat among the branches of the ancient
ash that stood on the riverside \ little
way down the river a schooner lay close
up TO the black wharf that stood tipsily on
lis halfrotten piles: and, on this wharf
JeSslca eyes at last found a resting place.
She looked long and earnestly at group
of men on it; a few sailors laZily transfer
ling baskets of vegetables and firkinS OF
butter from the wharf to the vessel: 3.
few lank seedy-loOking men sitting on the
wharf posts and empty barrels, swinging
their legs. On 4 pile of planks Il man 5
figure was stretched at full length, and he
was apparently placidly gazing up at the
white clouds slowly forming and dissolv-
irg in the blue sky
The apron that Jessica was making fell
ont OF her hand and rusted down among
the daisies, but her thoughts, as well as
her eyes were busy on the wharf They
were not pleasant thoughts it would seem,
for she puckered up her pretty face into
numerous wrinkles, md curled her red lips
in very contemptuous hammer Jessica
was rightly considered a beautiful girl.
brown Us a berry from exposure to wind
and sun, with sweet, thoughtful gray ewes.
wavy brown hair, small, regular features.
and the rosiest of lips and p arliest of
teeth, and trim, graceful figure. She
even looked pretty when she was cross, as
thensin the ashtree.
The man on the planks soon turned his
head ii such way that he probably caught
a glimpse of her white dress among the
leaves, for ne instantly sprang lightly down
from his restiag place, and walked swiftly
across the meadows towards her, yaulting
the fences on his way. As Ike drew nearer
Il became evident that he was Young man
of fine physique, with il well-shaped head.
good, though irregular features, and great,
sleepy, brown eyes. As he crossed the
last meadow Jessica Sprang down from her
perch just in time to prevent the old gray
winged glnder from shipping piece out
OF her new apron. She met the young
man at the stile by the pollard willows.
: l am so cesy glad to see you, Jessica,"
he said, fervently, IS he helped her over
the Stile
. For what reason, Bernard? You seem
wonderfully in earnest"
Why, no reason, except the pleasure of
being with YOU
4" Not having seen me since nine o'clock
last night
:" But YOU are always fresh and beauti-
full sight. | have been wondering what |
could do with myself this afternoon, and
behold. Fate sends me you"
=" wonder you are not sun-strucl living
there on the wharf liz this hot, broiling
sun"
1 don't mind the hot sun. 1t never
hurts me-
And yet, the coolest day last winter
YOU worked out Of doors all day, building
that ice palace for me-"
. enjoy the cold, too, and take the sea
sons as they come. Heat and cold are
alike to me-"
You don't mind storms, either,
should judge, from your walking fifteen
miles III the worst one we had last spring,
for no purpose, | believe, but just tc show
that You could do it,
Yes, l can walk any reasonable dis
taTce in any weather." said Bernard, care
lessly, but secretly much pl ased that his
companion remembered all this
Does anything make you sick, Ber-
nard =
No; l nave not had days sickness
since was ten years old"
= should think. Bernard, you might be
as much as six feet high" She said, meas
Uging him with her eve
Very near the mark | am five feet
eleven
Well, said Jessica, stopping under
meath the pollard willows, and surveying
her companion from head to foot, " here is
q young man, five feet eleven, broad shOul-
dered, never sick, who minds neither sum-
mer's heat nor winters cold, nor terrible
storms, and yet who can find nothing in
all this wide world to do on this long sum-
ner day bat lie on a pile of planks or
lounge I'D and down the river bank with
girl
TIE young mans brown face flushed
crimson. but what can ] do, Jessica 2"
Help those sailors down there on the
wharf, and perhaps you will put little en-
ergv into them"
" And what would be the use of my
doing that"
Are you going TO live this lazy, useless life
all your days."
You know very well my uncle won't
help me to get into any business, or rather,
ne can't, for he never has ready money"
"Help yourself, then"
How can |, without money? / must
have little to start with"
Put yourself in as capital, and use
your muscles. They are big and strong
enough, | am sure Such weights as they
tell me you balance at the gymnasium-go
and break stOnes!"
" You talk just like a woman They
think men can do everything. What do
you suppose | could earn breaking stones"
Your self respect, if nothing more.
You are of no use to anybody now. Your
uncle and aunt don't need you; they have
their own children. have no doubt they
like to have you with them, and will give
you what you need; but you should be
ashamed To- dawdle through life dependent
on rich mans bounty"
u don't feel that it is dependence
am one of the family, and We all live hap
PLY together, and have everything in the
world we want. And, more than all that,
uncle wants you ~ come and live there,
too There Is plenty for all, he says. 1t
is large house. and there are so many ser
wants they can't find enough to do, and
great deal coming in all the time that would
be vast, d if we were not there.
And you think would let you take me
To sueh-a home as that."
Why not? 1t will be happy and lux
urious home, and they all want you; and
you know how I want you, my dearest"
Will never go there with you, Ber-
nard, neveri i would rather die
You use strong language, Jessica.
And feel strongly. | would rather
live In a log cabin, on bread and milk, than
with husband who would DE willing 10
lead such lie as you do. l should BE so
Il Md of him.