Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1872-06-20

still five miles short of the halfway
house where they had expected to take
dinner. OF course they were all near
ly furnished after riding SO long in the
cold. The good woman of the house
seemed we'll disposed to supply their
wants, but she was alone, and her
iarder somewhat lean. Il don't sup.
pose you'd want fried pork she said,
obviously. Il might kill couple of
pullets.'
That would take too long altoseth-
er, said Lymp Tucker. w should
eat the baby before they would be
ready
We'll, 1 guess Jones wife, down to
the corner, would let me haye some
ham; bnt hain't got no bread baked
then.
oh. never mind that. Give me the
things to do 1t with, and I'll have the
bread made by the time you are back
from Jones'
La. now, said the hostess, looking
doubtfully at the fine apparel of her
guest, do YOU suppose you could:'
You bring me the things and see,
replied the other, laying aside her vel
vet cloak and light kid gloves. The
woman obeved at once. Miss Tucker
turned up the silken sleeves from a
pair of large and handsome white arms
and tied on big checked apron. while
tue hostess flung shawl over her head
and took her way across the fields to
the corner
The only fire in the house was in the
kitchen, so all the passengers sat
round it and watched the preparation
of their repast. The impromptu
bread-maker hrted four sitter, twirl-
ed spoon in pan, made several rap
Id passes over board. and in an in
credibly short time had produced a
large painful OF biscuits, which she set
III tin baker before the fire The
hostess soon returned, and presently
had ready smoking dish of hot ham
and eggs, which. with biscuits like
| snowfakcs, made very inviting re-
past.
! BY the time the meal was well over
/ the driver returned, with his wheel
mended, and they took the road again.
| Harvey, who had paid his entertainer
| Literally for his own dinner, noticed
the pale young woman approach and
offer to do the same
That is all settled said the hostess,
and mot ioned With her hand toward
| Miss Ticker.
Harvey felt mortified that he should
not have thought TO do that kindness
himself He overheard the poor wo-
mans grateful murmu: of thanks to
her new friend aud the light laugh
with which they were turned aside
He had come to like the sound of that
isn9h Eas na, anita i.a as well as tine driver. He
places, he found Miss fuckers seat
beside himself. He could no longer
bear to be only the recipient Of kind
ness, and he eXerted himself to show
To his companion all those small cour-
! tesles of the road which occasion al
lowed He talked very little, howev-
er, though he talked his very best and
his grave, respectful demeanor offered
no index of the feeling, as new as it
was delightful, which really thrilled
through all the pulses of his being.
1t was not merely respect for the fine
qualities he had discovered in her. nor
wholly his kindling admiration for her
rich and glowing beauty, but an emo
! ton commingled of and far transcend
! ing both-a delicate and subtitle pleas
ure in the presence Of a large and gra-
| clous womanhood which the man 5
whole nature acknowledged and bowed
down to.
The rest OF the journey was accom-
! piishcd without accident, though not
! without DELAYS. and it was quite dark
before, weary and mud they
| reacAed the town where they We're 10
part and go their separate ways. They
had left the stage. and Miss Tucker stood
in the piazza CT the public house giving
some directions about her luggage. when
Middleton approached and taking off his
hat, addressed her.
Pardon me, he said, ii use tou
grca n freedom. You do not know me
bat have sect too many proofs of voul
goodness TO-DAY not ~ feel that | know
| vou. see that YOU have kindly taken
under Your protection the poor woman
and her child who rode with us, and
am anxious 10 share with YOU the pleas
ure Of assisting her. Here i, small
sum OF money, which you will sblige me
bv sending for her use, ana IA card with
my address. Ii at any time | can be oi
fu rther service To her, You will do me q
favor by letting me know
The vouug woman cook the card and
the crisp bank note that accompanied il
and expressed her thanks with da> II u
embarras >inent and timiditv which sht
had not bcior" shcwn, but which ilar-
vev thought become her woucrfully.
There : one more favor, he added
with little hesitation, which Iwould
like To ask Of YOU. Would YOU object
to giving me Your address!
Not at ALL she answered, frankly
and gave it accordingly. He thanked
her gravely, bowed again rs he nigh
have done to IA dutchess, and walked
away The next day he was at his offic,
in Boston, and she ut her busy. RESPONSE
BILE post i'll II great Lowell mill.
Forjust ene week Middleton turned
things oyer in his mind. The result
was i fcsOlutlCu iIitt icttcT. L Ht Ias
was addressed TO Miss Olympia Tucker
and contained = distinct and straight
forward proposal Of marriage. He re
called himself modeshY To the lady
recollection, referring TO The jOurne,
they had taken together. and declared
that the impression which she had tna
day made upon him, was such that h,
ardentlv wished to journey through lif,
in her company. He told her who ant
what he was, his family, business ans
fortune inclosed the addresses Of sew
eral persons through whom she might, i
she wished. satisfy herself in regard t,
his character and standing and conclud
ed with an earnest request that sh'
would permit him to visit her. The let
ter, Notwithstanding its abrupt ant
rather ousiness-like character, was gen
tlemanly and respectful, and one whicl
almost any lady might feel ilattered tt
receive.
When it was sent he waited in veri