Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1874-02-26

PRIZE >loRl FOX 1Ol Nj WOMEN.
/ he sunshine shimmering through
the summer air golden vapor rest
ing dreamily on field and river silvery
ripples running through the ripe rye !;
the barley heads swinging heavy and
yellow the meadows cmerald-green
the home lot white with daisies the
brown-gabled, red-roofed old farm
house, mellow tinted in the enchanted
atmosphere the wide river creeping
lazily by; the glistening white beach
shelving down to it.-this was the
scene on which Jessica Dale looked
from her seat among the branches of
the ancient ash that stood on the river
side. \ little way down the river a
schooner lay close up To the black
wharf that stood tipsily on its half rot
ten piles; and on this wharf Jessica's
eyes at last found resting place. She
looked long and earnestly at a group
of men on il few sailors lazily trans
ferring baskets Of vegetables and FIR
kins of butter from the wharf TO the
vessel few lank, seedy-looking men
sitting on the wharf-posts and empty
barrels, swinging their legs. On apile
of planks a mans figure was stretched
at full length, and he was apparently
placidly gazing up at the white clouds
slowly dissolving in the blue sky.
The apron that Jessica was making
fell out of her hand and rustled down
among the daisies, but her thoughts,
as well as her eyes, were busy on the
wharf. They were not pleasant
thoughts it would seem, for she puck
cred up her pretty face into numerous
wrinkles, and curled her red lips in q
very contemptuous manner. Jessica
was rightly considered a beautiful girl,
brown as berry from exposure Of wind
and sun, with sweet, thoughtful gray
eyes. wavy brown hair, small, regular
features, and the rosicst of lips and
pearliest of teeth, and trim, grace.
full figure. She even looked pretty
when she was cross, as then, in the ash
tree.
The man on the planks soon turned
his head in such way that he proba-
bly, caught a glimpse of her white
dress among the leaves, for he instant
ly sprang lightly down from his rest
ing place and walked swiftly across
the meadows towards her, vaulting the
fences on his way. As he drew near
er it became evident that he was a
young man of fine physique, with a
well-shaped head, good, though irreg-
ular features, and great, sleepy brown
eyes. AS he crossed the last meadow
Jessica sprang down from her perch
just in time TO prevent the Old gray
winged gander from shipping q piece
out of her new apron. She met the
young man at the stile by the pollard
willows.
IL am So oery glad 10 see you, Jes-
sica," he said fervently, as he helped
her over the stile.
For what reason, Bernardo You
seem wonderfully in earnest"
why no reason, except the pleas
ure of being with you"
Not having seen me since nine
o'clock last night"
But you are always q fresh and
beautiful sight. have been wonder
ing what / could do with myself this
afternoon, and behold Fate sends me
YOU"
Il wonder YOU are not sun-struck,
lying there on the wharf in this hot,
broiling sum-"
IL don't mind the hot sun. 1t new
er hurts me-"
"And yet the coolest day last win-
ter, you worked out of doors all day,
building that ice palace for me-"
II enjoy the cold, too, and take the
seasons as they come. Heat and cold
are alike to me-"
"You don't mind storms, either,
should judge, from your walking fifteen
miles in the worst one we mad had last
spring, for no purpose, believe, but
just to show that you could do it,
"Yes. can walk any reasonable
distance in any weather." said Ber-
nard, carelessly, but secretly much
pleased that his companion remember
ed all this.
docs anything make you sick, Ber.
nardT'
No; l have not had days sickness
since l was ten years old"
II should think, Bernard. YOU must
be as much as six feet high" she said
measuring him with her eye.
'.Very near the mark am five feet
eleven"
"Well," said Jessica, stopping un
derneath the pollard willows, and sur.
veying her companion from head Il
foot, "here is young man five feel
eleven, broad-shouldered, never sick
who minds neither summers heat mol
winters cold, nor terrible storms, and
yet, who can find nothing in all thil
wide world to do on this long summer
day but lie on q pile Of planks, o.
lounge mp and down the river-bank viii
. girl"