Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-03-10

me and the page and confuse me. al ma,
AS well out with it," added Jack, laugh
ing, while something very like blusl
showed on his datk checks. .'That sam,
Bessy Seldom had done my business fol
me. | had thought of very little elst
since first met her. At first, indeed,
had fancied she liked me very well, but as
time went on she seemed more reserved
and shy. George was very attentive &c
her; and his curls, and his big whiSkers,
and that serene selfassurance- that never
fails him. made him seem a very iormida-
bic rival in my eyes. Then that horse oil
his-Bessv was passionately fond of driv-
inr-and whenever | saw her whirled
away in Georges buggy, with the rascal
whispering close to her ear, | could have
straneled him with pleasure. When she
disappeared 50 suddenly, j tried my best
diplomacy with her mother to find where
she had gone, but it was of no use; and
now as lay there in the hot shade, | was
really revolving in my mind some project
for discovering her whereabouts.
''After a while, however, the drowsy
influence of the heat, and the soothing
ripple of the water, overpowered me
and my thoughts grew misty, and dropp-
ed off to sleep. must have slept for an
hour or two, for the sound which reused
me was the whoop of the liberated chill
dren as they came pellmell out of the
school-house and scattered toward their
homes. / saw the school-n:arm go round
and close the windows. and then come
out and look the door, putting the ponder
Gus key in her pocket. Then she walked
slowly, and rather YEARLY, in my direc-
|, has dol, fy-
little figure aud graceful step that seemed
wonderfully familiar Her face was hid
den under little white sun-bonnet but as
she came slowly down the hill toward me,
/ caught one glimse, and recognized Bessy
Seldom Oh! how | did bless George
Brandon then for bringing me to that place
and for taking himself Off"
1.-The devil you did !" cried Brandon.
springing to his feet. you knew she
was there all the while, and that was why
you stopped there, you villain!'
"On my honor, never dreamed of such
"a thing until that moment. But you may
well believe | lost no time in presenting
myself before her. She was evidently
glad TO see me. You see she didn't like
school-keeping, and was rather home-sick,
SO that she looked pale and tired, SO that
proposed that, instead of walking to the
farmhouse, which was her temporary
home, she should let me take her there in
my-that is. George's-buggy."
"Confound your impudence!" muttered
Brandon.
Jack laughed, and went on: she con-
sented readily enough, and handed her
in. and drew up the hood to screen her
from the sun. OF course we did not go
directly home, but took the longest way
round. The heat OF the afternoon was
wearing off, and it was very pleasant
now, and the air was sweet with the new
hay. We drove for an hour about the
quiet country roads, and you may be sure
l did not waste my time. The moment
and Bessy's mood were both propitious;
and great deal may be said in an hours
time, it a man is in earnest. l got back
to the brook about fifteen minutes before
George did, and was very innocently put
ting up my fishing tackle when he APP
peared. was on the point of telling him
all about it on the way home, but he was
so outrageously sulky at his own i'll luck
that didn't dare venture"
Lucky for your bones that you did
not" growled Brandon; II should have
pitched you into the first ditch we came
to, if had broken my own neck in doing
it. But what l want to know is, where |
that two dozen of trout came from that
that YOU had in your basket, and pretended |
to have taken at that place ?'
Jack sat silent a moment, slowly blow
ing the smoke from his lips, then answered
with perfect gravity did take them just
there, George. bought them of an In
dian boy in scarlet cap, who came down
to the brook about an hour after you left |
me-"
Brandon brought his fist down on the
table with blow that set all the glasses
jingling. Worse and worsen he ex-
claimed. That rascally red-skin had taken
every trout from my especial pool How
ever, he continued, his good humor COM
ing back, "Ill have the satisfaction oftell-
ing Bessy Seldom what an Internal humbug
you are"
you'll have to be quick about it then"
retorted Jack, coolly, "or there'll be no
Bessy Seldom 10 tell. One week from to-
day she will be metamorphosed into Mrs. |
Jack Dalton"
There was chorus of EXPLANATIONS and |
congratulations. from US all, in the midst |
of which Brandon reached out his hand |
to give Jacks a cordial shake.
Take my good wishes, too, old boy"
he said heartily. ''Bessy is sweet girl.
and you deserve her. And," he added,
with his gayest laugh, ''if she has the bad
taste to prefer you, at least there are as
good FISH in The sea as eUer a0ere cd,xght"-
Lady's Friend.