Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1871-12-21
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The Happy Surprise
A CONNECTICUT THANKSGIVING STORY,
1t was Thanksgiving eve.

rod and the blue fringed aster had
faded, and the sharp frosts had touched
the vines with crimson rs vivid rs if
every leaf had been dipped in blood
Yet, Notwithstanding the keen touch
OF the bleak November blast, growing
keener still as the sun dipped lower
behind those violet masses OF cloud.
Elan Barstow stood leaning against
the stlle of moss enamcled bars just
where you LEFT the road ami struck into
the cross cut through the woods. 1t
was sylvan spot in summertime. full
OF dense shadow aud vague. delicious
| scents; nor was it entirely without n
certain rude fascination even on the
very outskirts Of winter. The old
trees, with their moss-grown and lich-
ened trunks-the carpet of rustling
leaves instinct with aromantic odor.
and the sweet, mournful hush of the
1 November twilight-Elam Barstow
/ could scarcely have defined all these
I influences, yet he felt them stirring the
| depths of his soul as he stood there,
whistling softly to himself, aud watch
ing bright eyed squirrel as it glided
up the trunk OF a gigantic old chestnut
/ tree beyond. And then Elam shaded
\ his eyes with one broad, sunburnt palm,
| ard looked eagerly of TO the west
ward
4, beats all she don't come = he
muttered uneasliy.
He was a tall, athletic mau some
what past the boundaries Of middle age,
with rude yet not uncomcly features,
| with thick black hair, oddly waved and
I crimpled. and an eve keen as falcon
an eye which lighted suddenly up as
slight figure became outlined for an
instant against the western gold of the
sky, where the woodland path opened,
far away, and then disappeared into
the valley.
Yes. il was Rachel Rivers coming
from her daily work IN the great brick
/ factory in the vale beyond. Many and
many night he had watched for her
and would have known her light foot
fall had he heard it at the very world
end
She came up, shrined in the sunset,
like u pictured saint which had stepped
from the window of some great cathe-
dral-a fair, slender girl with that
brilliant type OF New England beauty
winch is at once 50 curlouslv untitled
for the bleak climate in which it some
times expands. Her hair was brown,
lighted with CLEANS of FURNISHED gold ;
her deep, liquid hazel eyes, bordered
ou black, had in them q dreamy, ian
guld glitter, stolen from the Orient
and her skin was tinted As dclicatcly As
an oleander blossom. while her lips, red
aud ripe and velyety, were Ike fresh
coral. And with all this, our calico
dress damsel carried the small head
royalty upon its slender throat, and
moved Ike a princess of the blood.
worn and faded AS was her shawl, and
shabbily trimmed as was her coarse
straw hat with its filttering blue veil.
Rachel, let ME carry Your basket :,
But Rachel repulsed him with pi.
quaint dignity.
Il can carry it myself Elam Bar
stow"
Elan was a little annoyed he bi;
his lip.
Il suppose may walk with YOU a
part of the way:'
i suppose you may, if you please.
! The road is open TO all 7
Her hazel orbs shot out a mischicv.
Gus CLEAN as she spake. Elan Bar
stow felt its soft, defiant flame.
Rachel
Yes.
4 wish you'd stop minute
stop here? What for. I'm i'll /
hurry TO get home.
'But, Rachel must know can
endure this suspense, blamed if can
there now. Why don't you tell d
fellow out and out-yes or no.!
! Rachel stopped TO loose red maple
leaf from the fringe Of her old worsted
shawl.
Tell fellow whatI she questioned
somewhat imperiously.
Whether you love me or not:
That is easily told-non
But, Rachcl-little Ray-you can,
mean it, am sure just listen 10 IN,
one minute I've got good farm anc
good house-vou would be lady
Ray, and never cross the factory thresh
old more. I'd make the old folks vel
come at my freside, as flowers in Ma,
You know l would, Rachel, for YOU
sake. And Hepsy. she'd love you like
IL sister; she's told me so, time ant
again! You'll marry me, Rachel-sa,
you will
Il shall never say that, Elan Bar
stow
But, Rachel, why"
She looked at him with that rova
way she had.
i do not think you have any righ
to ask me that question, Elan! But
will answer it, nevertheless. Becaus,
l love another-because l have prom
ised to wait for Charles Wayland, YOU
own cousin!'
Elan Barstow's cOuntenance fell Wis
IDLY.
I thought you had forgotten tina
boy-and-girl fancy long ago.
4 have not forgotten it-no, no
ever shall!
DO you believe lie ever will com,
back to claim your
If he lives-y.sr
And If he should be dead?
Then l shall live and die true to hi
memory!
!, The words dropped in low sounding
silver syllables from her lips Sh
had spoken them very quietly, We
Elan BarstOw felt that all the worlt