Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1874-11-12
S ssIetttO storp.
A Laggard in Love.

John Narsden was brave enough as the
world goes. He had been stroke-oar of his
university crew, and knew all the chan
nels and chutes OF the rapids below his
little city at l.: and once, when prac-
ticing with his oars on the river above
them, he had saved party OF amateur
fishermen from being dashed TO pieces on
their rocks. John Marslen was brave
enough in that way. Bur when he came in
TO the presence of Bessie Alden, every
particle of courage in his heart oozed
away. He loved and feared 10 speak. The
repetition OF some funny repartee, which
that laughable Mr.. Erwin had told the even
ing before, depressed him a reminder
OF brighter and more talkative rival. Aud
when the rivals met Of an evening in the
presence of the charming beauty. Fred.
Erwin's aujacity angered John his witty
repartee which provoked the merry laugh
ter OF Bessie was a. gall TO the scdate low
er; and his light touch upon the piano.
and the mellow voice with which he sang
some sentimental song. directing it with
his impudeut eyes n: Bessie herself, stung
John with n sense of despair over his own
ability TO shine in these lighter acts so
dear TO the heart of woman. What hope
had John Marsden against such an uncon-
querable woorer. And yet his heart refus-
co 10 yield up all hope. and he lived on.
resolving and temporizing and finding
pleasure that he dared not risk even in the
privilege OF hoping.
Old Mr.. Alden was shrewd observer.
and occasionally he gave his daughter
Bessie the benefit of his views on her two
sutors.
Bessie, daughter said he. one evening,
in the comfort of dressing-gown and slip
pers. over his own bedroom fire, I'm
afraid Fred. Erwin is shallow.
He is. quite replied the charming Bes-
sic. unhestatngly.
Too lisht.headed and shallow. Aud for
| bank cashier, with all the business OF the
| Cashlev Bank on his shoulders, that is a
serious fault. Quite serious. For my part.
continued he. musingly. 4 think John
Marsden Is worth a dozen like him. There
| is something about Marsden that is solid
| and strai ightforward. And. when he's go
| ing-l notice it takes little diplomacy
usually 10 set him goilg right-he can talk
as brilliantly as Erwin. Lord, lord. in nv
| day. when was a young lawyer in old
Lowdoin, courting your mother, 1t took n
wrestling or riding match to win wom-
an. Why. l won your mother and the old
mans eyes CLEANED with subdued merri-
ment land she was the handsomest girl in
I, Lowdoin county-it's no reflection on you
that you don't look quite so well as she
did, my dear, though you look very much
like her well, | won your mother by
| breaking in a colt belonging to her father.
He leaped five barred gate with me and
generally made it very rough riding. 1t was
desperate measure, but your mother
drove Inc to it,
1T seems to me- remarked Mr.. Alden,
as he toasted his slippered feet before the
fire. while Bessie sat near by, gazing
thougbtfully into the dying Goals, III seems
to me that Fred. Erwin is pretty attentive.
my dear,
| Bessie moved petulantly. He's E luna
tic she said sharply.
Now. my opinion prosed the old gen
tleman, rather favored John Marsden.'
Bessie again moved uneasily.
Butt continued the old gentleman, 'he's
a slow sort of suitor. provided always that
he is suitor.
%. pa"
THE age don't suit him. That's the trou-
BILE. It's a great pity-a great pty-there
are no wrestling matches or horse races
TO run for the girls nowadays, or wild
colts to break. Marsden. | think. would
go over the five-barred gate as clean as a
whistle. while that prig of an Erwin
oh. botherr cried Bessie, as she swept
from the room.
The little city of stood just above
the rapids of beautiful river OF the West.
The winter of 1871, like most preceding
winters. had filed tine river in front of the
little city with sorged ice that completely
bound in its hurrying current, except for a
narrow ribbon of open water, where the
stream was the swiftest.
The winter had embargOed LIS bus
iDess in this wise on the day when Mars.
den took his wav again down town still