Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1873-01-16


business mans day, it seemed to
whisper gentle loving words to cheer
him onward. 1t was only now and
then that he remembered the short
postscript which was added to Mary's
letter: Il have seen nothing of uncle
Silas.'
Then he thought sadly of the stern
and hard old man, who yet had loved
him dearly. through fatherless boy
hood. befriendlng him with help and
home until the pretty teacher in the
school had SO bcwillcrcd Philips hon
est heart that he had dared the wrath
of uncle Silas. and married the gentle
little creature whom he loved so we'll.
Since his marriage day uncle Silas had
turned away from Philips offered hand.
was deaf to Philips voice. as though
he spoke not, and so lived on his lone
ly life as he did in the DAYS before his
nephew came TO him.
NO objection TO the girl he said
! gruiiiv once, but he needn't have made
fool of himself, getting married with
nothin' year to speak of. I've done
with him. Wouldn't listen to me.
There was Millow's only daughter,
over at The Falls ready to have him
any minute; fifty thousand clear to
start on; and the confounded Young
fool tied himself to a pretty face and
nothin'. Well, they can look out for
themselves. Sha'nt have any of my
money, any way And as he said this
to himself, he buttoned his coat up
tight, as though he would keep down
any weakness of heart underneath.
That was five years ago. Other
friends had stretched out helping hands
to the young man, and he now held a
place that brought him present com
fort and future promise, his happiness
only marreA by the necessity of fre-
quent absences from the happy home
which the pretty teacher guided well
ant wisely, while little Myrtle grew
and blossomed in the happy sunshine.
And all these memories lay hidden in
the brief postscript he had read.
CHAPTER III.
Myrtle Myrtle called Mrs. Far
ley at the foot of the stairs that led
up TO the play-room. Come and be
dressed. Myrtle, you know ,o-nish,
Will be Christmas eve, and papa is
coming, this morning, may-by. Come,
Myrtle
There was no answer to her call, no
patter of the childish feet coming
down, one at a time. in that sweet
helpless child-fashon mothers know;
30 Mrs. Farley went to the head Of the
kitchen stairs, and called, Bridget.
tell Myrtle 70 come up now,' holding
the door open for the little figure she
doubted not to see.
Sure. an Miss Myrtle amt been
here this hour'n' more. She had her
cloak and little bonnet on awhile ago,
an she said she was goin' to walk to
Milwaukee to meet her papa; but |
thought twas only funnin' she was. an
she, sure she did walk out by the gar
den way. Mebbe she's out there now.'
There was fearful hollow echo in
the mothers voice now, and the name
sounded like wall, Myrtle! darling
Myrtle =
Still there was no answer from the
garden-from anywhere. The Christ
mas wreaths lay tangled in heap,
just as Mrs. Farley had thrown them
down, while brief arrangement was
made that Bridget should watch and
wait at home. Blyburn was not yet
city with facilities for the return of
waits. There was the possible horrors
OF the river, on one side Of the town;
the lonely wood that crept down to the
line of farms along the outskirts Of its
busy, bustling streets, on the other.
There were visions of the weary little
feet too far from home to travel back;
of the miserable, hungry little face
somewhere, looking in the strange
faces like homeless dog and over
all the horror Of Philips return to such
g tale as must needs be told.
Up and down by the great mill, peer
ing into the dark waters below the
wheel. through the crowded streets,
where happy fathers and mothers JOS
tied eacn other with arms overladen
with Christmas gifts, as they hurried
home, went the white, anguished face
of the distracted mother, coming
homeward now and then to hear the
sorrowful answer :-'She amt come
home ! and then to search in a new
direction, painting and terrified, yet
tireless.
1t was four o'clock when, coming
homeward, she found Bridget in a
great state of agitation. Mr.. Farley
had come home.
He looked kind o dazed like, a min
ute, ma'am, and then be said, poor
Mary! poor Maryr over and over.
He put his hand to his head, and then
he said. Tell Mrs. Farley to stay at
home when she comes again. ! will
90 ont now > and ho welkod ,Nvt oo II.