Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-04-16

WHAT WOMAN DID.

Ou tne TlVcT sue. Ou pie Oh pI0ukS
mans figure was stretched at full length,
and he was apparently placidly gazing up
at the white clouds slowly dissolving In
the blue air. wa.
The man on the planks soon turned his
head in such way that he probably
caught glimpse of her white dress among
down from his resting place and walked
swiftly across the meadows towards her,
vaulting the fences on his way.
II am so very glad to see you, Jessica,''
he said, fervently, as he helped her over
the stile.
"For what reason, Bernard You seem
wonderfully in earnest"
why, no reason, except the pleasure
of being with YOU"
Not having seen me since nine O'Clock
last night."
but you are always fresh and beauti-
full sight. have been wondering what
could do with myself this afternoon, and
behold! Fate sends me to you."
IL wonder yon are not sun-struck,
lying there on the wharf in this hot, broil-
ing sun"
II don't mind the hot sun. 1t never
hurts me-"
"And yet, the coolest day last winter,
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-"
II should think, Bernard, you must he
us much as six feet high, she said, meas
uring him with her eye.
VERY near the mark; am five feet
eleven"
"Well," said Jessica, stopping under
meath the pollard willows, and surveying
her companion from head to foot, ''here is
n young man five feet eleven. broad
shouldered, never sick, who minds neither
summers heat nor winters cold, nor ter
rible storms, and yet, who can find nothing
in all this wide world to do on this long
summer day but lie on pile of planks, or
lounge up and down the river bank with
a girl"
/ The young mans brown face flushed
crimson.
"But what can do, Jessicapn
''Help those sailors down there on the
wharf, and perhaps you will put little
energy into them."
"And what would be the use of my do.
ing .hat?''
"Just for the sake of doing something.
Are you going to live this lazy. useless
life all your days ?"
"You know very well my uncle won't
help me to get into any business, or rather
he can't for he never has ready money
"Help yourself, then."
''How can l, without money must
have little to start with"
"Put yourself in as capital, and use
your muscle. They are big and strong
enough, l am sure. Such weights as they
tell me you balance at the gymnasium
60 and break stones You are of no use
to anybody now. Your uncle and aunt
don't need you; thoy have their own chill
dren. have no doubt they like to have
you need, but you should be ashamed to
dawdle throug life dependent on rich
mans bounty"
II don't feel that it is dependence. |
AM one of the family, and we all live hap
PLY together, and have everything in the
world we want. And, more than all that,
uncle wants you to come and live there
too. There is plenty for all, he says. 1t
is large house, and there are so many
servants that they can't find enough to do,
and great deal coming in all the time
that would be wasted If we were not
there"
Il will never go there with you Ber-
nerd, never! would rather die would
rather live in log cabin, on bread and
milk, than with husband who would
be willing to lead such life as you do.
should be so ashamed of him."
The sleepy look went out Of Bernard's
eyes in moment, and bright flashed in
| to them. "Is that the reason you would
never consent to make me happy. Jessica.
Oh, why did you not tell me that before ?'
IL have not told it now. You dragged
me into the discussion, and was only
carrying out your supposition."
II will 60 to work tomorrow, II you
will only promise to love me-"
II have spoken for your own good,
said Jessica, "and l have but one thing
more to say never, from this moment,
say to me one word of love until yeu can
offer me something OF your own. The
log cabin is enough, but it must be your
own. Mind, | don't say will listen to
you then; it is probable l will not. But,
in the meantime. love must not be named
between you and me-
ut is clear she does not love me, and
she might as well have said so without in
sulting me with all that talk" Such were
Bernard's thoughts after Jessica had left
him. and he stood idly kicking pebbles in
to the river. "She has said some pretty
singing things. That is the way she
thinks of me, is it? Iwould be a fool to
give up all have and work like COM
mon laborer. She is always as busy as a
bee herself, and have thought how nice
it would be to take her from her home,
where she does so much, to place where
she would have nothing to do at all. And
her ladyship does not like it she gives
herself too many airs
Three miles below the old farmhouse
stood the busy town Of Perkinsyillc. On
a hot summer afternoon, two days after
the talk under the pollard willows, q shad-
ow fell across the open doorway Of the
farmhouse, which shadow was Immediate
ly followed by the appearance OF Bernard
Leyburn.
"Good afternoon, MIR. Daryl" he said,
as he approached the gentleman. "Iwant
to 60 to work."
Mr.. Daryl knowing Bernard as he did,
was aStonished.