The Potter journal and news item. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1872-1874, 1873-08-20
SL.75 A YEAR

too, hard as it was. But, oh! Rog-
err" and her arms were around nv
neck in the old impulsive way that
| had missed so long and she was
crying, and whispering, and laughing
in such a wild, confused and inaudi-
bic manner that l knew perfectly
well all she wanted to say.
"Oh! no, indeed you DON'T" she
sobbed, as | uttered some words to
that effect. Look here!" and she
turned excitedly to the model, the
tears still sparkling on her checks
like dew at sunrise. "Look herel"
she cried. "And | knew it all the
time, only l wouldn't say it, because
l didn't want to stay here; and |
thought if it succeeded we should
have to. But now-oh! why didn't
you ask my father, you proud thing?
He could have told you in a minute.
See! it only wants that screw short
ened; that belt carried forward;
that"
By the Great Seal! There it was!
The invisible, the ineffable something
| had not been able to catch-and
my machine complete! 81 don't de-
serve it! L don't deserve it,! |
cried.
"Ohl Roger, if you can only for
give me for not helping you! l think
| was little out of my head to sit
and look at you puzzling so day by
day and to say nothing when | had
seen it all and had been educated to
see it all and knew exactly what you
wanted; for PAS models were my
playthings."
"Forgive you, my darling?" I said,
weakly. at is you who have all
the forgiving to do?"
"WeII, we won't talk of forgiving
at all, then," said Hester, twisting
her hair over her finger and looking
curiously at the locks the while.
"We will talk Of the place. And I've
been thinking, Roger, that the first
thing we had best do with the ma
chine is to apply its power to the
draining Of these marshes. When
they are dry there will be no thun-
der storms to speak Of and the drain
ing viii swell the creek and give you
more power still. And there's no.
thing now to hinder your capitalists
from coming in,' she went Oh breath
lessly. "And as for going away,
Roger cried Hester, then, II snap
my fingers at all the cities that were
ever built! That stroke Of lightning
welded ne to this place; and perhaps
| needed it's illumination to show me
the beauties to which | had been so
blind. Oh, what a wretch l have
been! All these long distances, these
blue haZes, these emerald marshes,
these silver creeks, this immense
champaign, these immense skies
and l blind to them all for the sake
of brick city wall! If l had my
just dues, in real poetical justice they
would be the four stone walls of a
prison"
1t was some two or three weeks
from that time that, waking in the
after the absence from home
n which [ had succeeded in interest
ing all the capital required in my in
tial undertaking, | said to Hester:
where in the world have you been
with your head? Were you at ball
asst night and did you forget to brush
out your powder? Or have you been
.hrusting your head in among all the
I'D cobwebbed rafters of the placer"
"Powdered? 2" said Hester, with a
nervous little laugh. at is being
oleached. This is no temporary
like powder-it is per-
nanency. You always liked fair
lair best. Don't you remember me
n that red wig, at the charades?
And with my dark eyes, you sec"
'Bleached?"
ooh! you dear boy. Don't you
'eally see?" she cried. SIT began
o turn with that lightning stroke.
t is turning terribly and l shall be
IS gray as old Chronos himself be-
ore the fall comesw
"You, Hester? And not yet thir-
W"
~, Hester. And not yet thirty.
And | think have my gray hair at
bargain. ! have traded away for
a heavy heart, a sour spirit, de
grading terror and an empty purse.
was black-haired, and evil, and
and poor, and fast losing
NY husbands love! And rather