Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1871-11-23

of her own age? Since she was old
enough she had been her fathers house
keeper. She accompanied him on all
possible occasions, aud hesitated not
TO wander through the woods alone,
whenever and wherever her own sweet
! will prompted her. She was inclined
TO fi:t. and certainly no girl ever had
better opportunity.
Her adventures for the day were not
vet over. She had left everything ut
the house. as was her invarible custom,
in reaaliSss--ss.>shc-rvur mear put
she felt remorseful and quickened her
steps. recollecting that her father was
probably awaiting her arrival. For
few moments after leaving her lover
she was pensive and distracted, but
her face gradually cleared, and she
suddenly discovered that she was
actually whistling. She stopped short.
Its too bad declare it is =
What's too bad. young ladv.'
She looked up with little scream
of surprise, but curled her lip con-
temptuouslv when she saw it was only
Bill Drck, the storekeeper. His short,
thick form blocked up the pathway,
and his red face was even more flushed
than usual.
See here, Miss vi, I've been wantin'
to speak TO you for some time
What for''
Your fathers time will be up in two
weeks. I've got TO have either the
money or the claim. There amt no
earthly show for him TO raise two thou
sand dollars. You know his whole
soul is wrapped up in that quartz
ledge. It'll kill him To lose it, These
old trees won't bear transplanting.
i love YOU
You wish had a rock TO throw
Mt you
No you don't either, Miss vi. Bv
blood duck was evidently getting
excited-'Ill have either you or the
claim. Your father would sooner die
than break his word. Ii | take the
claims, as | will if you don't marry me
he will die. Take time 10 think over
this. and mebbe by next Sunday you'li
say Yes III make the old man com.
Portable for life if you do. II you
don't
Il wish was a man, Bill Duck, to
answer YOU rightly. Marry yoI
There isn't language enough in the
world for me 10 tell how | despise
you.'
She was beautiful in her fearless in
| dignation. Bill Duck had been gaz-
Ing too long and ardently at the
tempting crimson lips. lie was mad
dened with desire, and her words only
! inhamei his sensual nature more
strongly.
There's nobody here, ne nuttcred
! = himself. by jupiter, I'll hay-Tnc
Kiss if die for il Il:
! lie sprang forward and c!asped her
( in his arms.
'Oh, help screamed Vi, struggling
/ vaniy to free herself
! Before Duck could force her lips to
his own a violent blow on the side OF
the head sent him reeling against the
trunk Of Of a pine tree. Uncle Ben,
/ returning after drill which he had
4 forgotten 10 take home u sharpen,
/ had reached the spot just IN the nick of
I time. There was no struggle. Duck,
who was a coward at heart, knew L ncle
Ben too well 10 wish an encounter with
1 him, especially when armed with a
pick handle, touch Of the quality of
which lie had just received. He re-
! treated 10 q safe distance, therefore,
before delivering his parting speech:
This is all right, Miss vi but il you
don't tel me a different story next
Sunday, he's got to suifer-thats
all
When he was fairly out OF sight Uncle
know what it all meant. Indignantly,
yet sorrowfully, she told him all.
Had 10. Grey's humorous friends
been aware Of all his proceedings that
night, nothing could have cleared him
in their estimation from the suspicion
Of insanity. His first step on reach
ing his cabin was to ascertain the full
extent Of his financial resources.
.Seventy-three dollars and fifty
cents There's fine start in life for
a young man! vi was right enough in
| refusing me. What fool a man is
who wants to get married on that
amount Of money! There's claim, TO
be sure, that may be big thing next
winter but then every man on the
Slide has one he thinks just as much
of. However, as want to invest my
money to the best advantage, | believe
I'll make a speculation in quartz. The
old man has only two weeks to run on
but if that tunnel was put a head lit
tie faster than il has beep, it's just pos
sible that pocket might be found
which would help him out Of his scrape.
It's worth trying at any rate
Thus he soliloquized. Repairing to
the residence OF Jim Stubbs, he bar
gained for and purchased car, much
70 the astOnishment and modification
OF that worthy. Then, with the assis-
tance Of friend, whom he first bound
by solemn oath to eternal secrecy in
the matter, the car was conveyed
piecemeal to the Home Ticket II
was hard job, but between them they
accomplished it before midnight, when
Jo dismissed his companion, and went
to work in good earnest, relaxing his
exertions only, when the first faint
beams Of morning stole in at the en-
trance of the tunnel. Only once dur
ing thenight did he give way to solilo-
guy. Then it was somewhat in this
vein:
She don't love me, that's clear
enough now, and l was q fool not to
have known it before. l wouldn't do
this for her sake she's an unprincipl-
ed little flirt, that's what she is; but
the old man deserves help. If this
speculation succeeds I'll clear out, and
she shall never see my face again. If
j: fails, I'll stick by the old man and
help him all ! can
SOmowhat eccentric alan was tho