The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1871-06-01
AN OLD G. A NJ e.

ton"
These words fell in hurried accents O
vexation from the cherry-ripe lips O
Miss Lucy Ware, and were accompanied
by fairy-like avalanche of fascinating
screams. She was Just about to steI
aboard the cars when she discovered hel
loss.
ooh dear! 1t was on when started
never match it in this world"
And she cast look of CONSERVATION
at the vacant place on her sacque, where
there should have been large agate
button.
"Why don't you look around for it p
she demanded of her handsome cousin,
Gerald Wentworth, who was to see her
safely started on her journey.
He elevated his eyebrows at her impe-
rious tone, and scanned the ground at
their feet.
"What are vou looking at, Tom Shell
ly? You'd better go back to your greasy
machine-shop, unless you can find my
button 7!
Tom Shelly lifted his hat, bowed low
to conceal shade OF pain that passed
across his face, and walked away. He
had come to take a last look at the des-
potic little beauty before she passed
from his vision, perhaps forever. She
was the incarnation to him of all that
was bright, winning, sprightly, and low
able; and after she was gone he would
muse and dream about her, when she,
perhaps, would bestow only an occa-
sional, transient thought on him as an
atom among her home "reminiscences.
just then the warning whistle sound
ed, and Miss Ware was compelled, sorely
against her will, to submit to her loss,
and proceed on her journey.
She waved her handkerchief, Gerald
Wentworth waved his hat, and then the
latter overlook Tom Shelly.
"She's high-toned little piece, Shell
ly," he said.
"Who? Oh yes Miss Ware. She is
to be gone for long time, l believew
"All winter"
Tom sighed. He looked at his rusty
clothes, and contrasted them with the
elegant suit of his companion.
"She's pretty proud, isn't she I"
proud as Lucifer's sister-if he had
one," laughed Wentworth. "Though 1
don't know as ought to say that. 1
think good deal of her myself"
"You dor"
"Yes-she's my cousin, you know"
"She is very beautiful"
"And she knows it too"
Tom was silent. He did not feel ca
pable of maintaining his careless tone;
so he looked straight ahead, and plant
ed his heels on the pavement with vigor
as he stepped.
"They say you're the best man in
Dunnings maohine-shop, Shelly. How's
that z"
Course the machine-shop and its
grease and dirt p exclaimed Shelly. 81
wish I'd chosen some more genteel bust
ness"
"Well, it isn't as neat as it might bA
to be sure. But still, when you get up
to the top, it's all right. Look at Dun
he stands in the community.
He began by kindling the fires, you
know"
directions. Their brief conversation
passed from Wentworth's mind immedi-
ately; but Tom remembered it, dwell |
ing and lingering on each word, and
turning it over and over in his mind. |
There was no torture SO delightful to
him as to hear Lucy Ware talked about,
and to mediate on whatever concerned |
her in near or remote degree. He
watched by stealth her smiles, and was
angry with all the world because he
could not resist the infatuation. For he
ought to have dismissed her from his
thoughts with contempt after she re-
fused one night to go to q concert with
him because he did not dress we'll
enough. He was wounded and cut; but
the circumstance did not bring common
sense to his head. He sulked, and toiled,
and hoped with miserable, doubling
hope, and pocketed his fifteen dollars a
week, and was still an abject slave.
Miss Ware was going to New York to
spend the winter with wealthy aunt,
and now he had her last words to think
of-a command to go back to his greasy
machine-shopl
When he left the shop that night it
was to walk home with slow steps and a
thoughtful face. Nominations in which
there were CLEANS of sense, energy, and
purpose ran through his head.
He found supper waiting, and sat
down opposite his mother with an alb
sent, preoccupied look.
"Are you tired, Toni Z"
"No, not particularly"
~ thought you looked so.'