Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1874-11-12
Ny Little Stratagem.
BY WILLARD TREMAISE.

Jessie Hale was t he merriest, pretteSt,
most provoking daughter of Eve that ever
existed-at least, | thought so-thougn
perhaps was not an impartial judge, as
must confess | was deeply in love, and in
fact, don't think | could remember the
time when was not in love with her. |
first vcntured To ask her company from
church; when, after four years absence
| returned to my native town ard set up
As a surgeon. Oakdale was healthy
place. or else the people felt afraid of
trusting their lives in the hands of such i
young scapegrace rs they had known me
to be, for somehow my horse and zig
found more employment in carrying Jes-
sle Hale to ride than any other profitable
business, yet OF all the tautalizing little
wretches that ever fascinated and provok-
ed u poor fellow until he could not have
told whether he was in the body or out of
it-she was the worst.
And there was Willard Tremaine-
standing six feet two in stockings. led
about by that elf, coming and going at
every beck and call, as il | was great
simpleton, as in truth must have been,
TOR after playing yours devotedly' for
about six months | was no nearer winning
her than at the first. Open hearted and
candid she was on every other subject;
but just let me speak of love or marriage,
and might just as well talk to a stone
wall. All is fair in love and war; or at
least thought so. and resolved to try the
result OF strategy on my wiltul lady love.
One fine morning, rs we were aoout
starting for ride OH horseback, and as
sisting Miss Jessie into the saddle, her
horse commenced rearing and kicking at
an alarming rate; OF course the jagged
bits OF iron l had cautiously inserted be-
meath the saddle had nothing to do with
it. By the time she was fairly seated he
had become perfectly unmanaeeable,
throwing her violently from the saddle; of
course l caught her before she reached the
ground. No sooner was she in safety,
when, with deep groan. l staggered back
against the fence, my right arm hanging
helplessly by my side. 1t took nicely, for
Jessie was beside me in moment.
oh, WILL she said piteously, that ter
rible horse has broken your arm; what
will you do? Poor Will. poor Wilr
How like villain felt at the sight of
her distress; but was not going to give
up then; so answered family, 1t is moth
ing dear Jessie; l would suffer thousand
times more to feel that l had saved your
precious life.'
But oh, | am 80 sorry! What can be
done for your she said in touching ac-
cents.
Only tell me that you love me, Jessie,
darling; it will soothe my pain more than
anything else in the world And then,
like the great simpletOn that was, 1 put
that right arm around her, and never dis
covered my mistake till she sprang sud
denly away.
Wouldn't little brandy and water do
as well, MIR. Tremaine? she asked archly.
There don't seem to be any bones broken;
the Injury was internal, should think
Wouldn't have sold myself for a six
pence! But there was no help for it; so
had to own the trick, and went home wish
| ing had broken my arm or neck, didn't
care much which. After that. for a while,
| was rather shy Of the love subject, for
didn't fancy hearing Of my last attempt
but, one morning, however, went over
the way. resolved that the matter should
be decided before returned. Jessie was
sitting BY the parlor window, busily sew
ing and humminx some merry tune to her
self as entered. She was looking pref
tier than ever; and found 1t terrible hard
work to begin.
At last broke in upon some Of her
careless nonsense with, Why In the world
! Jessie, don't you say whether you love me